Cultural Renaissance or Economic Emancipation? Predictors of Support for Devolution in Nunavut

Abstract

We know very little in Canada about Aboriginal groups’ expectations of land claims, or how they evaluate political developments after a claim. Are groups hoping for a cultural renaissance, or are they seeking the tools for economic emancipation? Three surveys of residents in Nunavut provide an unprecedented opportunity to examine residents’ expectations of the land claim, to track levels of support for the claim and the new territory, and to identify predictors of that support. The data demonstrate that, initially, residents saw devolution as a route to a cultural renaissance for Inuit but contemporary evaluations focus primarily on economic challenges. When we explore predictors of support, however, predictors of cultural vitality are better able to explain levels of support for the land claim than predictors of economic vitality.