The Innu Nation confronted Premier Tony Wakeham at today’s Minerals Resource Review at the Delta Hotel in St. John’s forcing a long-awaited meeting on concerns they have over the province’s position on the Innu presence in Labrador.

Innu Grand Chief Jodie Ashini, who was sitting in the front row, rose her hand following Wakeham’s remarks, and declared that Churchill Falls will not be going ahead if the Innu don’t get their meeting with the premier.

The Innu are concerned with government’s contention that the Innu presence in Labrador only dates back 300 years – contrary to their own understanding, and significant in light of future development in the region.

They accuse the Wakeham government of trying to rewrite their history.

The Innu were frustrated after failing to secure a meeting with the Premier during a recent trip to Ottawa.

Ashini told reporters after the confrontation that they’re tired of being left on government’s “backburner.”

“I tried to get him to answer a question because, as you heard in his speech, not once did he say anything about the Innu, or trying to rebuild the relationship that we have. You know the concerns that we’ve had for the last four months; we’ve been put on the backburner, and he wants to continue to develop on Innu land, but with zero respect, and us at the table, and he’s got to understand that’s not how it works.”

The Grand Chief says she wanted the Premier to publicly acknowledge the Innu presence in Labrador, but he refused.

Ashini says they are not against Churchill Falls, but the Innu Nation – and their land rights – must be respected.

“We are not against the project. We are not against developing the land for the Innu people, but we have to profit too…and if that doesn’t happen and there’s no respect for us, I’m sorry but we have to let people know that this development happens…on our land.”