NunatuKavummiut

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NunatuKavummiut (or People of NunatuKavut) are an Indigenous collective[a] descended from Inuit and European people in central to southern Labrador.[6][7][4] They have also been called the Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut, South Central Labrador Inuit, and Labrador Inuit-Métis. While some members of NunatuKavut communities have used the term métis (meaning "mixed" in French), they are unrelated to the Métis of Western Canada.[b]

NunatuKavummiut (People of NunatuKavut)
Total population
~6,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Central and southern Labrador (Canada)
Languages
Newfoundland English
Religion
Christianity (Protestantism, Evangelicalism), Animism
Related ethnic groups
Inuit, European Canadians
PersonNunatuKavummiuk
PeopleNunatuKavummiut
LanguageInuttut;
Uukturausingit

The NunatuKavummiut span 24 communities across NunatuKavut, forming a majority in many of those, and most still partake in traditional livelihoods such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and berry collecting.[9] The region claimed by the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) encompasses southern Labrador from the Grand River (Newfoundland name: Churchill River), south to Lodge Bay and west to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador, although the NunatuKavummiut's proposed land use is much more extensive.[10][page needed]

The NCC (formerly the Labrador Métis Nation) signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government in 2019, though this does not grant Indigenous rights in itself.[4][3][5] It is also an associate member of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.[11] The NCC and its approximately 6,000 members have not been recognized by the Nunatsiavut Government, the Innu Nation, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, or the Inuit Circumpolar Council.[12][5][13][14] The Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador said the NunatuKavummiut had a "credible but [as yet] unproven" case for Indigenous rights.[15]

Terminology

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Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our Ancient Land" in the traditional Inuttitut dialect of central and southern Labrador. The NunatuKavummiut (literally "the People of Our Ancient Land") have also been known as the South Central Labrador Inuit, Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut, Southern Labrador Inuit, and Labrador Inuit-Metis.[16][17][18] The NCC was previously known as the Labrador Métis Nation and the Labrador Métis Association.[19] When used as a generic noun or an adjective, métis means "mixed" in French, but this name was changed to avoid confusion with the Indian Métis peoples.[20][21][22]

Exonyms for the peoples today comprising the NunatuKavummiut have included Anglo-Esquimaux, Labradorians, livyeres, mixed settlers or Settlers, planters, Southlanders, and more pejorative terms such as half-breeds and half-castes (some of which have also been used to refer to the Métis).[21][23]

History

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Arrival in southern Labrador

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The NunatuKavummiut are the descendants of Inuit who occupied and used the southern shore of Lake Melville and the coastal regions of Labrador south of Groswater Bay for thousands of years, and long before the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made any real foray into the area in the early 20th century.[9][24][6] There has been general scholarly agreement that Inuit people were active in southern Labrador from at least the point of European first contact in the 1550s until the 1760s, when the area came under effective European control.[15][7][6] Many settlements were inhabited throughout year. Sod houses dating from the early- to mid-16th century have been identified in Sandwich Bay, such as on Huntingdon Island. Communal houses were inhabited by as many as five or six families and tents were used in the warmer seasons.[18][7][25] Occupation was likely much more extensive and consistent than that, as most NunatuKavummiut lived a transhumant semi-nomadic way of life until the mid-1900s.[26][25][27]

Contact with Europeans

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Southern Inuit groups are also recorded as being in conflict with the Basque and French whalers beginning in the mid-1500s; later they traded with these groups until the French were excluded from the region following the Treaty of Paris (1763). Most contact with Europeans after this point was with British men, who mostly came alone or in small groups, and without wives.[18][6][7] From as early as the 1700s, there are reports of British (and occasionally Irish) men cohabiting with Inuit women and being absorbed into the local Southern Inuit community.[7][6][28] These unions would sometimes be formalized by visiting clergy.[18]

By the 1760s, Inuit communities in southern Labrador were already well established, having migrated from the south and east coast to cover the area from Hamilton Inlet to the current border with Quebec.[15][7][6] Europeans did not have separate communities but lived with the local Inuit.[18] Although influenced in many ways by prolonged contact with European seasonal workers and merchants, the Southern Inuit culture and way of life retained distinctly Inuit traditions.[6][27][28] The Southern Inuit often traded with European merchants, fishers and fur traders. European items were often adapted and customized by the Southern Inuit to better suit their purposes, with items from Italy, England, France and elsewhere discovered at archeological sites.[7] The Moravian Church missionaries who arrived in the north during the 1770s also did not settle in southern Labrador. This meant some Southern Inuit retained traditional values and customs which the Moravians had denigrated or attempted to suppress in the north. Conversely, the Southern Inuit also did not benefit from the Moravians' help in recording (and thus preserving) Inuttut, or from the church's extensive documentation in general. Nor did they benefit from the Moravians' ability to represent them to governments or other external institutions.[6]

Between 1830 and 1870, the number of permanent British settlers slowly increased (most working for the Hudson’s Bay Company or fur and fish traders), creating new generations of mixed Inuit-Europeans. Along the southern coast, these newly emerging Inuit-Europeans, who would become known as the Labrador Métis, developed their own distinct culture, with genealogies that have been traced back to the time of the earliest British arrivals. The Labrador Métis saw themselves as distinct from their Inuit and European neighbors, much like the Kablunângajuit group in the north. They used European tools, but adapted them like their Inuit neighbors. They practised a mix of Christian and Inuit religious practices, albeit less formally than those under the remit of the Moravian Church. They also ate different food from the Europeans, with significantly more seal and local animals, like the Inuit. The construction, layout and contents of their homes also distinguished them from both European and South Inuit houses in the region. One well documented Labrador Métis house was the home of an English trader, Charles Williams, and his Métis (Scots-Inuit) wife, Mary. The house was constructed in the mid- to late-19th century and was inhabited perhaps as late as 1915.[6][7]

Lambert De Boilieu documented his encounters with the Labrador Métis, in which he detailed their lengthy breastfeeding, their hunting traditions, and their spiritual and religious beliefs.[6] While the Labrador Métis had many similarities with the northern Kablunângajuit group (also known as Settlers), they became more isolated from each other and the Moravian missions in the north, and many adopted English. Despite this, they had a consistent culture throughout the 19th and early 20th century, until Newfoundland and Labrador joined the Canadian Confederation in March 31, 1949.[29][30] Moreover, they were not divided from the northern Inuit, as communities on the north and south coasts were often related and retain these family connections today.[6]

NunatuKavummiut today

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After the British Dominion of Newfoundland became part of the Canadian Confederation, the Kablunângajuit were incorporated into the recognized Inuit groups, but the Southern Inuit and Labrador Métis were not.[7][31] Subsequently, during the 1960s, these groups were encouraged by the provincial government's resettlement policy to move to population hubs such as Cartwright, Mary's Harbour, and Port Hope Simpson, thus leaving their traditional homes behind and disrupting their practices.[29] These groups were largely unrepresented until the 1980s, when the Labrador Métis Association (LMA) was established to represent the Southern Inuit and Labrador Métis. The organization changed its name to the NunatuKavut Community Council in 2010, reflecting the historic name of their shared Southern Inuit ancestors, the NunatuKavummiut.[7][32]

NCC figures from 2007 suggest that almost all NunatuKavummiut have retained traditional practices such as hunting, fishing, collecting wood, and harvesting today; and almost two-thirds still trap.[15][33] The NunatuKavummiut community has continued to be affected by developments in the NunatuKavut area, and as a result the NCC has campaigned about local issues which may impact the livelihoods of its members.[34][35] They have been affected by loss of traditional hunting territory and the decline in native wildlife, such as the caribou.[33] In recent years, they have also attempted to engage with mining companies exploiting the area's mineral resources, such as iron. These efforts have been hampered by the lack of federal recognition.[36][7][37]

Distribution

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Map with the location of the main NunatuKavut communities

The traditional territory of the NunatuKavummiut consists of a region of southern shore of Lake Melville and southern Labrador that encompasses communities from Mud Lake in southeast Lake Melville to the modern border of Labrador and Quebec.[38] The NCC represents 24 communities in NunatuKavut, and the NunatuKavummiut are the majority in many of these. Across these communities, the NunatuKavummiut are still engaged in their traditional livelihoods. According to the NCC's 2007 figures, more than 90% of NunatuKavummiut hunt, fish for food, and collect their own wood. Nearly all NunatuKavummiut also harvest local vegetation such as berries, and 70% still trap.[15]

Like other Indigenous Nations in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Nunatsiavut, Innu Nation, and the Conne River Mi'kmaq, the NunatuKavut also has a large diaspora in many other parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and across the world.[citation needed]

NunatuKavummiut communities

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According to the NCC, the 24 towns and villages in Newfoundland and Labrador with NunatuKavummiut communities are:[39]

Organization

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In 1985, the Labrador Métis Association (LMA) was established to represent the NunatuKavummiut. In 1998, the LMA became the Labrador Métis Nation (LMN). The NunatuKavummiut are today represented by the NunatuKavut Community Council, which was formed in 2010 from its predecessor, the LMN.[4][19][28] The NCC is an associate member of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples along with other non-Status Aboriginal groups.[11]

In 1991, the Labrador Métis Association's first land claim was rejected. In 1996, a report by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples stated that the Labrador Metis had all the features of a distinct Aboriginal group, and would be theoretically able to accept the rights and powers of nationhood.[7] In 2007, the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador found that the Labrador Métis Nation had a "credible but [as yet] unproven claim" to Indigenous rights, which means the Crown has a duty to consult the group on Indigenous issues.[40][15] Since then, the NCC has engaged with a number of projects which affect the NunatuKavummiut, although this is limited by their lack of federal recognition.[7]

In 2019, NCC president Todd Russell signed a memorandum of understanding with then Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister, Carolyn Bennett.[41][42] The memorandum of understanding said, "Canada has recognized NCC as an Indigenous collective". This triggered a legal challenge by other Indigenous groups, which was dismissed on the basis that the memorandum of understanding was the start of a process towards potential federal recognition, and did not grant Indigenous rights in itself.[41][4][3]

Land claim

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NunatuKavummiut claim NunatuKavut as their homeland, and are in the process of launching an Aboriginal land claim with the Canadian courts. These claims were first launched in 1991.[4][43] The NCC has said it will work with other Inuit and Indigenous groups, such as the Nunatsiavut government and the Innu Nation, to negotiate shared land use or resolve overlapping land claims where necessary.[32]

The NCC is also active in the debates over the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project, and the dam at Muskrat Falls.[34]

Notable NunatuKavummiut

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References

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  1. ^ "Who We Are". Nunatukavut.ca. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Newfoundland and Labrador v. Labrador Métis Nation, 2007 NLCA 75 (CanLII), at para 44, [1], retrieved on 2024-12-05
  3. ^ a b c "NunatuKavut moves closer to self-governance with new agreement with federal government". CBC. 2019-09-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "NunatuKavut Inuit identity dispute has long history". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 2, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Court dismisses Innu Nation challenge against recognition of disputed Labrador group". CBC. March 19, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Royal Commission White Paper on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada" (PDF). Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rankin, Lisa K. and Crompton, Amanda (2013). "The Labrador Metis and the Politics of Identity: Understanding the Past to Negotiate a Sustainable Future". International Journal of Heritage and Sustainable Development 3(1):71-79.
  8. ^ Newfoundland and Labrador v. Labrador Métis Nation, 2007 NLCA 75 (CanLII), at para 53, [2], retrieved on 2024-12-05
  9. ^ a b Newfoundland and Labrador v. Labrador Métis Nation, 2007 NLCA 75 (CanLII), at para 12, https://canlii.ca/t/1v6mk#par12, retrieved on 2024-12-04
  10. ^ Belvin, Cleophas. The forgotten Labrador. ISBN 0-7735-3151-3 (bound))
  11. ^ a b "Affiliates". www.abo-peoples.org. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  12. ^ "Inuit leader warns of Labrador group's 'illegitimate claims' to Inuit identity". CBC. May 12, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Rogers, Sarah (March 19, 2024). "Inuit and Innu United Against False Claims of Indigenous Identity". Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  14. ^ "Statement on the Nunatukavut Community Council (NCC)". Inuit Circumpolar Council. November 10, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Newfoundland and Labrador v. Labrador Métis Nation, 2007 NLCA 75 (CanLII), https://canlii.ca/t/1v6mk#par13, published on 2007-12-12 (retrieved on 2024-12-04).
  16. ^ "Indigenous Self-Government". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  17. ^ Kennedy, Alex (2023-10-10). "Innu Nation court case disputing recognition of Indigenous status for NunatuKavut rescheduled". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut: the Historical Background". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  19. ^ a b "Labrador's Métis Nation adopts new name | CBC News". CBC News. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  20. ^ "metis, n. & adj.", Oxford English Dictionary (3 ed.), Oxford University Press, 2023-03-02, doi:10.1093/oed/1186603373, retrieved 2024-12-04
  21. ^ a b "Culture of Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  22. ^ "Métis". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  23. ^ E. Foster, "The Métis: The People and the Term" (1978) 3 Prairie Forum 79, at 86–87.107
  24. ^ The Story of Labrador by Bill Rompkey Publisher: Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7735-2574-2 DDC: 971.82 LCC: FC2149.4 Edition: (bound)
  25. ^ a b "Attributing Cultural Affiliation to Sod Structures in Labrador: A Labrador Métis Example from North River". Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  26. ^ Kennedy, John C. (1996-01-01). "Our heritage, our identity: The case of the Labrador Metis Association". Acta Borealia. 13 (1): 23–34. doi:10.1080/08003839608580445. ISSN 0800-3831.
  27. ^ a b "Inuit : Labrador Virtual Museum". www.labradorvirtualmuseum.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  28. ^ a b c "Metis : Labrador Virtual Museum". www.labradorvirtualmuseum.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  29. ^ a b "Impacts of Non-Indigenous Activities on Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut". www.heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  30. ^ Kennedy, John (2015). "Being and becoming Inuit in Labrador". Études/Inuit/Studies. 39 (1): 225–242. doi:10.7202/1036085ar. ISSN 0701-1008.
  31. ^ Borlase, Tim; Way, Patricia (1994). The Labrador settlers, Métis and Kablunângajuit. Labrador studies. Labrador East Integrated School Board. Labrador, Nfld., Canada: Labrador East Integrated School Board, with assistance from the Canada Studies Foundation. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-896108-02-5.
  32. ^ a b "Our Rights Recognition". Nunatukavut. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  33. ^ a b Borish, David; Cunsolo, Ashlee; Snook, Jamie; Shiwak, Inez; Wood, Michele; Mauro, Ian; Dewey, Cate; Harper, Sherilee L. (2021-05-01). "'Caribou was the reason, and everything else happened after': Effects of caribou declines on Inuit in Labrador, Canada". Global Environmental Change. 68: 102268. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102268. ISSN 0959-3780.
  34. ^ a b "NunatuKavut says it's not backing away from the Lower Churchill development". the Telegram. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  35. ^ White, Bailey (2018-04-22). "Nunatsiavut, NunatuKavut defend call for Muskrat Falls soil removal". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  36. ^ Breen, Katie (2017-12-04). "Nalcor and NunatuKavut strike 'strategic' deal that could affect past, future Labrador developments". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  37. ^ The future of our land, a future for our children : a Northern strategic plan for Labrador. (2007) Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. p. 42.
  38. ^ "Attributing Cultural Affiliation to Sod Structures in Labrador: A Labrador Métis Example from North River". Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  39. ^ Newfoundland and Labrador v. Labrador Métis Nation, 2007 NLCA 75 (CanLII), at para 6, https://canlii.ca/t/1v6mk#par6, retrieved on 2024-12-04
  40. ^ Forester, Brett (2023-11-09). "Métis and Innu nations back Inuit leader in Labrador identity dispute". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  41. ^ a b Flowers, Bill (2023-12-08). "The battle over Inuit identity in Labrador". Policy Options. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  42. ^ "Moving forward on self-determination: MOU between Canada and the NunatuKavut Community Council". Government of Canada. 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  43. ^ Coles, Terri; White, Bailey (2018-07-12). "Ottawa opens talks with one Labrador Indigenous group, but infuriates another". CBC. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

Notes

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  1. ^ The group has been described as an Aboriginal group and Aboriginal community by the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as an Indigenous collective by a memorandum of understanding signed with the federal government.[2][3] While recognized by the federal government as eligible to apply for Indigenous rights, the status of Indigenous collective does not grant such rights itself.[4][5]
  2. ^ The Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador found that the NunatuKavummiut would be at least eligible to apply for Indigenous rights ("a credible claim") based on either a claim of Inuit or Métis status.[8]

Further reading

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See also

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