Nunavut was created on April 1, 1999, becoming Canada's newest territory carved from the eastern and northern portions of the Northwest Territories. Nunavut's creation resulted from the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, recognizing Inuit rights and self-determination in their homeland. The territory covers about 2 million square kilometres yet has only about 40,000 residents, making it Canada's largest and least densely populated jurisdiction. Nunavut's government incorporates Inuit values and operates under consensus rather than partisan models. Creating Nunavut represented a significant step in Indigenous self-government and recognition of Inuit rights to govern their homeland.