Report calls Labrador "Canada's Tibet"

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Survival, a UK-based organization of 14,000 members that defends the right to self-determination by Aboriginal peoples, released a 50-page report Nov. 8 entitled Canada's Tibet-the killing of the Innu. It says the Innu of Labrador face imminent extinction as a result of ruthless policy-making by the Canadian state, government and corporate mega-projects, and low-level military flights. Clearly, it is a wake-up call to the rest of Canada that such interventions have nearly decimated the formerly self-sufficient, nomadic tribal culture who occupy "Nitassinan," the report concludes.

The bigger portion of Nitassinan is located in northeastern Quebec, where there are nine settlements and an estimated 14, 500 Innu.

There are roughly1,700 Innu left in all of Labrador, population about 30,000. Nearly all Labrador Innu now live in two settlements, Sheshatshiu (1,100) and Utshimassits (Davis Inlet, 600).

"The Canadian government is directly responsible for the appalling suffering of the Innu people . . . if Canadians knew what was happening, they would be outraged," said Stephen Corry, director general of Survival.

The Canadian Environmental Defence Fund, which released Survival's report in Canada, issued a statement by their executive director, Burkhard Mausberg, to explain why.

"The Innu have experienced a history of abuse. On their own land, they have endured forced relocations, large mining operations, environmentally destructive forestry practices and hydro-electric activities such as Churchill Falls."

Indian Affair's Associate Regional Director General Jules Hébert talked toWindspeaker about the gap between the government's views and the Innu's view that they only need control over their own land and resources to solve their problems. Hébert was also asked to address the Innu complaint documented in the report that negotiation only takes place in a framework and timetable mandated by Canada.

Hébert hopes the gap across the cultural divide can be bridged and that is what both sides are working towards.

"Let us not forget the Innu have only been living in the community for the last 30 to 40 years or so. They were very nomadic, as the report points out. They could live off the land and that sort of thing," Hébert said. "Trying to catch up and coming into a so-called modern society, so often you'll find that cultures will clash. But one of the things that we've been starting to do for quite some time now is that we're trying to give as much control as possible to the Innu folks themselves - let them control their own lives. We're not there just yet."

He says the Innu, "as a collectivity," have been and will be involved in consultation with the government and the private sector regarding mining, hydro projects and the like. This is to make sure that whatever development takes place in respect to the Innu culture, and way of life, and certainly the environment, is not put in a state where it is totally destroyed, Hébert said.

"I know it's difficult. It's a challenge for all of us. So that hopefully whatever development takes place and whatever kind of devolution takes place, that it will be dealt with some sensitivities. Now, having said that, we know it's not going to be easy. Certainly the community has some problems . . . certainly as the Government of Canada, we will want to work closely with the community and to try to help solve their problem.

"It's my sense anyways, it's our sense, that the solution has to come from the people. . . . It's not going to happen overnight. It's pretty serious, when you talk about the high suicide rate."

Canada's Tibet reports the Mushuau Innu of Northern Labrador have the highest suicide rate in the world. National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, issued a response to Survival's report that put that claim in perspective.

"The suicide rate in the Innu Nation is 13 times the Canadian average," he said.

Hébert was reminded the Innu have never given up their land thrugh treaty and was asked why Canada believed it could "devolve" rights to the Innu instead of the other way around?

"That's a good point. That's why we have set up these negotiating tables, so people can have a better understanding of what they are, and what position each party is taking, and these are just tough issues to deal with and . . . we do have to do this with some certain amount of sensitivities. And why should one party dictate to the other? We would much rather that people will come together and come up with some sort of an agreement so all parties involved can live in happy co-existence," Hébert said.

Why are mega-projects outlined in Survival's report and low-level military flights not suspended until land claims are settled?

"As we speak, there are some discussions going on to deal with those exact issues," Hébert said.

Peter Penashue, re-elected chief of the Innu Nation Nov. 16, could not be reached to discuss either land issues or Survival's report, nor could their chief land negotiator, Penote (Ben) Michel, or other Innu Nation members. The premier's office did not return our telephone calls and Liberal Member of Parliament for Newfoundland and Labrador, Lawrence O'Brien, was travelling.

Hébert said some progress has been made with Inuit land claims, but "as far as the Innu are concerned, we're far from even having an agreement in principle." Hébert added courts have said before further development can go ahead, progress has to be made on the land claims, and some agreement reached with the Innu and Inuit.

He knew little about low-level flying, but said an institute had been set up to document Innu complaints and "minimize that in future years." He admits "certainly the loss of traditional pursuits, it all affects the culture. They're not going to go out on the land like they used to."

George Bédard is the chief federal land negotiator working on the Innu Nation land claim in central Labrador. He was unaware of the three solutions proposed by the nnu in Survival's report; that all development on their land cease until their ownership of land and resources "has been recognized and accepted by Canada;" that comprehensive claims policy to be amended so they won't be forced to give up most of their land; and finally the Innu say Canada "must recognize and accept the right of the Innu to take back control over their lives and the institutions which affect them."

As for stopping mega-projects, he said that was rejected by government because land claims negotiations were underway and there were "other avenues to carry on with those negotiations other than simply stopping all development."

Bédard said it is incorrect to say money is only a small part of the settlement being offered.

"As a result of the land claim, there would be lands identified that would be provided or given to the Innu in fee simple. That means the Innu would have absolute title to that land," he said. The Innu have indicated their traditional-use area is 227,000 sq. km, but since the amount of land and money being negotiated as compensation is underway, it would be "inappropriate" for him to say how much land the Innu will get.

Bédard estimates land negotiations could take three years, and include natural resources, water rights, and establishment of an Innu government.

"The objective is to give the Innu control over their own land mass and the possibility of passing legislation that will respect traditional ways and means," he said. He added they would get "law-making capacity" over hunting and fishing and cultural issues. He suggested they would "be there to deal with the whole question of policing, of administration of justice; they may even go as far as correctional controls." He says they would not control criminal law, divorce or things "which are federal in nature." Many provincial laws would apply, and in some cases where laws overlap there might have to be "harmonization" of agreements. In the final analysis, Bédard says the governmnt is providing funds the Innu can allocate as they see fit for training, education and other "capacity building measures" to make them full participants in the economy.

Chief negotiator for the province, Bob Pelley, relates the Innu land claim of 227,000 km does not include Quebec, where they also have a claim. Likewise, the Quebec Innu are claiming part of Labrador. Newfoundland and Quebec are negotiating separately with separate Aboriginal groups, he said, who generally were expected to work out an arrangement among themselves without the government "trying to be a third party in between."

Pelley admits he has "heard of" Survival's report, which reports 250,000 mining claims were staked on Innu land by 1996. But he disputes whether there should be any great concern over mineral exploration. He said not only is there an "exempt mineral land" order in effect, stopping new and further claim staking around Davis Inlet, but "there is relatively little staking activity going on in Labrador as a whole right now." He adds there is almost no forestry either, since there is "a relatively small amount of timber in Labrador."

He says the Innu "usually have been involved in co-operating with government" when roads or other infrastructure is planned, to protect archeological or other important sites.

"We're open to taking reasonable steps to protect them," Pelley said about sacred sites. He said the government knows the location of some graves, but the Innu are not revealing where others are. Pelley said the only highway in the territory, from Labrador City to Goose Bay, is just a narrow gravel road, so roads pose no environmental threat.

Pelley sums up by saying that most of Labrador is still in pristine condition and that people should see it before passing judgment. He said the Innu will be on the management board of a new national park east of Goose Bay and are consulted in land and resource issues affecting them. Finally, Pelley said the Lower Churchill hydro developmen