Nunavut signed an agreement with the federal government Thursday that transfers responsibility for land and natural resource management to the territory, marking the largest land transfer in Canadian history.

The “devolution” agreement means the power to make final decisions over public lands, including onshore waters, and natural resources — as well as the royalties from the extraction of those resources — now belongs to the territorial government.

It was signed in Iqaluit by Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president Aluki Kotierk.

“Namminiqsurniq, or devolution, is one more step toward the vision of a self-reliant Nunavut. With the signing of this agreement, we can now bring decision-making about our land and waters home,” Akeeagok said in a news release.

“While it has taken generations of our leaders to achieve this work, today’s signing of the devolution agreement is primarily for young Nunavummiut across our territory.”

Nunavut represents 20 per cent of Canada’s land mass.

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