Innu leave Parliament Hill with money, promises

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After camping on Parliament grounds for six days, Innu protesters from Labrador left with funding to tide them through the winter and a promise to meet with the new Minister of Indian Affairs after the election.

"I feel we've made our point in the strongest way possible," said Innu Nation President Peter Penashue. "We're leaving on our terms and we will be back if our terms are not met after the election."

Forty-seven Innu from Labrador set up camp in front of the Parliament Buildings to put pressure on the government to meet their demands. On October 13, Penashue and Davis Inlet Chief Katie Rich met with Jack Stagg, assistant deputy minister for policy with the Department of Indian Affairs, and came to an agreement. Rich indicated she would divulge details of the deal after the Oct. 25 federal election.

The Innu are demanding the federal government live up to its responsibilities to Native people by providing adequate housing, social programs, job training and improved police and fire protection. Included in the list of demands was the on-going plea by the community of Davis Inlet to be moved to the mainland at Little Sango Pond.

Davis Inlet became the focus of government and media attention in January when six children in the remote community were discovered high on gas fumes. The children were screaming they wanted to die when discovered by a Native police officer.

While the federal government has agreed to meet all the demands presented on the Hill, excluding cancellation of low-level flights in Labrador, Ottawa is insisting the Innu people register under the Indian Act before granting them access to federal services.

Innu representative Penashue, Rich and Sheshatshiu Chief Greg Andrew have rejected the clause, stating in a letter to federal representatives the Innu have never signed a treaty and therefore have never extinguished their rights. The Innu representatives also pointed out there is no legal requirement for registering under the Indian Act and that the Canadian Human Rights Commission recommended against forcing the Innu to register.

The Innu could be meeting with the first Native minister of Indian Affairs if the Liberals win the election. Ethel Blondin-Andrew has been pegged by some as a shoo-in for the position. Blondin-Andrew is the incumbent in the Northwest Territories riding of Western Arctic.