LIA Insists Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Good for all Labradorians, including Labrador Metis.

(Nain, NL.) April 15, 2004.

Vice President Tony Andersen, speaking on behalf of the Labrador Inuit Association (LIA), said he is satisfied that the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement is as good as any land claims agreement in Canada and is consistent with the principles found in all recent land claims agreements. “It is the best deal available to Labrador Inuit after 20 years of struggle and that is why LIA is recommending it to the Labrador Inuit”, says Mr. Andersen.

In response to recent statements by the Labrador Metis Nation (LMN), Mr. Andersen said, “LIA does not represent and has never claimed to represent the Labrador Métis. The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement deals exclusively with the rights of the Labrador Inuit.” Mr. Andersen added, “Labrador Inuit are clearly defined in the land claims agreement. They are the Inuit who have used and occupied the Labrador Inuit land claims area since time before the arrival of the white man and who continue to use and occupy that area to this day.” He added that the Agreement states clearly that it does not affect the rights of any other aboriginal peoples. For these reasons, LIA’s executive insist that the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement does not have the effects that the LMN claims and its concerns are unfounded.

“We are saddened by the negative and misinterpreted statements that have been circulating in the media and in the communities. The statement that the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement is a "relocation program" is unfounded and inflammatory”, says Mr. Andersen. “We have considered LMN’concerns. We have met with them and we have followed up a letter addressing their specific concerns. We are satisfied that our Agreement does not affect the rights of any other aboriginal group in Labrador. We would hope that Labrador Metis and all people in the province would support the Inuit of Labrador in finally having the opportunity to ratify our agreement, after such as long time.” Mr. Andersen went on to say “LIA is not going to enter negotiations with Labrador Metis Nation with respect to our Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.”

Andersen states that LMN has said that it is not the goal of LMN to interfere with the Labrador Inuit land claims process. Yet LIA has been told that senior officials of the LMN have been calling people who are eligible to vote on ratification of the Agreement and asking them to vote against it. LIA condemns this as interference in the Inuit land claims process.

“We want to assure all Labrador Inuit that this Land Claims Agreement is a good agreement. In LIA's view, it is the best agreement that Labrador Inuit will ever be able to achieve. And it is as good as any in Canada”, concluded Mr. Andersen.

The Labrador Inuit Association represents over 5,300 Labrador Inuit. Labrador Inuit live in Northern Labrador, other parts of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada.

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Contact: June Perry Communications Director 709-753-0794