Happy Nunavut Day! Here are some ways to celebrate virtually

Nunavut Day will look different this year as theCOVID-19 pandemic shifts the typically outdoor event tovirtual activities.

It's also the first time Nunavut Day will be celebrated asan official statutory holiday. It marks when Parliament passed the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act on July 9, 1993.

"Nunavut Day is the biggest day of celebration in the territory," said Aluki Kotierk, president ofNunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in a news release. "As Inuit, we love outdoor community activities ... However, the health and safety of everyone is more important."

Organizers are following instructions from the chief public health officer to avoid large gatherings, the news release added.

Instead, celebrations will centre around activities on social media and television.

Here are some events you can look forward to:

• Watch Nunavut Day activities live on Nunavut Tunngavik's Facebook page here.
• The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is offering a full day of Inuktut programmingon Thursday.
• Northwestel is running a #HelloNunavutContestall day Thursday until midnight. You can enter by downloading this photo frameon Facebook designed by a 13-year-old Kugluktuk artist, and tagging#HelloNunavutContestin your post. Only Nunavut residents can win the prize, which is a Microsoft laptop. For more information, click here.
• Nunavut Tunngavik is giving away two pairs of tickets to anywhere Canadian North flies. TheAirline Ticket Drawwill happen Thursdayat 4:30 p.m. Winners will be announced on Nunavut Tunngavik's Facebook page.
• The Home Cook Challengeis a territory-wide online cooking contest with prizes. Contestants were asked to make their favourite recipes, take a photo and send it in by last Sunday.Northern chefs from Iqaluit to Cambridge Bay will judge and announce winners on Thursday.
• TheTikTok Video Contestinvited people to create a short video promoting Inuit culture. The deadline was last Sunday and winners will be announced on Thursday.