UPDATE: Talks on Indigenous Self-Government Begin | Regional | New



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Happy Valley-Goose Bay – Discussions began between the NunatuKavut Community Council and the federal government to recognize the Aboriginal rights and self-determination of NCC members, NCC President announced , Todd Russell Thursday at Happy Valley-Goose Bay

"This means that we will once again be engaged in talks about our people and that we will have decision-making power over our lands and resources," said Mr. Russell. "It means a greater capacity to deliver programs and services like health care and education that are aligned with our values ​​and way of life, which means that developments and projects should not happen on our territory with our consent and participation, which means we should never lose another community to move. "

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Carolyn Bennett said the process was different from this that it was in the past, it said that they replaced the comprehensive claims policy and the inherent rights policy with a recognition of rights, and then discussed how it was applied and exercised

"Right now we are really excited about the promise of governance from the NunatuKavut government. Bennett said

When asked if the land would be part of the claim, Bennett said it would be part of the ongoing negotiations. She gave examples of other Aboriginal groups who prioritized rights over land, such as health care and education.

Russell says that CNC has ideas on what they want to see in the negotiations, and the land is certainly part of it. We have always said that the land is fundamental to our identity and where we come from, "he said. "Of course, land will be part of the coming discussions."

He said the previous land claims process was inherently biased and that this new process has more potential, but more on health and well-being people. 19659003] "It's about preserving our culture and our way of life, and what we're announcing today is a process to take us there," Russell said.

In terms of time, the NCC and the federal government said

Richard Michelin, a member of the North West River NAC, said he was waiting and praying for that day

"Like all our people, I've been pushed for years, and maybe now it's going to work out, "he said.

Michelin said that a lot has happened over the years years ago, as people who have lost their language, he says that if a person spoke Inuktitut, it was destroyed.

"Now everything has changed."

Opposite Plan of the Innu

Meanwhile, the Innu Nation had strong words for the federal government in response to the announcement that the federal government and NunatuKavut would continue negotiations on Aboriginal rights.

Peter Penashue, former MP for Labrador and member of the Nation I Land Claims Negotiating Team nnu, said that the announcement creates a "real mess for land claims negotiations in Labrador for the next 30 years"

. land claim with the federal government since 1977 and is now in the final stages. Penashue said this initiative to recognize Aboriginal rights for NunatuKavut compromises all of this.

"This is a new group and suddenly, we need to fight the land with this new group, the NCC or the Métis. And now, after negotiations with Canada and Newfoundland for more than 30 years, we are going to have a dispute over the land, "he said. "Because they are going to seek the same rights in these lands that we have chosen and chosen."

Penashue said he expected NunatuKavut to claim the Muskrat Falls and Lower regions Churchill, which will complicate the Innu nation.

The Innu Nation believes that the federal government should have entered into the land claim with them before going to another group, said Mr. Penashue

who challenged NunatuKavut's claim to these lands and he challenges

"They have obviously been here for quite some time and many of them are born here. But are they indigenous? […] I do not think so.

The NunatuKavut Community Council was formerly known as the Labrador Metis Association and changed its name in 2010. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2016 that some groups commonly referred to as Métis have the same rights as other groups. indigenous. Penashue said that in his opinion it sets a precedent in Canada.

"There never was a group from nowhere suddenly a native group," he said.

They have always known themselves as Aboriginal groups.

"Now we are in a very unusual situation, the settlers become Métis becoming Inuit and they are now fighting the land. This is a very unusual case.

Penashue stated that this should be a concern for all First Nations who have treaties with the federal government. He said Métis groups have never been able to prove that they had land titles and land rights before, but now Métis people across the country have the right to have claims. territories

. It's huge. I do not know if you have an idea of ​​what Canada has done today. It's historic. They have now recognized that a group, in this case the Métis, must first be recognized as an Aboriginal person and recognized as having land rights. And this is going to have a huge impact across the country . "

Labradorians

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Federal Government Focuses on Aboriginal Rights with Nunatukavut Community Council

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, NL – A historic announcement was made in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on July 12th.

Representatives of the federal and provincial governments were on Thursday with Nunatukavut Community Council Chair Todd Russell to announce the beginning of discussions with the federal government to recognize the Aboriginal rights and self-determination of NCC members .

"This means that we will be committed to talking about our people again and that we will have decision-making power over our lands and resources," said Russell. "It means a greater capacity to deliver programs and services like health care and education that are aligned with our values ​​and way of life, which means that developments and projects should not happen on our territory with our consent and participation, which means we should never lose another community for relocation. "

Carolyn Bennett, Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, made the announcement and said the process looks different from what he has done in the past.He said that they were replacing the comprehensive claims policy and the inherent rights policy with a rights recognition, then that They were sitting around the table discussing how it was being implemented and practiced

.The government and the community council are already demonstrating and maintaining We need to sit down and figure out what these rights look like, "said Bennett

. negotiations. She gave examples of other Aboriginal groups who prioritized rights over land, such as health care and education.

Russell says that NCC has ideas on what they want to see in the negotiations and the land is certainly part of it. "I have always said that the earth is fundamental to our identity and from where we come from," he said. "Of course, land will be part of future discussions."

He said the previous land claim process was inherently biased and that this new process had more potential. He said, however, that the health and well-being of the population is more related to the health and well-being of people.

"It's about preserving our culture and our way of life and what we're announcing today Russell

In terms of time, both the NCC and the government have said that It is difficult to pin down the problem since it is an ongoing process.

Richard Michelin of North West River is a member of the AcSB. He waited and prayed for this day.

"Like all of us, I was pushed for years, I calmed down and maybe now it's going to calm down," he said. over the years, like people who lose their language. He said that if a person spoke Inuktitut, it was destroyed.

"Now everything has changed, it's better."

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