The Nunatsiavut Government has been advised that the Government of Canada has decided to terminate the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC)’s Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination (RIRSD) table.
“This decision brings long-needed clarity,” says President Johannes Lampe. “Inuit identity is not something that can be self-declared – it is affirmed by Inuit, grounded in our culture and history. Concluding this table is an important step toward ensuring our rights, as Inuit, are protected, respected and upheld.”
An RIRSD table is a negotiation forum where the Government of Canada and Indigenous groups meet to explore rights-based agreements and advance self-government. The Nunatsiavut Government opposed Canada’s decision to negotiate with the NCC from the outset in 2018, consistently warning that such a process risked legitimizing an organization whose Inuit claims remain unrecognized.
The NCC’s claims to Inuit identity and rights are not recognized by Inuit or by the Innu Nation. Members of the organization do not form an Inuit collective capable of holding section 35 Constitutional rights. Only the Nunatsiavut Government is the rightful representatives of Inuit living in Labrador.
As the only Inuit treaty organization in Atlantic Canada, the Nunatsiavut Government affirms that programs, rights, resources, and opportunities intended for Inuit must benefit Inuit and not be diverted to unrecognized groups. Unfounded claims of Indigeneity undermine Inuit self-determination, create confusion about Inuit rights and governance, and cause tangible harm to Inuit communities and institutions. In light of Canada’s decision, all government departments must ensure all funding and fisheries allocation to the NCC come to an end.
“This decision represents an important step toward strengthening Inuit self-determination and ensuring that our treaty rights are respected. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada and other governments to build a stronger future for our people and communities.”
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