ABSTRACT
Permafrost regions are characterised by extremely cold winter temperatures, large diurnal temperature variations in summer, low population densities, and usually a poor economic base. The indigenous peoples were adapted to living off the land, using only what they needed to survive. Newcomers were often people who liked solitude and whose primary concern was to minimise the effects of the cold winters. They were prepared to forgo the standard of living demanded by modern populations in big cities in warmer climates. Settlements were widely spaced out so as to provide enough resources for each settlement to survive. When their way of life became altered due to development of resources, replacing the food resources and providing modern amenities were both a tremendous challenge as well as very expensive, e.g., in Nunavut.
