Nunatukavut

Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut (Non-a-too-ha-voot - phonetically; The ĸ is letter kra) means "Our ancient land" in the ancestral Inuktitut dialect of the NunatuKavummuit people. The Inuit region encompasses Southern Labrador, from the Churchill River, South to Lodge Bay and West to the extent of the official border between Quebec and Labrador. However, the land use area is much more extensive.^[1]

The People are 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 made any real foray into the area in the early 20th century.^[2]

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.^[3]

See also

• Métis people (Canada)

References

• Canadian Government: NunatuKavut Land Claim Document
• NunatuKavut Community Council Inc.

Further reading

• Labrador Inuit History
• Canadian Encyclopedia; Inuit presence in southern Labrador
• Royal Commission White Paper on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada

Notes

1. ^ The forgotten Labrador (Cleophas Belvin; ISBN 0773531513; (bound))
2. ^ The Story of Labrador by Bill Rompkey Publisher: Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003. ISBN 0773525742 DDC: 971.82 LCC: FC2149.4 Edition: (bound)
3. ^ Royal Commission White Paper on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada