The NunatuKavummiut (also called the people of NunatuKavut, formerly Labrador Metis or Inuit-metis) are a people formally recognized by the federal government as among the Indigenous peoples in Canada. They live in central to southern Labrador, and are of mixed Inuit and European heritage. According to recent censuses completed by Statistics Canada, the vast majority of individuals living in NunatuKavut communities identify as 'Métis' as opposed to 'Inuit' or 'Mixed Inuit'. However, they are unrelated to the Metis people of the Red River Colony of Western Canada.

Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our ancient land" in the traditional Inuttitut dialect of central and southern Labrador. The region claimed by the NunatuKavut Community Council encompasses southern Labrador, from the Grand River (Newfoundland name: Churchill River), South to Lodge Bay and West to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador. However, their proposed land use area is much more extensive.^[1]

History

Arrival in southern Labrador

The people are claimed to be the sole ancestors of the southern Inuit of Labrador who have continuously occupied and used the region for almost a thousand years, long before the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made any real foray into the area in the early 20th century.^[2]

According to one theory, the Inuit arrived in Labrador in the 15th century from Baffin Island^{[citation needed]}. Archeological evidence shows they lived as far south as the Sandwich Bay area.^[3]

Contact with Europeans

The Inuit were in conflict with the Basque and French whalers beginning in the mid-1500s.

Marriage between Europeans and Inuit

During the 19th century, some European men, settled, took Inuit wives, and permanently assimilated into the local culture. Although influenced in many ways by prolonged contact with seasonal workers and merchants, the culture and way of life has remained distinctly Inuit.^[4]

Distribution

Black Tickle

Cartwright

Charlottetown

Lodge Bay

Port Hope Simpson

Paradise River

St. Lewis

Mary's·Harbour

Map with the location of the main NunatuKavut communities

The area proposed for NunatuKavut consists of a region of southern Labrador that encompasses communities from the non-Indigenous community of Lodge Bay (located on the Lodge River) to the communities located on the coast of Sandwich Bay (Paradise River and Cartwright). However, there are notable populations of people of mixed European and Inuit descent in other parts of Labrador too. Many Inuit in the southern parts of Nunatsiavut are descended from fur traders that worked in the region. NunatuKavut also has a large diaspora in many other parts of Newfoundland and Labrador such as the communities located along the Strait of Belle Isle and on the island of Newfoundland^{[citation needed]}. Many residents of the Quebec community of St. Augustine (known officially as "Saint-Augustin") are also of Inuit and European descent but are represented by Nunamit.^[5]

Organization

NunatuKavummiut are today represented by the NunatuKavut Community Council which was formed in 2010 from its predecessor the Labrador Métis Nation (formerly Labrador Métis Association).^[6] They are members of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples along with other non-Status Aboriginal groups.^[7]

Land claim

The people of NunatuKavut, claim NunatuKavut as their homeland, and are in process of launching an Aboriginal land claim with the Canadian courts. They are also active in the debates over the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project, and the dam at Muskrat Falls.^[8]