Flag of the Northwest Territories

What the flag looks like

A blue vertical band at each end, each a quarter of the width, with a white square in the center holding the territorial shield: a wavy blue line on white above a green and red field with gold bars and a white fox's head.

What it means

Blue stands for the lakes and waters and white for snow and ice; on the shield, the wavy line is the Northwest Passage, green and red are the forest and tundra split by the tree line, and the gold bars and fox stand for minerals and furs.

How to remember it

The Northwest Territories borrow Canada's layout in blue: blue bands either side of a white center holding a shield with a fox's head instead of a maple leaf.

Fun facts

• The Northwest Territories recognize eleven official languages, more than any other province or territory in Canada.
• The flag was chosen in a design competition and adopted by the territorial legislature in 1969.

Northwest Territories at a glance

Type

Territory

Joined Confederation

1870

Capital

Yellowknife

Region

Northern Canada

Population

41,070

Area

1,346,106 km²

Languages

Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tłı̨chǫ

Currency

Canadian dollar ($)

Flag adopted

1969

Flags often confused with the Northwest Territories

• Canada: Canada and the Northwest Territories share the same layout of a white square between two side bands. Canada's bands are red with a red maple leaf; the Northwest Territories' are blue with a shield in the center.
• Yukon: The Northwest Territories and Yukon both have a wide white center with an emblem between colored side panels. The Northwest Territories have blue on both sides and a plain shield; Yukon has green at the hoist, blue at the fly and a full coat of arms over fireweed.