Demographics of Northwest Territories Demographics of Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada. It has an area of 1,171,918 square kilometres and a population of 41,464 as of July 1, 2006. "*Note: Yukon Territory was ceded from Northwest Territories in 1898." "**Note: Alberta and Saskatchewan were created from parts of Northwest Territories in 1905." "***Note: Data through 1996 includes Nunavut. 2001 data does not include Nunavut." "Source: Statistics Canada" French was made an official language in 1877 by the appointed government, after lengthy and bitter debate resulting from a speech from the throne in 1888 by Lt. Governor Joseph Royal. The
Geography of Northwest Territories by the Hudson's Bay Company to the new Canadian confederation in 1870. Some of those lands were added to the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Then the province of Manitoba was formed from them in 1870, and Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, all south of 60° North. In 1898, the Yukon Territory was separated. The boundaries of the Northwest Territories were set in 1912 and stayed fixed until Nunavut was created in 1999. From 1920 until 1999 the Territories were divided into three districts: Franklin, Keewatin and Mackenzie. Ever since the 1982 patriation of the Canadian Constitution, several land claims