Days after Innu Nation accused N.L. government of ‘erasure,’ politicians yet to speak

Tony Wakeham’s government is maintaining its silence days after the Innu Nation accused it of “erasure” over a now-cancelled exhibit days before it was scheduled to open.

Earlier this week, the planned opening of the Innu Pakassiun exhibit at the Labrador Interpretation Centre in North West River was cancelled. It was meant to open on National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21.

The exhibit’s cancellation stems from a dispute that’s emerged over the timeline of Innu history in the region, with the N.L. government capping the history at 300 years as opposed to the group’s claim that it was far longer than that. 

“This position amounts to an erasure of Innu history,” said Grand Chief Simon Pokue in a previous statement.

In a previous interview with CBC News, Innu Cultural Guardian Jodie Ashin called the decision to halt the project as “incredibly hard” but necessary.

“It’s a stand that must be made. Because we don’t want to have to continue to fight to prove who we are. We know who we are. And this exhibit was supposed to show that. But they’re fighting us and not allowing us to show who we are,” she said.

However, in the days since the accusations were levelled, the provincial government has yet to comment.

On Wednesday evening, when the exhibit cancellation was announced, CBC asked Indigenous Affairs, The Rooms — which collaborated on the exhibit — and Dave Sorenson, who is director of strategic communications – operations for the PC government for comment. 

None of the emails were acknowledged. 

CBC News has since asked Premier Tony Wakeham, Labrador Affairs Minister Lela Evans and Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Arts Andrea Barbour, for comment and interviews. 

Coincidentally, all three offices replied on Friday via email with a similar message, saying they were looking into the issue and would be in touch.

Creating the exhibit, which took two years, involved collaborative efforts with the Canadian Museum of History, the transfer to Labrador of select artifacts taken from Innu people, including ancestors of the people of modern Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation and Mushuau Innu First Nation. 

The Canadian Museum of History did provide comment but it steered clear of the issue of the timeline of the Innu’s history. 

“We have had the privilege of working closely with Cultural Guardian Jodie Ashini and members of the Innu Nation of Labrador for many years, and we deeply value their leadership and the opportunity to support them in sharing their history and cultural heritage in their own voices,” reads the statement.

“The museum was not involved in decisions regarding the exhibition’s content, presentation or cancellation, and we remain committed to supporting our partners however we can.”

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