As Nunavut stares down its 22nd year, residents mull how far the territory has come

People in Nunavut are celebratingthe territory's 22nd birthday on Friday.

Nunavut Day celebratesParliament passing the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act.

The agreement wentinto effect on July 9, 1993, and it's celebrated as a milestone on the road toNunavut becoming a territory thoughthat didn't happen officially until April 1, 1999.

"It's beenanother hard year, fighting the pandemic and balancing our many priorities," wrote Premier JoeSavikataaq in a statement on Friday.

"Nunavut is the most beautiful place on earth, with the most vibrant people, languages and cultures. I'm full of pride today and every day," he wrote.

CBC spoke with people in Iqaluit about what Nunavut means to them, and how they feel the territory has progressed.

WATCH: Nunavummiat discuss how they feel about Nunavut's progress over the years:

Nunavummiut prepare to celebrate Nunavut Day

3 years ago

Duration 3:36

It's been almost 30 years since the act that created Nunavut was signed into law. CBC Nunavut reporter Teresa Qiatsuq asked people in Iqaluit what Nunavut means to them.

Youth advocate Rachel Michael inIqaluit says there's much to celebrate, but says that young people are concerned the territory isn't living up to all its promises.

She says Inuit have been calling on the Nunavut government for change, but have not been seeing many results. Now, youth are left to comeup with their own plans for dealing with long-standing issues like mental health.

"Inuit have been repeating themselves over and over. Still, to this day, we hear Inuit wanting a lot of the same things they wanted back when Nunavut was created,"Michael said.

"It's exciting to see young people starting to really take ownership of our power and our leadership skills but there's still lots to be done for sure."

Other citizens, like Anguti Johnston, remind people that Nunavut is very new. He says Nunavut's leaders sacrificed a lot, worked hard and in the future, the results will show.

This, he says, is something Inuit should be proud of.

"I'm aware that our government has always worked hard for our territory," Johnston said.

"Yes, the visions they had for Inuit in Nunavut around 1967, are finally starting to appear now. Our leaders have worked very hard and I believe things can be done faster but I am also OK with the progress now."

Meanwhile, Jukeepa Akpalialuktold CBC News in Inuktitut thatshe's happy Inuit came together to build the territory of Nunavut, but thinks it has been progressing slowly and many challenges remain in place.

"We're struggling with shortage of housing, we're supposed to have enough housing for everyone," Akpalialuk said.

"And, we are facing expensive food prices in Nunavut, many of us go hungry because we can't afford it, we can't even get our own traditional food because it's so expensive, that's how I see it."