NunatuKavut people
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Languages | |
| Newfoundland English, Inuttut | |
| Religion | |
| Protestant, Evangelical Christianity, Animism. | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Inuit peoples |
The NunatuKavummiut (also called the people of NunatuKavut, Labrador Metis or Inuit-metis) are an Aboriginal people of Canada. They live in central to southern Labrador, and are of mixed Inuit and European heritage. They are unrelated to the Red River Metis of Western Canada, but may still be considered "Metis" in the widest sense of that word, being of mixed heritage.
Nunatuĸavut or NunatuKavut means "Our ancient land" in the ancestral Inuttut dialect of the NunatuKavummuit. The Inuit region encompasses Southern Labrador, from the Grand River (Newfoundland name: 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.
The people are the sole ancestors of the southern Inuit of Labrador who have, they claim, 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.
According to one theory, the Inuit arrived in Labrador in the 15th century from Baffin Island. Archeological evidence shows they lived as far south as the Sandwich Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador) area.
The Inuit were in conflict with the Basque and French whalers beginning in the mid-1500s.
Following the defeat of France in the Seven Years' War, Britain laid claim to Labrador. The British governvor of Newfoundland Sir Hugh Palliser signed a treaty with the southern Labrador Inuit in 1765.
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.
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Wikipedia