The Innu Nation says it is “deeply frustrated” that it has had to “waste time and resources” in the federal court of Canada to confirm that the NunatuKavut Community Council is not what they claim to be. The court has ruled that the NCC has never been recognized as having Section .35 rights under the Constitution Act.
NCC meanwhile is claiming victory with the federal court decision which it says upholds the MOU with Canada on NCC’s recognition of Indigenous Rights and the Self-Determination process.
That’s no surprise according to the Innu Nation which has long contended that the NCC does not have a legitimate claim to Indigenous identity and the rights and benefits that come with that.
The Innu Nation says NCC has “consistently manipulated and mislead the public about its legal status and the legal effect of the 2019 MOU, when the court confirmed that NCC has no standing as an Indigenous people.”
Federal Court decision confirms that NunatuKavut Community Council has never been recognized as an Aboriginal Rights holder. NCC bragging about hollow win a diversion from the real story that the 2019 MOU is meaningless. #indigenous #innu #inuit pic.twitter.com/mamXWwiEFL
— Innu Nation (@ntesinan) June 13, 2024
The Innu Nation says it is extremely grateful for the legal clarification on the NCC’s standing as an Indigenous people and is urging the Canadian government to “stop signing meaningless agreements to politically pander to imposter groups.”
NCC has increasingly faced push-back from Indigenous groups for its attempts to be recognized as southern Inuit in Labrador.
Undeterred, NCC President Todd Russell says rather than a defeat, he sees the court decision as a victory and not the end of a process, but the beginning.
He says the ball is now in the federal government’s court.
“It is up to Canada to advance the important work of negotiations at the RIRSV table.”