Dozens of former members of the Labrador Inuit Association are joining forces to fight for compensation from the Nunatsiavut self-government.
Over 100 people aired their grievances at a February 20 meeting in the Masonic Lodge in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Many were angry about their disenfranchisement in the 1990s. The group calls itself Revoked Membership and they are seeking reinstatement with full status as Inuit people.
Some people who lost membership status, but have since had it reinstated, are still upset. They say they lost out on benefits and were treated unfairly.
When a comprehensive land claims and self-government agreement was completed and came into effect in 2005, some members, who were not of full Inuit blood, were removed from the official membership list.
Other grievances include limited or no access to funding for education, medical coverage and being left out of job opportunities at the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine.
The group is expected to launch a lawsuit against the Nunatsiavut government.
