Assembly of First Nations supports Innu Nation in ongoing dispute with N.L. government

The Assembly of First Nations is backing Innu Nation in its ongoing dispute with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The assembly passed a related resolution this week at its annual general meeting in Ottawa.

Assembly of First Nations supports Innu Nation in ongoing dispute with N.L. government Provincial government provided no comment on the development The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is throwing its political weight behind Innu Nation in an ongoing dispute with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, over details of Innu history, with a resolution passed at an annual general meeting in Ottawa this week. The emergency resolution, supported by the assembly Tuesday, commits the body of Indigenous leaders to, "denouncing and rejecting the government of Newfoundland and Labrador's reliance on a discredited and unscientific theory of Innu presence in Labrador."

It will also see the AFN calling on the government of Canada and all provinces involved in treaty negotiations to review internal policies and, "prohibit governments from denying or undermining First Nations rights while negotiations are ongoing." It all ties back to the development of a cultural exhibit in Newfoundland and Labrador called Innu Pakassiun. Led by Innu through its development, the exhibit was meant to open in late June at the Labrador Interpretation Centre in North West River.

The centre is operated by The Rooms, a provincial Crown corporation. Innu Pakassiun was cancelled by Innu Nation leadership days before it was set to open. Innu cultural guardian Jodie Ashini told the CBC at the time an executive with The Rooms made it clear they were at an impasse over the historical timeline for Innu to be represented.

Ashini and Innu political leadership claim the province is trying to limit representations of their history in Labrador to about 300 years. Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Relations Minister Lela Evans has not spoken in support of the 300-year reference, but hasn't rejected it either, telling the CBC earlier this month she needs to investigate the position of The Rooms and Provincial Archaeology Office. Premier Tony Wakeham has spoken publicly about his interest in seeing the settlement of a long-outstanding land claim agreement with the Innu First Nations.

He has not directly weighed in on the timeline issue. At the Assembly of First Nations this week the resolution was moved by Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation Chief Eugene Hart, who told the delegates gathered at the Rogers Centre he remains "very disappointed and hurt by the province." Innu Nation is an organization created to offer a voice for the roughly 3,200 people of the Innu First Nations in Labrador.

That includes Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation people and Mushuau Innu First Nation. Mushuau Innu First Nation Chief Patricia Andrew also stood at the assembly, seconding the motion, before ceding the bulk of her time to allow for a speech from elder Elizabeth Penashue, who spoke in Innu-aimun. Penashue spoke clearly over the course of roughly eight minutes, placing her hand to her heart periodically.

Per a rough, simultaneous translation by Hart, she spoke about the challenge of gathering knowledge of Innu history and then sharing that knowledge, to assure it remains known by each new generation. She said the provincial government is disrespecting Innu people. "We don't accept what he's saying 300 years," she said, as translated by Hart.

"Like she said, there's not very many elders same age as her in our community that's still with us, but she said we don't know how much time we have on this earth to represent for the community but we want to represent as far as we can go and to be remembered," Hart said, as Penashue concluded. Qalipu Chief Jenny Brake and Flat Bay Band Chief Joanne Miles, Mi'kmaq leaders, also traveled from Newfoundland and Labrador to be present for the assembly. Both spoke in favour of the resolution.

"The government of Newfoundland and Labrador and no other colonial government has the right to tell us who we are," Brake said. Miles ceded her speaking time to Jodie Ashini. She said it was "embarrassing" to have to attend the national assembly to ask for help on the issue.

In response to questions Tuesday, a staff member in Minister Evans' office noted she was tied up late into the evening at meetings tied to her role as minister of Woman and Gender Equality. That included a meeting with federal Minister Rechie Valdez. The request for comment was submitted at about 3 p.m. NT on Tuesday, and sent to communications staff in multiple provincial government departments, including the office of Premier Tony Wakeham.

As of 7 p.m. NT, no further response was received. The Resolution Be it resolved that the First Nations in Assembly: (1) Support Innu Nation in denouncing and rejecting the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's reliance on a discredited and unscientific theory of Innu presence in Labrador. (2) Direct the Assembly of First Nations to demand clear statements from the Government of Canada and all provincial governments condemning political interference in public institutions where such intereference denies, distorts or minimizes First Nations histories, cultures, cultural belongings, identities or rights.

(3) Direct the AFN to call on the Governments of Canada, the provinces and territories engaged in treaty negotiations to adopt policies that require negotiations to proceed on the basis of recognition of rights and prohibit governments from denying or undermining First Nations rights while negotiations are ongoing. (4) Direct the AFN with the support of the National Chief to support any First Nation that seeks to protect, repatriate, interpret or present their history, oral traditions or cultural belonging free from government interference or distortion. (5) Direct the AFN to support Innu Nation's demands for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to (a) Follow the Government of Canada and publicly confirm that the Innu of Labrador are s. 35 rights holders in the province and (b) Instruct all departments to stop taking the position and stop promoting a discredited theory that Innu have only been in Labrador for 300 years.

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With files from Leila Beaudoin