Backgrounder
Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement
How will the general public be impacted?

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement will bring new rights and responsibilities to governments and people living and working in the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. The biggest impacts will be in the area known as Labrador Inuit Lands, where the Nunatsiavut Government will exercise most of its powers. The Nunatsiavut Government is a new Inuit government provided for under the Agreement.

The following information outlines how you may be affected by the Agreement.

Leases, Licences, etc.

Labrador Inuit Lands

• Administration of existing leases and licences will be transferred to the Nunatsiavut Government.
• Lease/licence holders continue to hold their interest in accordance with their current terms and conditions. However, the title must be in good standing.
• Lease/licence holders may access their properties using the current means and route, without requesting the consent of the Nunatsiavut Government or paying any fees.
• Applications for renewals must be made to the Nunatsiavut Government, which may impose additional reasonable fees and conditions.
• New leases and licences will be available from the Nunatsiavut Government only.

Settlement Area

• Leases and licences within the Settlement Area, outside Labrador Inuit Lands, will not be affected and will continue to be issued by the province.

Properties within the Five Inuit Communities

• Until the election of the first Inuit community governments, which is expected by September 2006, applications for leases or licences on Crown land within the Inuit communities should continue to be directed to the Town Council. The Town will continue to make recommendations to the province on such applications. Leases and licences will continue to be issued by the province. Renewals will also be issued by the province.
• After election of the Inuit community governments, Crown land will be transferred to the Inuit community governments, and applications for renewal or any new applications for land must be made to the Inuit community governments.
• Crown land lease or license holders may continue to hold their interest according to their terms and conditions, provided the title is in good standing.
• Application for renewal must be made to the appropriate Inuit community government, which may impose additional reasonable terms and conditions upon renewal.

Private Lands

• Existing private land holders are not affected anywhere in the Settlement Area, including Labrador Inuit Lands, and within the five Inuit communities.
• As of December 1, 2005, the province can no longer accept requests for grants to sites within Labrador Inuit Lands.

Recreational Hunting, Fishing, etc.

• The Agreement contains specific provisions for Inuit and non-Inuit resource harvesting including hunting, fishing, trapping, cutting firewood and berry picking within the Settlement Area.
• Inuit have the right to harvest for food, social and ceremonial purposes throughout the Settlement Area.
• If conservation requires that resource harvesting be limited, Inuit will have priority rights. All harvesting by non-Inuit must be closed before there are any reductions to Inuit harvesting.

Labrador Inuit Lands

• Non-Inuit who wish to harvest on Labrador Inuit Lands, including fishing in inland waters, will need permission from the Nunatsiavut Government.
• Special provisions have been made for existing outfitters and commercial forestry operations, non-Inuit long-term residents of Inuit communities, non-Inuit with existing cabins in Labrador Inuit Lands, and non-Inuit with existing trapping licences (see Chapters 4 and 12 of the Agreement for detailed criteria).
• Non-Inuit Labradorians fishing in tidal waters for non-commercial purposes may establish temporary camps and cut firewood for the camps along the shoreline.

Settlement Area

• Outside Labrador Inuit Lands, non-Inuit can harvest in accordance with provincial and federal regulations.

Everyone can continue to fish, including ice fishing, in marine waters in accordance with federal regulations.

Access to Labrador Inuit Lands

• Non-Inuit not specifically accommodated under the Agreement must acquire the consent of the Nunatsiavut Government and pay any applicable fees prior to entering Labrador Inuit Lands.
• Consent or payment of fees is not required in the case of emergency or when exercising the right of navigation.

Access provisions, waiving consent or payment of fees, for special interests include:

Casual, recreational access

• Non-Inuit may cross Labrador Inuit Lands using standard routes to reach other lands for purposes such as recreational snowmobiling, canoeing and hiking.

Freehold title, lease, licence or subsurface interest holders on December 1, 2005

• Non-Inuit may cross Labrador Inuit Lands to reach their property by using their traditional means and route of access.

Government officials and public utilities

• Persons carrying out duties as government officials or public utility functions may carry out these duties.

Provincial Social Programs

The province will continue to provide services in the Inuit communities such as schools, clinics, income support, social housing and justice programs. In future, agreements may be reached whereby the Nunatsiavut Government will deliver programs currently delivered by the province.

The information provided above is a summary of how the general public may be affected by the Agreement. Please refer to the Agreement for details. An electronic copy is available at the following web sites:

The Labrador Inuit Association

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - Labrador Inuit Land Claims

Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement

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