Photo: Nunavut turns 16 April 1

On April 1, 2015, Nunavut turns 16: Nunavut’s first legislative assembly met for a historic first sitting on April 1, 1999, the Nunavut territory’s birth date. Nunavut’s first MLAs, chosen during an election held Feb. 15, 1999, held the gathering inside the Inuksuk High School gymnasium in Iqaluit. The Nunavut legislative building in Iqaluit, built and still owned by the Nunavut Construction Corp., was not ready to open until the fall of 1999. Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq said today in a statement that “the past 16 years we have learned a lot and shared both good and challenging times, but we always manage to persevere and that is part of what makes us who we are. We must continue to look forward to the future to make sure our language, culture and traditions remain strong. Each and every one of us has worked together and we should take pride in our accomplishments.” (FILE PHOTO)