Labrador North
Labrador North is among the wildest and most magnificent coastal landscapes in North America. Lofty mountain ranges, amazing fiords, towering icebergs and night skies that offer the greatest show of northern lights anywhere.
Rich in aboriginal culture, Labrador's North Coast consists of one Innu community — Natuashish — and five Inuit Community Governments which fall under the Nunatsiavut Government:
The total population of the Labrador North region is approximately 3,400. Our Communities of Labrador North page provides further information.
Rich in aboriginal culture, Labrador's North Coast consists of one Innu community — Natuashish — and five Inuit Community Governments which fall under the Nunatsiavut Government:
- Hopedale
- Makkovik
- Nain
- Postville
- Rigolet
The total population of the Labrador North region is approximately 3,400. Our Communities of Labrador North page provides further information.
Nunatsiavut
On January 21, 2005 representatives of the Labrador Inuit Association (LIA), Government of Canada and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement. The LIA represents approximately 5,300 Inuit and Kablunangajuit (individuals of partial Inuit ancestry) in northern Labrador.
The Agreement provides the Labrador Inuit with defined rights in and to territory in northern Labrador. This territory is called Nunatsiavut, which translates to "Our Beautiful Land".
The Agreement provides the Labrador Inuit with defined rights in and to territory in northern Labrador. This territory is called Nunatsiavut, which translates to "Our Beautiful Land".
Excerpts from the Land Claims Agreement news release:
The Agreement sets out details of land ownership, resource sharing and self government. The Agreement provides for the establishment of the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area (Settlement Area) totalling approximately 72,500 square kilometres (28,000 square miles) of land in northern Labrador, including 15,800 square kilometres (6,100 square miles) of Inuit-owned lands, known as Labrador Inuit Lands. The Settlement Area also includes an adjacent Ocean Zone of 48,690 square kilometres (18,800 square miles). The Agreement also provides for the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, consisting of approximately 9,600 square kilometres (3,700 square miles) of land within the Settlement Area....
The self-government provisions of the Agreement provide for the creation of the Nunatsiavut Government, five Inuit community governments and Inuit community corporations to represent Inuit living outside the Settlement Area. All levels of government will be democratically elected and financially accountable to the electorate. The Nunatsiavut Government will be able to make laws applicable to Inuit in Labrador Inuit Lands and Inuit communities with respect to culture and language, education, health and social services. The Nunatsiavut Government may also make laws for the administration of Inuit law and to establish necessary enforcement structures, including an Inuit law enforcement agency and an Inuit court.
The Agreement sets out details of land ownership, resource sharing and self government. The Agreement provides for the establishment of the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area (Settlement Area) totalling approximately 72,500 square kilometres (28,000 square miles) of land in northern Labrador, including 15,800 square kilometres (6,100 square miles) of Inuit-owned lands, known as Labrador Inuit Lands. The Settlement Area also includes an adjacent Ocean Zone of 48,690 square kilometres (18,800 square miles). The Agreement also provides for the establishment of the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, consisting of approximately 9,600 square kilometres (3,700 square miles) of land within the Settlement Area....
The self-government provisions of the Agreement provide for the creation of the Nunatsiavut Government, five Inuit community governments and Inuit community corporations to represent Inuit living outside the Settlement Area. All levels of government will be democratically elected and financially accountable to the electorate. The Nunatsiavut Government will be able to make laws applicable to Inuit in Labrador Inuit Lands and Inuit communities with respect to culture and language, education, health and social services. The Nunatsiavut Government may also make laws for the administration of Inuit law and to establish necessary enforcement structures, including an Inuit law enforcement agency and an Inuit court.
