Music, fireworks to mark Nunavut’s 25th anniversary

April 1 will kick off a year of celebrations in Iqaluit to mark 25 years since Nunavut officially became a territory.

“We feel it’s too big of a milestone to let pass,” said Casey Lessard, communications director for the Department of Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Nunavut gained territory status on April 1, 1999.

People can head to the Aqsarniit Hotel in Iqaluit starting at 4:30 p.m. April 1 to see live entertainment and enjoy country food. That will be followed by fireworks over the bay, starting at 8:30 p.m.

Alianait Entertainment Group, which hosted the Alianait Arts Festival in Iqaluit last July, is organizing the entertainment. It will include traditional events such as throat singing as well as performances by local bands. Premier P.J. Akeeagok will be among the speakers at the hotel that day.

“The priority for us is that it is as much Inuit content as possible,” Lessard said.

GN-funded celebrations are not exclusive to Iqaluit.

Funding to commemorate the territory’s 25th anniversary will go to each hamlet, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of the community.

Each hamlet will be invited to schedule its own celebrations, Lessard said.

A spokesperson for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. said the organization will focus its celebration of the territory’s landmark anniversary around Nunavut Day on July 9, which is the anniversary of the date Parliament passed the Nunavut Act in 1993.