 In 1976, as part of the land claims negotiations between the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (then called the "Inuit Tapirisat of Canada") and the federal government, the parties discussed division of the Northwest Territories to provide a separate territory for the Inuit.On April 14, 1982, a plebiscite on division was held throughout the Northwest Territories.A majority of the residents voted in favour and the federal government gave a conditional agreement seven months later.