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Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
December 3, 2009

Amendments to Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act
Resolve Claims in Northern Labrador

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken an historic step forward with the introduction of legislation into the House of Assembly this week that will assist in resolving land claims in northern Labrador and offshore areas adjacent to northern Labrador and northern Quebec.

Amendments to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act will incorporate an Overlap Agreement reached in November 2005 between the Labrador Inuit and Nunavik (Quebec) Inuit that resolved their overlapping land claims in this province. An Overlap Agreement details how rights and benefits are shared by two or more Aboriginal groups who have laid claim to the same area.

"These amendments to incorporate the Overlap Agreement effectively resolve Nunavik Inuit claims in northern Labrador and Labrador Inuit claims to offshore Quebec," said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. "The amendments provide increased clarity and certainty for the future economic development of the area."

Once overlapping land claims are resolved by Aboriginal groups, they can only come into effect if they are incorporated into the land claims agreement of each Aboriginal group. The Overlap Agreement was incorporated into the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement in 2008; the amendments to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act will allow for the Overlap Agreement to be incorporated into the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.

Through the Overlap Agreement, Labrador Inuit share some of their treaty rights with the Nunavik Inuit in the offshore area and in lands transferred to the Government of Canada for the creation of the Torngat National Park, while Labrador Inuit attain the right to harvest in the offshore portion of the Nunavik overlap area. As well, once the Government of Canada gives consent to the Overlap Agreement, it will provide approximately $33 million over 11 years in capital transfer payments to the Nunatsiavut Government for the settling of its claim to offshore Quebec.

Any amendment to the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement requires the consent of the three parties � the Nunatsiavut General Assembly approved the amendments on March 18, 2009; it is expected that once the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has implemented these legislative amendments, the Government of Canada will move forward with its approval process.

"Agreements on land claims help to define new and positive relationships between governments and Aboriginal claimants," said Minister Pottle. "These amendments will resolve outstanding claims in offshore Quebec and Labrador and establish the rights of both Nunavik and Labrador Inuit in the overlap area."

A map of the overlap area can be viewed at: www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/laa/1203n07pic.htm.

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Media contact:

John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca


2009 12 03                                                         5:20 p.m.
 


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