Disc number
Encyclopedia
Disc numbers or ujamiit in the Inuit language
were used by the Government of Canada
in lieu of surnames
for the Inuit
and were similar to dog-tags
. The discs were small, made of leather, had a string attached and were supposed to be worn around the neck.
Prior to the arrival of European customs, the Inuit had no need of family names and children were given names by the elders. However, by the 1940s the record keeping requirements of outside entities such as the missions, traders and the government brought about change. In response to the government's needs they decided on the disc number system.
Identification Canada
" around the edge and the crown
in the middle. Just below the crown was the number. The number was broken down into several parts, "E" for Inuit living east of Gjoa Haven
and "W" for those in the west. This would be followed by a one or two digit number that indicated the area the person was from. The last set of numbers would identify the individual. The discs were used in the Northwest Territories
(which, at the time, included present-day Nunavut
) from 1941 until 1978.
Thus a young woman who was known to her relatives as "Lutaaq, Pilitaq, Palluq, or Inusiq" and had been baptised as "Annie" was under this system to become Annie E7-121
.
Today carvings and prints produced by Inuit artists may be seen with the disc number on them. The Inuit singer Lucie Idlout
recorded a CD called E5-770, My Mother's Name in 2005. For the most part Inuit today do not miss the passing of the numbers but at least one person, Zebedee Nungak, disagrees.
was appointed to sit on the Northwest Territories Council, its first Inuk. In 1968 Simonie Michael, became the council's first elected Inuk and he declared his intention to not be known by his disc number. The Government of the NWT decided to replace the disc numbers with names and Abe Okpik was appointed to Project Surname. From 1968 - 1971 Okpik toured the NWT and northern Quebec
(Nunavik
) recording the preferences of people. He was to be later given the Order of Canada
in part because of his work with the surnames.
Inuit language
The Inuit language is traditionally spoken across the North American Arctic and to some extent in the subarctic in Labrador. The related Yupik languages are spoken in western and southern Alaska and Russian Far East, particularly the Diomede Islands, but is severely endangered in Russia today and...
were used by the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
in lieu of surnames
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
for the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
and were similar to dog-tags
Dog tag (identifier)
A dog tag is the informal name for the identification tags worn by military personnel, named such as it bears resemblance to actual dog tags. The tag is primarily used for the identification of dead and wounded and essential basic medical information for the treatment of the latter, such as blood...
. The discs were small, made of leather, had a string attached and were supposed to be worn around the neck.
Prior to the arrival of European customs, the Inuit had no need of family names and children were given names by the elders. However, by the 1940s the record keeping requirements of outside entities such as the missions, traders and the government brought about change. In response to the government's needs they decided on the disc number system.
Disc
The discs were stamped with "EskimoEskimo
Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia , across Alaska , Canada, and Greenland....
Identification Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
" around the edge and the crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
in the middle. Just below the crown was the number. The number was broken down into several parts, "E" for Inuit living east of Gjoa Haven
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
Gjoa Haven is a hamlet in Nunavut, above the Arctic Circle, located in the Kitikmeot Region, northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It is the only settlement on King William Island...
and "W" for those in the west. This would be followed by a one or two digit number that indicated the area the person was from. The last set of numbers would identify the individual. The discs were used in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
(which, at the time, included present-day Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
) from 1941 until 1978.
Thus a young woman who was known to her relatives as "Lutaaq, Pilitaq, Palluq, or Inusiq" and had been baptised as "Annie" was under this system to become Annie E7-121
Ann Meekitjuk Hanson
Ann Meekitjuk Hanson was the Commissioner of Nunavut. She served from April 21, 2005 until April 10, 2010...
.
Today carvings and prints produced by Inuit artists may be seen with the disc number on them. The Inuit singer Lucie Idlout
Lucie Idlout
Lucie Idlout is a Canadian rock singer.An Inuk from Iqaluit, Nunavut, she is the daughter of Leah Idlout d'Argencourt and granddaughter of Joseph Idlout, an Inuk hunter who was the subject of a National Film Board documentary, Between Two Worlds, in 1990 and was one of the Inuit hunters depicted...
recorded a CD called E5-770, My Mother's Name in 2005. For the most part Inuit today do not miss the passing of the numbers but at least one person, Zebedee Nungak, disagrees.
Project Surname
In 1965 Abe OkpikAbe Okpik
Abe "Abraham" Okpik, CM was an Inuit community leader in Canada. He instrumental in helping Inuit obtain surnames rather than disc numbers...
was appointed to sit on the Northwest Territories Council, its first Inuk. In 1968 Simonie Michael, became the council's first elected Inuk and he declared his intention to not be known by his disc number. The Government of the NWT decided to replace the disc numbers with names and Abe Okpik was appointed to Project Surname. From 1968 - 1971 Okpik toured the NWT and northern Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
(Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
) recording the preferences of people. He was to be later given the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in part because of his work with the surnames.