LIA Negotiating Team Hits Road for Community Information Sessions

(Nain, NL.) October 16, 2003. Starting Monday, October 20th in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the Labrador Inuit Association's negotiating team will hit the road with a series of community information sessions. These sessions are one step in the process of informing members of the details of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.

This is the last Inuit land claim in Canada to be settled and negotiators have been working diligently since 1977 to reach this stage. In addition to open houses, there will be presentations, a question and answer period and literature explaining various chapters of the agreement for people to take home.

"It is the vision, skills and determination of successive LIA administrations and negotiation teams that have brought us to the ratification stage," says President William Andersen III. "The settlement of this land claim creates opportunity for Labrador Inuit, Labradorians and all of Canada. I encourage all members to attend their local information session and to educate themselves about the agreement. It is a good agreement that will create a strong future for us all."

While all sessions will include an open house in the afternoon, specific start times and locations will be announced locally as soon as they are available. The schedule for the community information sessions is:

Happy Valley-Goose Bay LIDC Boardroom	Monday, October 20 Open House 1PM-5PM, 7PM
North West River Community Centre	Tuesday, October 21 Open House 1PM-5PM, 7PM
Cartwright	Wednesday, October 22
Rigolet	Thursday, October 23
Makkovik	Friday, October 24
Postville	Saturday, October 25
Hopedale	Sunday, October 26
Nain	Monday, October 27
St. John's	Wednesday, October 29
Labrador West	Thursday, October 30

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.