President Statement (Audio)

The Executive Council of the Nunatsiavut Government released a statement today in response to the growing discussion on the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC).

Following a research and consultation process, the Nunatsiavut Executive Council stated they had come to the conclusion that the NCC has not established that it is a collective that is entitled to Inuit rights.

“Our consultations and the history of our people make our position clear. We do not recognize the NCC proposed land claim,” said Nunatsiavut Executive Council President Johannes Lampe.

“We have been hearing from our beneficiaries that they want Nunatsiavut to speak to this issue for a while, and we took our time to take an informed position — but it is time to move forward through this dialogue in a way that reflects what they have told us and expresses the truth of our oral history and kinship systems.”

The Nunatsiavut Executive Council believes that while some members of the NCC may themselves have some Indigenous ancestry and backgrounds, the NCC has no viable claim to land in Labrador.

“As Inuit, we always return to our oral history, kinship systems and our knowledge of our people. This knowledge tells us who we are and what we are,” said President Lampe.

0“As Nunatsiavut Inuit, we have a settled land claims agreement that we negotiated with the Crown over many years.

It is essential that we act to protect and recognize the rights of Inuit in Nunatsiavut and nationally.”

The Nunatsiavut Government has also applied for intervenor status in the Innu Nation litigation against the Government of Canada in relation to the NCC claim.

Click here for more of the statement made today by the Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe.