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The Mushuau Innu of Natuashish from 1948 to 2003

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The Mushuau Innu of Natuashish from 1948 to 2003 “We were told we were going to live in houses” Relocation and housing of the Mushuau Innu of Natuashish from 1948 to 2003 Elisabeth Thørring Dalsbø Thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Indigenous Studies Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education University of Tromsø Norway Spring 2010 ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank My supervisor, Professor Bjørg Evjen for encouragement and all the help with my thesis. I would also like to thank the Sami Centre for financial support to travel to Canada and Natuashish and Bjørn Hatteng for making my front page. Thank you to all my classmates, you’ve made this journey so much fun! Natuashish and the Mushuau Innu Band Council for welcoming into their community to do research and for providing me with a place to stay the four weeks. My informants in Natuashish who gave me their time and insights on the relocations in 1948, 1967 and 2003. Maniai (Mary-Anne) Nui for setting up and doing interviews with the elders, and especially translating all the interviews from Innu-Eimun to English. Keith Chaulk at the Memorial University/ College of the North Atlantic campus in Happy-Valley Goose Bay and the library staff for all your help to find information about my topic and helping me copy a large amount of reports and documents. I would also like to thank Professor Brian Hood at the Department of Archaeology and Social Anthropology, University of Tromsø, for lending me books and articles about the Innu. My family who reminded me to breath; Finn-Arne Egeness for believing in me and my project, my parents Randi Thørring and Svein Dalsbø, grandmother Karin Dalsbø, sister Karianne and brother Haakon who have supported me in every step of the way. I would like Marit Anne Hauan for the tips and moral support on fieldwork and writing a thesis. I am glad you are family! iii Abstract The Mushuau Innu is a First Nation group who have gone from a nomadic lifestyle in the interior of Labrador to a sedentary lifestyle on the coast since their first contact with European colonizers. The Mushuau Innu has gone through three relocations in a time period of 55 years; the first move was in 1948 to the Inuit community of Nutak further north, and the second in 1967 to Utshimassit (Davis Inlet) on Iluikoyak Island, where they for the first time were to live in houses. In 2003, over thirty years after settling in Utshimassit the Mushuau Innu relocated from Utshimassit to Natuashish. The aim of this thesis is to find out the background for, and if the Innu were consulted about the relocations. Also it aims to find out if the Innu were active or passive in regards to the decision making process. This thesis argues that the Innu were relocated in 1948 and settled in 1967 based on the assimilation policy, while the last relocation was part of the general political mobilization of Aboriginal peoples. It also argues that the Mushuau Innu have made conscious decisions in regards to all three relocations, although the alternatives might have been few or none and based on false assumptions. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................. iii Abstract....................................................................................................................................................iv Chapter One: Relocation and Housing of the Mushuau Innu: An Introduction to the Subject.......................................................................................................................................................1 Research Question ...........................................................................................................................................4 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................4 Oral history......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Interviews........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Ethical Considerations................................................................................................................................................... 7 Earlier Research ...............................................................................................................................................7 Terms and Concepts........................................................................................................................................9 Relocation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Living Conditions...........................................................................................................................................................10 Assimilation .....................................................................................................................................................................11 The challenge of naming.............................................................................................................................................12 Are you our new teacher? ­ My role as a researcher ......................................................................... 14 Outline of thesis............................................................................................................................................. 15 Chapter Two: “When the Innu started Hunting for Seals” Relocation to Nutak in 1948 ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 The Establishment of Trading Posts....................................................................................................... 18 The Establishment of Mission................................................................................................................... 21 From Caribou Hunters to Recipients of Relief..................................................................................... 23 Relocation to Nutak and Walking Back (1948­1950) ....................................................................... 28 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 Chapter Three: The Place of the Boss ­ Relocation to Utshimassit in 1967 .................... 33 Confederation with Canada ....................................................................................................................... 34 Economic development and the welfare state .................................................................................... 35 Relocation ­ To go ahead or go eastern.................................................................................................. 37 Missionization and assimilation..............................................................................................................................42 Schooling and assimilation........................................................................................................................................46 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter Four: Living Conditions and Political Mobilization. The Relocation to Natuashish in 2003 ............................................................................................................................ 51 Housing Conditions in Utshimassit ......................................................................................................... 52 “That day woke us up” ................................................................................................................................. 55 Innu Political Organization........................................................................................................................ 58 Political Battles.............................................................................................................................................. 61 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter five: Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 67 Background for Relocation and Housing .............................................................................................. 67 The Mushuau Innu ­ Active or Passive actors?.................................................................................... 68 References............................................................................................................................................. 72 Internet Sources ............................................................................................................................................ 75 v Informants......................................................................................................................................................
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