Innu resent governments' attitude

Page 2

The chief of Davis Inlet is disgusted with the government of Newfoundland.

Provincial representatives are not willing to let the Innu from the remote, poverty-stricken Labrador community decide what is best for them, Katie Rich said.

"They don't want to deal with us nation-to-nation," she said. "They want to treat us like children. We have the right to make our own decisions."

A delegation of federal and provincial leaders, led by Newfoundland M.P. Ross Reid and provincial Minister of Justice Ed Roberts, met with community leaders on Feb. 23 to hear the Mushuau Innu Council and Innu Nation's report on the government role in Innu community renewal.

But Innu leaders and provincial officials disagreed over the band's seven-point plan to deal with solvent abuse and cultural breakdown in the village located 300 kilometres north of Goose Bay.

"We worked on this document day and night," said Rich. "When we presented the document to them, Ed Roberts shook his head. He doesn't accept the document."

Rich got a letter from provincial officials sometime later saying the document was unacceptable because it did not address the community's immediate problems.

Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells also suggested the Innu consider relocation sites other than the Innu's preferred Sango Bay location.

"He called and said Sango Bay was no good," Rich said. "He will wants that control. He wants to make this decision. The government has made these types of decisions for years. Look where it got us."

Davis Inlet became the center of media and government attention in January when six solvent-addicted children were discovered by police nearly comatose from sniffing gasoline fumes.

The five girls and one boy were all threatening to commit suicide. The following week, five more children were found sniffing gasoline under a house.

Solvent abuse is rampant in the community. Some 340 children in the village, some as young as four, are addicted to or in various stages of addiction to solvents.

Within days of the discovery of the second group of children, the band's chief and council prepared a seven-point plan for federal and provincial government officials outlining their strategy to save the community.

The plan demanded government assistance for the village's relocation, the establishment of a family treatment centre, treatment for solvent-addicted children and a commitment from the provincial and federal governments to start negotiating self-government with the band.

Chief Rich said Wells was surprised that the band had presented him with any plan.

"He said, 'How can you come up with this? He considered Innu stupid.

"They don't agree over jurisdiction. We are bounced back and forth and here we are caught right in the middle."

Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Tom Siddon said the federal government is still committed to aiding the community.

In mid-March, Siddon denounced rumors that Ottawa is drawing away from dealing with the current situation.

"I would like to assure Chief Katie Rich, the residents of her community, the Innu Nation and all concerned Canadians that the government is still committed to ensuring the relocation and healing of the Davis Inlet community," he said.