Nunavut Civil Registration

Introduction
Nunavut was part of the Northwest Territories until 1999. Therefore, before April 1999 vital records will be found with the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services. After April 1999, vital records are with Nunavut Vital Statistics.

Pre-1 April 1999 Vital Records
Records for events in what is now Nunavut prior to 1 April 1999 are held by


 * Vital Statistics, Department of Health and Social Services Government of the Northwest Territories, Bag # 9 Inuvik, Northwest Territories, X0E 0T0

See Northwest Territories Birth, Marriage, and Death Records (National Institute) for more information.

Events that occurred outside the territory are often registered in the jurisdiction in which they took place. Many births and deaths occurred elsewhere because people were often sent south for medical or other reasons. The primary connections are directly north and south— Baffin/Montreal and Ottawa, Kivalliq/Churchill and Winnipeg and Kitikmeot and Kughoktuk (formerly Coppermine)/Edmonton and Yellowknife, but people have been sent elsewhere as well.

Tuberculosis patients ended their lives in a variety of locations, some of which still remain unknown to their families. This information was kindly shared with me by Carol Orr.

Although genealogical information with regards to vital statistics is not available yet, other general and genealogical information can be found at Nunavut.com and Nunavut Public Library Services websites.

Post-1 April 1999 Vital Records
Vital records from 1 April 1999 on, can be ordered through VitalCertificates.ca, a private company.

The phone numbers for the Nunavut government are:


 * Toll Free: 1-800-661-0833
 * Telephone: (867) 645-8002