The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) today issued the following statement in response to the recent historic announcement on a new deal to develop Churchill Falls and Gull Island. It was made by the Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec and the Government of Canada.
“This new agreement is very significant for all parties and the future of energy in this Province and in the country. We commend all those involved in negotiations. Today, we wrote the two Premiers and the Prime Minister indicating the agreement is also significant for the Inuit of NunatuKavut. Our people have a very long, irrefutable and continuing connection to what we still refer to as the Grand River and surrounding lands. Any further development will have a significant impact on our rights, interests and way of life. This is why NunatuKavut Inuit rights and interests must be addressed and accommodated before any future developments at Churchill Falls or Gull Island proceed.
NCC began discussions on a socio-economic agreement with NL Hydro and the Province of NL following the 2024 MOU signing on Churchill River development. While this process was halted due to the change in provincial government and subsequent review of the MOU, the significance of the Churchill River has not changed for NunatuKavut Inuit. Nor has the importance of the Churchill River and its massive capacity to generate energy changed for Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Canada. NCC is very pleased to see that Prime Minister Carney was at the announcement to confirm his government’s support and participation.
In today’s letter to the Premiers and Prime Minister, we also spoke about the resolution that was passed by our membership at our Annual General Assembly in 2024, giving NCC a mandate to advance negotiations with the Provincial government to address outstanding issues with respect to development on the Churchill River. We will be consulting with our members over the coming months to refresh our negotiation mandate and to ensure their needs and priorities are upheld. NCC is setting up a Major Projects Review Office and will work to identify negotiation leads to spearhead our process of engagement for the proposed developments.
NCC will be undertaking an extensive review of the agreement in order to fully understand the impacts and potential benefits. Our focus will be on helping to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our people and communities.”
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About: The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) is a governing organization that represents the rights and interests of Inuit who come from south and central Labrador. NCC is committed to advancing section 35 rights, and the interests and priorities of NunatuKavut Inuit. Rooted in the rich traditions and culture of NunatuKavut Inuit, NCC works diligently towards self-government and self-determination, while fostering community growth and sustainability.
To learn more about NCC and NunatuKavut Inuit, please visit our website at www.nunatukavut.ca and we invite you to check out our “Our Story” page which helps tell our story. Please also join in the conversation at facebook.com/nunatukavut, Instagram @nunatukavutinuit and LinkedIn on our NunatuKavut Community Council page.
NCC Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield
Chief Communications Officer
T. 709-280-5965
E. communications@nunatukavut.ca