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Innu Economic Development
Enterprises discovers Maritime Archaic Minister of Mines and Energy, Chuck Furey, announced today that an archaeological team from Innu Economic Development Enterprises Inc. (IEDE) has discovered what is believed to be a 4,000 or 5,000 year old Maritime Archaic site near Mud Lake in Labrador. The discovery was made when an Innu field assistant uncovered the stem of a projectile (arrowhead) while conducting studies of historic resources on behalf of the Labrador Hydro Project. "This is very good news," said the minister. "Our preliminary information indicates that the find made by IEDE's archaeological team is significant in that other archaeologists have been looking for such a site for over 30 years. The site, about five km northwest of Mud Lake, is on the highest terrace in an area of spruce-lichen forest, about 150 feet above sea level. There is every indication that a site of this make-up could very well contain the remains of old boulder pit houses or longhouses, although further work would be needed to determine this. The terrace the site is on would have been a point of land at the time of occupation." The minister said that most importantly, the Maritime Archaic site will not be affected by the minimal flooding expected from development of the Churchill River. In July, the Labrador Hydro Project awarded a contract to the Innu Economic Development Enterprises Inc. in partnership with Jacques Whitford Environment Limited (JWEL) to study historic resources. The study involves assessing historic resources potential and locating historic resources which could be affected by the proposed hydroelectric development. Historic resources include archaeological sites, old trading posts and camp sites. The study, which employs Innu archaeological researchers and translators, also included a training program on archaeological methods and techniques for the Innu researchers. "This project truly demonstrates two points: first, the cooperation between the Innu community and ourselves, and two, the thoroughness of the historic resources work being conducted in relation to the Churchill River Power Project," said the minister. "We have taken the approach of 'doing it right the first time around', and subsequently we made the decision to begin our archaeological work this summer, well in advance of the Environmental Assessment Process." The IEDE is the regional economic development arm of the Sheshatshiu and Mushuau Innu Band Councils. It is owned jointly by the two band councils with its board of directors representing a cross section of all Innu people. The organization's mandate is to give the Innu people of Labrador the means to participate in the development of resources and economic opportunities. The IEDE/JWEL historic resources contract, valued at over $300,000, is one of over 30 environmental and engineering contracts awarded by the Labrador Hydro Project to date. Approximately 300 people are either directly or indirectly working on the project at this time. Media contact: Karen McCarthy, Labrador Hydro Project, (709) 737-1823 1998 09 16 5:45 p.m.
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