Government of Newfoundland Labrador Seeks to Evict Innu from Their Traditional Homeland

More than 100 Innu families who are now occupying and using their traditional homeland in Newfoundland Labrador recently received eviction notices from the provincial government of Newfoundland Labrador. The Removal Notices direct Innu families to "remove all structures from Crown land and restore the site to its original conditions within 60 days of notice." Failure to do so will result in the Crown Lands Division demolishing their homes and charging the costs of demolition to the Innu families.

This eviction is seen as part of an escalating confrontation over land rights, led by the desires of the government of Newfoundland Labrador to step up resource development and hydroelectric projects. I interviewed Innu lawyer Armand Mackenzie about this, and he told the story of the lives and history of the Innu people, one which renders the provincial and federal borders, and their laws, irrelevant in the face of such a deep sense of place and kinship with their territory.

For more information, please visit the website of Indian Law. Also, here is a map of Innu territory, and a copy of the eviction notice.

Download 32:19  Recorded June 11, 2008

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