Innu, government at odds over land

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The federal government's recent response to the Innu's seven-point plan for healing and relocation fell short of the community expectations, Chief Katie Rich said.

Ross Reid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs, sent the federal government's response April 5 to the Innu's report Hearing the Voices: Government's Role in Innu Renewal.

"They agreed with the holistic approach," said Rich. "But the government is still not ready to address the self-government land claim issue."

While Ottawa supports relocation and substance abuse treatment for village residents, it is not willing to re-negotiate a land claim deal with the Innu.

"We support the community in dealing with health and safety, social reconstruction and relocation. While we recognize that the future of your community will also be impacted and shaped by...your comprehensive claim and Innu self government...we are simply not prepared to consider major changes in the absence of a (national negotiation)."

The federal government would be willing to explore "Innu specific" solutions and designs in considering the new community although it did not elaborate on what those solutions might be.

"With the meetings we're going to have, the one thing with the province that is still not in agreement is where we move to," she said. "They still say Sango Bay is not good for us. We keep saying now is the time for us to make the decision."

Dealing with two separate levels of government is also frustrating because the Innu are often unsure who they should be negotiating with, said Rich.

"We are shuffled between governments. There are times when we don't know who to talk to."

They have also been problems with federal negotiators who refuse to deal with representatives from the Innu Nation, the official political body that represents the community, Rich said.

Federal, provincial and Innu negotiators have met several times in the past two months to try and get relief efforts underway in the remote community 330 kilometres north of Goose Bay.