June 25, 2001
Inuit land claims includes Torngats Park

On June 25 2001, after more than two years of discussion, representatives of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada and the Labrador Inuit Association signed the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement-In-Principle.

The goal of this agreement -- the first of its kind in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador -- is to promote long-term economic and social development, and to provide the Labrador Inuit with clearly defined land, resources and self-government rights. The final agreement will create two areas of land – the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area (LISA) and the Labrador Inuit Lands.

The Settlement Area will consist of 72,520 km² of land and 44,030 km² of tidal waters within Canada’s 12-mile limit, and will include the Inuit communities of Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville and Rigolet. The Labrador Inuit Lands, which the Inuit will own, will consist of 15,800 km² located inside the Settlement Area. Also within the overall Settlement Area will be the Torngat Mountains National Park reserve, which will occupy 9,580 km².

The Province will approve and issue land titles for all developments in the Settlement Area for proposed commercial or industrial operations, outside Inuit Lands. For any large-scale development, the proponent must negotiate an Impacts and Benefits Agreement (IBA) with the Inuit government. The purpose of an IBA is to enhance Inuit opportunities for training, employment and joint ventures, and to provide additional environmental protection, but it cannot limit development-related opportunities only to Inuit, nor can it place an unreasonable financial burden on the developer. Proponents of developments on Inuit Lands will require approval of the Inuit government.

Federal and provincial environmental assessment legislation will still apply in the Settlement Area, including Inuit Lands. However, within Inuit Lands the Inuit government may make additional laws regarding environmental assessments as they see fit.

Within Inuit Lands, existing mineral rights holders will continue under provincial regulations, while new exploration permits must be approved by both the Provincial and Inuit governments, and companies must comply with joint exploration and quarrying standards developed by the Province and the Inuit government. The Inuit will own 3,950 km² of quarry materials within Inuit Lands, and will be responsible for issuing quarry permits in this area, with an IBA being required, but quarry developers will not be required to negotiate IBAs outside of this area.