Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $)	Share capital [Member]	Contributed surplus [Member]	Contributed surplus - options [Member]	Contributed surplus - units [Member]	Deficit [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Nov. 30, 2012	$ 92,168,000	$ 12,180,000	$ 12,703,000		$ (63,328,000)	$ 53,723,000
Beginning Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2012	46,665,069
Vesting of NovaGold Performance and Deferred Share Units	33,000	(33,000)
Vesting of NovaGold Performance and Deferred Share Units (Shares)	16,586					14,180
Exercise of NovaGold Warrants	11,996,000	(11,996,000)
Exercise of NovaGold Warrants (Shares)	6,088,262
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement Options	11,000		(11,000)
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement Options (Shares)	1,184
Stock-based compensation			3,310,000	1,683,000		4,993,000
Loss for the period					(12,573,000)	(12,573,000)
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2013	104,208,000	151,000	16,002,000	1,683,000	(75,901,000)	46,143,000
Ending Balance (Shares) at May. 31, 2013	52,771,101
Beginning Balance at Nov. 30, 2013	104,895,000	152,000	17,248,000	2,584,000	(87,722,000)	37,157,000
Beginning Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2013	53,066,656
Vesting of NovaGold Performance and Deferred Share Units (Shares)						14,166
Vesting of NovaGold Performance Share Units	28,000	(28,000)
Vesting of NovaGold Performance Share Units (Shares)	14,166
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement Options	632,000		(615,000)			17,000
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement Options (Shares)	46,929
Vesting of Restricted Share Units	803,000			(803,000)
Vesting of Restricted Share Units (Shares)	425,833
Vesting of Deferred Share Units	282,000			(282,000)		282,000
Vesting of Deferred Share Units (Shares)	154,373					154,373
Stock-based compensation			33,000	218,000		251,000
Loss for the period					(4,707,000)	(4,707,000)
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2014	$ 106,640,000	$ 124,000	$ 16,666,000	$ 1,717,000	$ (92,429,000)	$ 32,718,000
Ending Balance (Shares) at May. 31, 2014	53,707,957