Community freezers in each of the five Nunatsiavut Inuit communities, as well as in Upper Lake Melville, will soon have a supply of caribou and muskox meat to distribute to Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.
Through an arrangement with Kivalliq Arctic Foods in Ranklin Inlet, Nunavut, the Nunatsiavut Government managed to secure about 4,000 kilograms of caribou and 3,000 kilograms of muskox.
The shipment arrived in Happy Valley-Goose Bay late Tuesday evening via a Canadian North chartered aircraft from Rankin Inlet.
“With the ban in place on harvesting George River caribou, we began exploring opportunities to secure meat for Labrador Inuit from other herds throughout the country,” notes Lands and Natural Resource Minister Greg Flowers.
“Earlier this year we were successful in our efforts, and in the coming days and weeks many of our people will enjoy a meal of caribou for the first time in years.
While Muskox is not one of our traditional country foods, it is extremely healthy to eat, and I am sure it will be very much appreciated by Beneficiaries.”