Speaking Notes for President Todd Russell at the Announcement of Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination Discussions with the Government of Canada
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador July 12, 2018
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Thank you Dorothy and good morning to you all.
It is a pleasure and a true honour to be here today on behalf of the NunatuKavut Community Council and our people, the Southern Inuit of NunatuKavut.
Let us acknowledge our elders – those of you who are here with us, those in our communities who could not be present and those who have passed on. They are our constant connection and reminder of where we have come from, and to the land to which we belong.
I welcome Minister Carolyn Bennett, Parliamentary Secretary and Labrador MP Yvonne Jones, Provincial Minister Lisa Dempster, our people and other special guests for joining us for this historic announcement.
We welcome you to our traditional territory of NunatuKavut, which is shared territory with other Indigenous peoples.
This is a long-awaited day for all Southern Inuit as we embark upon a path together with the Government of Canada that respects our Inuit rights and our right to self-determination.
I want to personally recognize Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Bennett for their diligence on following through on a promise of a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples, and specifically with Southern Inuit. The Prime Minister, who was then Liberal Party Leader, committed that a Liberal government would “accept the NunatuKavut Land Claim and move it to the negotiating table immediately.” After an intense and rigorous process of engagement that commitment is being fulfilled. Thank you, Prime Minister Trudeau. Nakummeksuak to you and to Minister Bennett for your tireless work. 3
We thank, as well, MP Jones who has displayed such tenaciousness in advancing this important work.
And we thank Premier Ball, Minister Dempster and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for their support of the NunatuKavut Community Council and this federal decision. Premier Ball called last night and has affirmed his government’s support and will join us at the table at the appropriate time.
These upcoming discussions are in response to our land claim submission. And, while this is a noteworthy part of our history, this is by no means the beginning of our story.
Our story is foremost one of resilience, determination, and belonging.
Our people, the Inuit of NunatuKavut, lived here, provided for their families and called it home long before outsiders set foot on this soil.
For hundreds of years, we controlled the coast of Labrador. The rugged coastlines and the interior waterways were home to our families who lived off the land, sea and ice. We had our own way of making decisions, we respected all that is around us and we had a vibrant culture.
Over time, there were temporary visits by fishermen and explorers, people who came for our resources: the fish, seal, whale and fur- bearing animals and in more modern times the water, the trees and yes, the rocks. Strife and warfare marked our early encounters and many of our people lost their lives, as did the Europeans.
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Then in 1765, a treaty called the British-Inuit Treaty of 1765 was reached to end the hostilities.
As time went on our way of life began to change dramatically. Like all Indigenous peoples in Canada, we too, suffered the effects of colonialization. Outsiders pillaged our resources, brought their own form of government, denied our language and many of our people experienced community relocation and residential schools. Our land and rights have not been respected for many years.
But today, is a new beginning. This announcement is perhaps the most significant with the Crown since that Treaty some 253 years ago.
So, what does this mean for us?
It means that we will be engaged in talks so that our people will once again have decision-making power over our lands and resources. It means a greater ability to deliver programs and services, like healthcare and education, that are aligned with our values and way of life.
It means that developments and projects should only happen on our lands with our consent and participation.
It means that we will should never again lose another community to relocation.
It means that we can give expression to the way we want to govern in our homelands, something we have been fighting for, for many years.
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Now that NunatuKavut is recognized as an established Indigenous rights holder, discussions will proceed to recognize those rights.
There is so much to do and we are up to the job. A secretariat will be established and initial exploratory talks will unfold over the coming months to outline the key areas for discussion.
Work has already begun with a view to achieving early successes that meet the immediate and long outstanding needs of our people and to breathe confidence into these talks.
I want to assure our members that this process will involve ongoing engagement with them and our communities so that our collective priorities are reflected.
This will be a process of integrity. A process driven by our people and for our people.
Today, let us take time to reflect on the great legacy left by generations of our people. Those who have continued fishing and hunting, trapping and harvesting. Many have held the ground. They possessed an unwavering spirit and resiliency that has carried us through both the dark and good times. That same spirit is alive in us today.
Because of their steadfastness, our youth, and the generations that follow, will have real choices about building a life at home. We need their energy, their strength and their skills to carry us forward.
And today, I especially acknowledge and thank our mothers, grandmothers and generations of Inuit women who have been a source of guidance to our youth and children. Their knowledge of 6 people and place have been vital in keeping families and kinship networks together.
They are our culture carriers. Their stories continue to guide, shape and carry us into the future by connecting us to our past and our ancestors.
As a people, we belong to the land of our ancestors. We honour their continued presence in our lives as we re-affirm our identity and belonging as NunatuKavut Inuit.
I thank those that were involved in our organization in the early days and into the present. Those who led the way and never stopped fighting for our rights. There are many dozens, if not hundreds, from NunatuKavut and away.
I thank our governing council, both present and past, who took on this important work and has had to make some honest and tough decisions for the health and well-being of our people.
And I thank our staff, our lawyers and advisors who work so hard for our people each and every day. Their expertise and dedication and belief in us has been essential in building a strong governing body. You reflect leadership on a day-by-day basis.
I am proud of the work that we do. And I am proud to be a Southern Inuk. We have fought together and we have remained united as a people. We have stood our ground when it was important to stand up and we have raised our voices when it was important to be heard.
And we, together, have moved mountains. It has been quite a journey to this day. 7
And we will remain united as we enter good faith discussions with Canada and the Province on the recognition of our Indigenous rights and self-determination.
This is about true reconciliation and nation building. It is about truly being respected, here at home, in our own places.
We look forward to a good agreement that allows us to fulfill our vision of being self-governing and providing and caring for one another, our families and our communities while nurturing our relationship with our lands, ice and waters.
Nakummek.
It truly is a historic time.