Grand Chief Simon Pokue says the Innu Nation is boycotting Expo Labrador, a business and trade show, over the involvement and promotion of the NunatuKavut community council. The Innu Nation has long viewed NunatuKavut as not Indigenous. (CBC)
A Labrador economic development expo is missing a key contributor this week, as the Innu Nation says it’s boycotting the event due to the inclusion and promotion of NunatuKavut.
In a press release issued Tuesday night, the Innu Nation said the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce failed to address what it calls Indigenous identity fraud when promoting Expo Labrador. The Innu Nation does not recognize NunatuKavut members as Indigenous.
“We don’t want to be in a table promoting themselves and representing themselves, and confusing companies and businesspeople that they are [Indigenous],” Innu Nation Grand Chief Simon Pokue told CBC News on Thursday. He said hopes the boycott will make it clear the Innu Nation doesn’t want to partner with groups that facilitate Indigenous impersonators.
“They are using companies and businesspeople to succeed promoting their cause.”
NunatuKavut represents 6,000 self-identifying Inuit in south and central Labrador. The group, which identified itself as the Labrador Métis Nation until 2010, is not recognized by national organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national representative organization for the Inuit in Canada.
The Innu Nation considers NunatuKavut a settler organization engaging in Inuit identity theft. The Innu Nation took legal action to review a controversial memorandum of understanding that serves as an Indigenous reconciliation agreement between the federal government and the NunatuKavut community council, but that action was dismissed in June.
Pokue called the MOU “meaningless,” and said NunatuKavut members are not legitimate holders of Indigenous rights under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. He called them “white settlers” who are stealing resources like money, land and university scholarships from Indigenous peoples.
In its release, the Innu Nation called for government and stakeholders to engage only with recognized Indigenous bodies and cut support with events like Expo Labrador that it says “harm Innu by promoting fraudulent representation.”
The NunatuKavut community council told CBC News on Wednesday that President Todd Russell was unavailable for an interview but spokesperson Kelly Broomfield provided a statement from Russell that said NunatuKavut is pleased to be participating in the expo.
“While the statement from the Innu Nation board of directors was not unexpected, we hope there is a time when we can again come together with our fellow Indigenous leaders in Labrador to strengthen our relationships and work to address shared priorities,” said the statement.
Expo Labrador is a trade show, put on by the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce, that features more than 400 delegates from across the region. (Regan Burden/CBC)
Pokue said the Innu Nation will not work with the NunatuKavut community council.
“I’m not going to work with a group who is trying to undermine my land claim, say that I have never been in Labrador,” he said. “How am I going to work with those people?”
On Wednesday, Labrador North Chamber of Commerce CEO Julianne Griffin said the group is more focused on the 400 delegates who are at the Expo than on those who aren’t.
“[As] an organization that’s hosting an economic development event, we’re really happy about the mix of businesses who are here. And we’re really happy about the commitment that people have made to come here and create partnerships,” she said.
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