The Innu of Labrador

The Innu of Labrador number about 1,600 and live primarily in two communities: Davis Inlet and Sheshatshiu. They are represented politically by the Innu Nation.

When Newfoundland became part of Canada in 1949, the Innu were not recognized as Indians under the Indian Act. The province explained that Aboriginal peoples of Labrador and Newfoundland had the right to vote and it should not be taken away from them by placing them under the Indian Act. Canada and Newfoundland established a shared responsibility for the Innu at that time.

Today, Canada provides funding to the Innu through agreements administered by the province of Newfoundland for housing, infrastructure, education, health care, and social and cultural development.

The Innu Nation Comprehensive Land Claim

The Innu Nation is the political association of the Labrador Innu which has been authorized by the Innu to negotiate a treaty on behalf of approximately 500 Innu in Davis Inlet and 1,100 Innu in Sheshatshiu. (For general information on comprehensive claims, see the information sheet on this topic.)

In 1977, the Innu submitted to the federal government a claim to land based on Aboriginal title. The claim was conditionally accepted by the federal government for negotiation in 1978, subject to the completion of a land use and occupancy study and the participation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the negotiation process. The Innu submitted a land use and occupancy study in October 1990.

The federal and provincial governments and the Innu Nation began negotiation toward a framework agreement in July 1991. The parties made significant progress towards an agreement. However, a series of negotiating stumbling blocks hampered progress between May 1992 and May 1995.

Tripartite or three-way negotiations among the Innu Nation and the federal and provincial governments resumed in May 1995 and in October 1995 negotiators initialled a framework agreement.

The Innu Nation Framework Agreement determines the scope, topics and parameters for the agreement-in-principle and final agreement negotiations. The main purpose of the framework agreement is to enhance the effectiveness of the treaty negotiation process.

The framework agreement was approved by the Newfoundland government in November 1995 and subsequently ratified by the Innu Nation in a community vote on January 22, 1996. The federal government approved the framework and a mandate to negotiate an agreement-in-principle in March 1996. The signing of the framework agreement by Innu Nation President Peter Penashue, federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Ronald A. Irwin, and Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Brian Tobin marks the formal ratification of the agreement.

As part of the mandate for the negotiation of an agreement-in-principle approved by the federal government, Minister Irwin received the authority to engage in self-government negotiations in parallel with land claims negotiations. Innu self-government will be negotiated in keeping with the recent federal policy as set out in the Framework for Implementation of the Inherent Right and the Negotiation of Self-Government.

The next stage in the land claims process is negotiation of an agreement-in-principle. This stage normally takes several years.

Voisey's Bay

In 1993, rich deposits of nickel, cobalt and copper were discovered at Voisey's Bay, Labrador on land that is claimed by both the Labrador Innu and the Labrador Inuit Association (LIA). The discovery added another dimension to the treaty negotiating process.

This is one of a series of Information Sheets produced by the Communications Branch, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. For information sheets on other topics, contact:

Public Enquiries Kiosk
Department of Indian Affairs
and Northern Development
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0H4

Telephone: (819) 997-0380

QS-6047-071-EE-A1