In the Arctic no reserves were created, and the band council system was not introduced. But the Government of Canada used other tools to attempt to gain control of Inuit people and their land.

In the early 20^th century the Inuit were governing themselves, and the Government of Canada had not made decisions as to its role in that governance. This period of indecision and uncertainty lasted from 1924 to 1951.

Throughout and following this period, Inuit continued their traditional ways of life and governance, while also becoming more familiar with southern Canadian culture. In the 1950s, the Government of Canada began to move Inuit, who had always migrated with the seasons, into permanent communities with municipal-style governments and regional councils. The Inuit responded in the 1960s with the formation of political organizations, which eventually led to the successful negotiation of five modern treaties, stretching across northern Canada from Yukon to Labrador.