Provincial government meets with Innu in Labrador to discuss concerns relating to exhibit, Innu Pakussian
Premier Tony Wakeham, Lela Evans, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, along with Lake Melville MHA Keith Russell, met with the Innu on Monday evening and Tuesday morning in Labrador to discuss concerns relating to the exhibit, Innu Pakussian.
During the meetings, the Premier apologized for matters related to the Innu exhibit, committed to free Indigenous cultural expression at all Provincial Government institutions and committed that buildings publicly displaying Indigenous culture will not be required to establish an occupancy timeline. He also agreed to expedite Innu land claim negotiations.
The Premier also signified his openness to further discussions around the proposals; however, all recommendations were rejected.
In a Facebook post from the Innu Nation, the group says after meeting with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador they declined to change their position on blocking the Innu Culture and Heritage Exhibition as is. They chose to continue to deny our indigenous history during National Indigenous History Month. Innu protested in Happy Valley – Goose Bay
“Seventy-seven years after Confederation, Innu should not still be fighting to have our history recognized by our own provincial government,” said Deputy Grand Chief Chris Rich of the Innu Nation. “Reconciliation cannot be built on the erasure of Innu, the Province has an opportunity to correct this course, but it must begin with specific commitments and concrete action.”
Chief Eugene Hart, Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation said, “The Province did not commit to directing its departments, agencies, and publicly funded institutions to stop using or promoting the false theory that Innu have only been present in Labrador for approximately 300 years and that we arrived after Europeans, nor did it acknowledge the harm caused by the continued erasure of Innu history.”
The Premier outlined his commitments in a letter to the Innu:
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