HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, Sept 10, 2025 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell, on behalf of the Governing Council, today issued the following statement in response to the latest joint release by the Nunatsiavut Government and Innu Nation as part of their malicious campaign against NunatuKavut Inuit:
“NCC unequivocally condemns the recent defamatory statements made by the Nunatsiavut Government and Innu Nation. These repeated attacks are not only baseless and harmful, but they are also rooted in the very colonial structures these groups publicly claim to oppose.
We have consistently affirmed our Inuit identity and ancestry, which are well-documented and supported by the evidence, the facts and the law. Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Canada has been upheld, and both the Courts of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Federal Court of Canada have recognized the credibility of our rights assertions. The efforts of the Nunatsiavut Government and Innu Nation to discredit NunatuKavut Inuit are without merit, without authority, and are a direct assault on reconciliation.
Even more troubling is that their campaign appears to be motivated less by rights and recognition, and more by financial gain and political control. Such behavior undermines the spirit of reconciliation and fosters division at a time when unity, respect, and collective strength are needed most, not just for Indigenous peoples, but for the entire country.
NCC has a responsibility to protect the rights, identity, and dignity of NunatuKavut Inuit. This morning, we issued a formal cease-and-desist letter to the leaders of the Nunatsiavut Government and Innu Nation, demanding that they immediately end their defamatory actions against our people. Should they fail to comply, NCC will pursue all necessary measures to hold them accountable for their harmful behaviour and words.”
Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield
Chief Communications Officer
T. 709-280-5965 E. communications@nunatukavut.ca
About the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC): NCC is the governing organization that represents the rights and interests of Inuit from south and central Labrador. Rooted in the rich traditions and culture of NunatuKavut Inuit, NCC is advancing section 35 rights, working diligently toward self-government and self-determination, and fostering sustainable communities for the future.
Learn more at www.nunatukavut.ca. Join the conversation at facebook.com/nunatukavut, X/Twitter @nunatukavut and Instagram @nunatukavutinuit.