Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Share capital [Member]	Warrants [Member]	Contributed surplus [Member]	Contributed surplus - options [Member]	Contributed surplus - units [Member]	Deficit [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Nov. 30, 2011	$ 27,280		$ 36,281			$ (32,310)	$ 31,251
Beginning Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2011	200
Funding provided and expenses paid by NovaGold Resources Inc.			43,763				43,763
Issued pursuant to Plan of Arrangement	64,496		(67,864)	3,368
Issued pursuant to Plan of Arrangement (Shares)	46,577,878
Issued pursuant to an employment agreement	316						316
Issued pursuant to an employment agreement (shares)	76,005
Private placement							0
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options	76			(76)
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options (Shares)	10,986
Stock-based compensation				9,411			9,411
Loss for the year						(31,018)	(31,018)
Ending Balance at Nov. 30, 2012	92,168		12,180	12,703		(63,328)	53,723
Ending Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2012	46,665,069
NovaGold Performance Share Units and Deferred Share Units	32		(32)
NovaGold Performance Share Units and Deferred Share Units (shares)	16,586						16,586
Private placement							0
Restricted Share Units	445				(173)		272
Restricted Share Units (Shares)	244,496
Exercise of NovaGold Warrants	11,996		(11,996)				(11,996)
Exercise of NovaGold Warrants (Shares)	6,088,262
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options	254			(235)			19
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options (Shares)	52,243
Restricted Share Units reclassified from liability					2,633		2,633
Stock-based compensation				4,780	124		4,904
Loss for the year						(24,394)	(24,394)
Ending Balance at Nov. 30, 2013	104,895		152	17,248	2,584	(87,722)	37,157
Ending Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2013	53,066,656
NovaGold Performance Share Units and Deferred Share Units	28		(28)
NovaGold Performance Share Units and Deferred Share Units (shares)	14,166						14,166
Private placement	5,068	2,163					7,231
Private Placement (shares)	6,521,740						6,521,740
Restricted Share Units	929				(929)
Restricted Share Units (Shares)	492,501
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options	631			(615)			16
Exercise of NovaGold Arrangement options (Shares)	46,929
Deferred Share Units	282				(78)		204
Deferred Share Units (Shares)	154,373
Stock-based compensation				456	431		887
Loss for the year						(9,648)	(9,648)
Ending Balance at Nov. 30, 2014	$ 111,833	$ 2,163	$ 124	$ 17,089	$ 2,008	$ (97,370)	$ 35,847
Ending Balance (Shares) at Nov. 30, 2014	60,296,365