Natuashish

Last updated
Natuashish
Indian reserve
Natuashish Indian Reserve No. 2
Canada Newfoundland and Labrador location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Natuashish
Location in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Coordinates: 55°55′00″N61°07′30″W / 55.91667°N 61.12500°W / 55.91667; -61.12500 Coordinates: 55°55′00″N61°07′30″W / 55.91667°N 61.12500°W / 55.91667; -61.12500
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
ProvinceFlag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg  Newfoundland and Labrador
Settled2002 [1]
Government
 • ChiefJohn Nui
 • Federal MP Yvonne Jones (L)
 • Provincial MHA Lela Evans (NDP)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total856
Time zone UTC-4 (AST)
Area code(s) 709

Natuashish is an Innu community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The community is inhabited by the Mushuau Innu First Nation. Natuashish became a federal Indian reserve in 2003. [2] [3]

Natuashish (Little Sango Pond) [4] was established in 2002 as a planned community in the hopes of resolving the social problems that had plagued the prior community of Davis Inlet, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away. [5] The population of Natuashish at the 2021 Census was 856, down from 938 in 2016. [6]

Initial reports suggested that the Canadian government's plan of renewal and healing had been a failure, as the community was still plagued with alcohol and drug abuse. The government was accused of creating a system overburdened with bureaucracy, and not adequately addressing the issue. The local tribal band was accused of corruption, as was shown in a 2005 CBC report in which it was shown that the leadership was trafficking drugs and other illicit substances to maintain power. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

The community's attempt to resolve its problem with alcoholism led to a ban on the sale, purchase, and possession of alcohol within the reserve. The bylaw was originally passed in 2008 by a margin of two votes. [12] [13] The prohibition bylaw was upheld in a subsequent referendum held in the community in March 2010. [14]

The community continues to struggle with drug abuse and youth boredom. [15] [16] As recently as 2017 gas sniffing by youths has been a notable issue. [17]

Natuashish is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea. [18] The community is served by the Natuashish Airport. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Adrian Tanner (1999). "Innu History". Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "Mushuau Innu First Nation Band Order SOR/2002-415". Justice Canada. 21 November 2002.
  3. ↑ "Archived - Reserve Creation at Natuashish". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Nov 2007. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  4. ↑ Bibeau, Pierre. "Phase 2 Report on a Heritage Study for the Utshimassit Community Relocation Project, Sango Bay, Labrador". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Davis Inlet Innu get new home". Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA). 1996. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Natuashish 2, Indian reserve (IRI) Newfoundland and Labrador [Census subdivision]". Statistics Canada. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "The Innu of Labrador: From Davis Inlet to Natuashish". CBC News. December 14, 2004. Archived from the original on Dec 17, 2004. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Natuashish: Struggling with the hangovers of old Davis Inlet". CBC. Feb 8, 2005. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  9. ↑ Power, Peter (March 6, 2015). "A decade after the people of Davis Inlet were relocated, they are still hunting demons". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Band money fuelling addictions: sources". CBC News. Feb 9, 2005. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Labrador Innu leaders pocketing band money: audit". CBC News. Oct 26, 2005. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Labrador Innu village votes for booze ban". CBC News. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on Feb 2, 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Natuashish to vote on all-out ban on alcohol, drugs". CBC News. January 30, 2008. Archived from the original on Jan 31, 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Natuashish votes to keep alcohol ban". CBC News. Mar 26, 2010. Archived from the original on Mar 28, 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  15. ↑ White, Bailey (Jun 20, 2017). "'Killing our youth': Natuashish leaders call for crackdown on bootlegging". CBC News. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  16. ↑ Bailey, Sue (May 15, 2017). "'They're doing it right on the street': New gas-sniffing crisis grips Natuashish Innu". CBC News. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  17. ↑ Bailey, Sue (May 15, 2017). "New gas-sniffing crisis grips Natuashish Innu". CTV News. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
  18. ↑ Churchill Duke, Laura (20 Sep 2019). "Hopedale woman circulating petition calling for the province to subsidize flights to northern Labrador". Saltwire. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  19. ↑ Moore, Angel (Apr 5, 2020). "Indigenous leaders asking that access to Labrador be sealed off". APTN News. Retrieved Oct 16, 2020.
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