(1576) Martin Frobisher led expedition to find Northwest Passage; first European contact with Inuit
1800's
(1820 - 1840)English whalers visited, introduce European goods to Inuit
(1821 - 1823) William E. Parry, George F. Lyon first explorers to spend winter in Arctic
(1840 - 1900)English whalers visited Cumberland Sound, established whaling stations on Kekerten Island, Blacklead Island
(1845 - 1848) Sir John Franklin led expedition to discover Northwest Passage; ships imprisoned in ice in Victoria Straight; entire crew died
(1861) American, Charles Francis Hall, camped at Sylvia Grennell River, explored Kojeese Inlet
(1864 - 1869) American explorer, Charles Francis Hall, spent several years near Repulse Bay searching for lost expedition of Sir John Franklin; first explorer to learn to live off land like Inuit
(1894)English missionary, Edmund Peck, established first permanent church mission at Baffin Island
1900's
(1911) Hudson Bay Company established trading post in Lake Harbour on Baffin Island
(1913) Hudson Bay Company established trading post at Cape Dorset
(1942) U.S. Air Force selected Iqaluit as site of major air base
(1953) Rankin Inlet Mine opened near Kangiqliniq, produced nickel and copper ores
(1954) Inuit granted right to vote in federal elections
(1977) Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) proposed creation of Nunavut to be governed by all-Inuit government
(1979) ITC presented another proposal for creation of Nunavut to be governed by public government
(1992) Inuit Indians ratified Nunavut Land Claim Agreement; Nunavut officially created
(1993) Boundaries of Nunavut established; Nunavut Land Claims Agreement signed
(1995) Iqaluit voted as capital
(1999) Nunavut officially separated from the Northwest Territories; Nunavut became first territory to enter the federation of Canada since Newfoundland joined in 1949; Paul Okalik first Premier
2000's
(2002) Nunavut hosted Arctic Winter Games
(2005) 41 square-miles ice shelf broke off Ellesmere Island
(2008) Eva Aariak selected as Premier of Nunavut
(2009) Canada, Nunavut, Greenland signed agreement to set up commission to regulate hunting of polar bears
