The Innu Nation is taking the federal government to court asking that the MOU signed between Ottawa and the NunatuKavut Community Council be cancelled—claiming they had no choice but to challenge the decision.
The Innu Nation contends that the Memorandum of Understanding has “serious potential” to delay or affect the Innu Nation’s longstanding claim in Labrador. They say it was shocked when it was announced on September 5 that the federal government had entered into an expedited agreement with NCC following one year of negotiations.
In a release issued today, the Innu Nation says the MOU commits Canada to negotiate with NCC about jurisdiction and rights over land, sea and ice, and recognizes NunatuKavut as a group which can hold constitutional rights to lands and waters.
(The Innu Nation contends the NCC has claimed land rights through much of the Innu land claim area.)
The Innu Nation says the NCC has claimed land rights throughout most of the Innu land claim area—including Sheshatshiu where 2,000 Innu now live. The Innu Nation has been negotiating its own land rights with Canada for 40 years.
The Innu Nation says it has repeatedly attempted to enter into dialogue with the federal government on the NCC MOU, but Ottawa has “failed to provide any satisfactory answers.”
NunatuKavut Responds
The NunatuKavut Community Council says it condemns the Innu Nation’s attempt to “quash” their MOU, as a form of “racism” and “lateral violence.”
President Todd Russell says it was “appalling to learn of the Innu Nation’s Federal Court application.”
NCC says it is the governing body for approximately 6,000 Inuit of south and central Labrador.
They acknowledge there is overlap between their land claim and that of the Innu Nation, something they say is not a unique occurrence.
NCC condemns Innu Nation's attempt to quash our Memorandum of Understanding with Canada as form of #racism and lateral violence. @NTVNewsNL @VOCMNEWS @APTNNews @CBCNL @CBCCanada @globeandmail @GlobalNational pic.twitter.com/1DMOkLTnZ5
— NunatuKavut (@NunatuKavut) October 8, 2019
