Description and Symbolism of the Coat of Arms

 

Arms:  The circular shield is purple and on it is a qulliq coloured white with yellow flames.

The colours were chosen by Commissioner Hanson, and the qulliq, a seal oil lamp, is an important object of Inuit culture that appears in the coat of arms of Nunavut. It was traditionally kept by the women, and provided light, warmth, and a source of cooking and melting water. It is still used as a ceremonial item.    

 

Crest: A rock ptarmigan, white with a black beak, emerging from five purple saxifrage flowers. This is set on a wreath of twisted cloth in gold and purple.

The rock ptarmigan is the official bird of Nunavut, and the purple saxifrage is the floral emblem, a sign of spring and a source of food. The five flowers indicate Commissioner Hanson’s five daughters. The ptarmigan also alludes to the martlets and doves in coats of arms associated with other Hansons, and therefore to Mr. Robert Hanson’s family heritage.  

Supporters: On the left is the figure of Sedna, a woman with a whale’s tail (here in white), a traditional parka (here in yellow), flowing hair, and fingers in the shape of fish. On the right is an upright ring seal in its natural colours. These emerge from purple and white wavy stripes indicating water, and between them is a section of tundra.  

Sedna (Nuliajuq) is a famous creature from mythology around the circumpolar world, known as the sea ruler of the Arctic. The seal is important for Inuit life as a source of food, clothing, and oil. The tundra and water represent the Arctic landscape and the importance of the ocean.

Motto:This indicates the importance that co-operation played in the survival of the Inuit in harsh natural conditions, a way of life that has continued in the present-day approach to consensus government and administration.