As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, it’s important that we acknowledge our elders, and those that have gone before us, and to thank them for the tremendous contributions they have made, and continue to make, in helping us, as Labrador Inuit, understand our past so that we can meet the challenges of the future.
Labrador Inuit have persevered for thousands of years, through good times and through bad. Our identity has been shaped by our relationship with the land, the sea, the animals and with each another. This is what has defined us as a people, making us strong, vibrant, resourceful, determined and, above all, very proud.
We believe in the wisdom of our elders and the ideas of our youth. We believe in the importance of protecting and promoting our unique identity, our language, culture and traditions, and we gather strength from sharing our stories and experiences amongst ourselves and with others.
The colonial practices and policies of the past attempted to disempower us and strip us of our culture, language, dignity and pride. The relocation of our people from Nutak and Hebron tested our resilience. The residential school system attempted to divide us, to assimilate us unto an unknown culture. We cannot forget the past, for it has help define who we are as a people.
By celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day, we are celebrating our ancestors, ourselves, our place in history, and our future. I am proud to be a Labrador Inuk, proud of what we have accomplished and excited about what lies ahead.
Johannes Lampe President.