The Nunatsiavut government is calling for the demotion of Liberal MP Yvonne Jones due to what they claim were inaccurate comments she made regarding a court ruling involving the NunatuKavut Community Council, a self-identifying Inuit group in Labrador.
Yvonne Jones, who represents Labrador in the House of Commons, expressed her support for a Federal Court judge’s decision that dismissed an Innu Nation challenge to cancel the federal government’s memorandum of understanding with NCC. Jones, who is one of NunatuKavut’s 6,000 members, congratulated the group on their victory in a social media post.
However, the Nunatsiavut government, a self-governing Inuit body, issued a statement clarifying that the court ruling did not establish NCC’s section 35 status as an Indigenous group in Canada. They accused NunatuKavut of appropriating Inuit culture and identity.
Nunatsiavut is deeply concerned by Jones’s comments and is demanding her removal from parliamentary secretary positions in Northern Affairs and Defence. They believe that Jones has not acted with impartiality and accountability in advancing NCC’s agenda.
NunatuKavut, formerly known as the Labrador Métis Association, has a history of land claim submissions dating back to 1991. However, their claims have been rejected, with the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal acknowledging a credible but unproven claim to Indigenous rights.
The Innu Nation, another Indigenous group in Labrador, has also criticized Jones for her comments regarding the court ruling. They believe that Jones has misled the public about the court’s decision and the implications for NCC.
Overall, the situation highlights the complexities and tensions between different Indigenous groups in Labrador and the challenges they face in asserting their rights and identities. The demands for Jones’s demotion underscore the need for public officials to act with accountability and impartiality when dealing with sensitive Indigenous issues.