The Arms of Nunavut
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Adopted
| 1999
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Crest
| On a wreath argent and azure an iglu affronty argent windowed Or and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper;
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Torse
| Argent and azure
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Shield
| Or dexter a qulliq sable inflamed gules sinister an inuksuk azure on a chief also azure above five bezants in arc reversed issuant from the lower chief a mullet (Niqirtsuituq) Or
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Supporters
| Dexter
a caribou
sinister
a narwhal both proper
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Compartment
| Dexter of land set with
Arctic poppies
, dwarf fireweed and Arctic heather proper sinister ice floes argent set on barry wavy azure and argent
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Motto
| ???? ?????
Our Land, Our Strength
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The
coat of arms of Nunavut
was granted by a warrant of
Romeo LeBlanc
,
Governor General of Canada
, dated 31 March 1999, one day before the territory of
Nunavut
, Canada, was created. The same document specified the
flag of Nunavut
.
Overview
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The symbol was designed in collaboration with
Inuit
elders, leaders, artists, groups, and the general population of the territory. Each symbol was chosen individually from the 800 submissions for the flag and coat of arms that were received. Five draft designs were created in collaboration between the heraldic artist at the
Canadian Heraldic Authority
and
Andrew Qappik
, an Inuit artist from
Pangnirtung
.
The shield is blue and gold, symbolizing the riches of the land. According to the blazon, the shield should be presented on a
roundel
shaped shield, rather than the traditional
escutcheon
shape in European
heraldry
. In chief is a representation of the
midnight sun
and of the
North Star
, or
Niqirtsuituk
. Below are a
qulliq
, a stone lamp representing the warmth of home and community, and an
inukshuk
(
inukhuk
,
inuksuk
), a stone monument serving as a guidepost and a symbol of the territory.
The crest, an
igloo
(
iglu
), represents traditional life, survival, and the Nunavut government assembled in the
legislature
. It is ensigned with a
crown
representing
royal sovereignty
.
The supporters, a
caribou
and
narwhal
, represent sustenance and natural resources of the land and sea. They stand on a compartment with
Arctic poppies
,
dwarf fireweed
, and
Arctic heather
, alongside an
iceberg
at sea.
The motto, written in
Inuktitut syllabary
, is
Nunavut Sannginivut
(???? ?????, or, Our Land, Our Strength).
The letters patent are quite unique, having been presented in English, French,
Inuktitut
, and
Inuinnaqtun
.
Blazon
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Heraldic
blazon
describes the coat of arms of Nunavut as:
- On a circular
shield
: Or Dexter a
qulliq
Sable
inflamed
Gules
sinister an
inuksuk
Azure
on a chief also Azure above five
bezants
in arc reversed issuant from the lower chief a
mullet
Niqirtsuituq
Or
;
- And for a
Crest
: On a wreath
Argent
and Azure an
iglu
affronty Argent windowed Or and ensigned by the Royal Crown proper;
- and for a
Motto
:
???? ?????
, meaning "Nunavut Our Strength";
- and for
Supporters
: On a compartment dexter of Land set with
Arctic poppies
, dwarf
fireweed
and
Arctic heather
proper sinister
ice floes
Argent set on
barry
wavy Azure and Argent dexter a caribou sinister a narwhal both
proper
.
Gallery
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See also
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External links
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]