The Innu Nation and the Natuashish and Sheshatshiu First Nations have pulled out of the Premier’s Indigenous Roundtable, because they say, they do not believe the province under Premier Furey will fairly address the concerns Innu have already expressed about the NunatuKavut Community Council.
They also believe that Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Lisa Dempster is in a conflict of interest.
The three Innu organizations wrote the premier this week, outlining the reasons why they have decided to pull out of the roundtable meetings.
They contend that the roundtable is supposed to be a group comprised of provincial Indigenous leaders and they do not recognize the NunatuKavut Community Council as an Indigenous group. They also take exception to what they say is the sustained effort by the province to include NCC in dialogue about Indigenous matters.
They also say that the Premier’s Office has “failed repeatedly” to respond to their correspondence about what they say is Minister Dempster’s conflict of interest and “evidence of her bias” or to address their concerns in “any respectful way.” They call the lack of action and dismissal of their concerns as unacceptable and disrespectful.
The letter concludes by indicating that they have seen and heard enough to conclude that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will not address their concerns fairly.
In response, the Premier’s office says that Furey is committed to continuing to work with all Indigenous Governments and organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador.
