Statement: National Indigenous History Month

June 2, 2023

The following statement was issued today by Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe:

June is National Indigenous History Month across Canada – a time to honour our people’s resilience, achievements and stories which have helped shape this country.

Nunatsiavummiut have a lot to be proud of when it comes to our vast and rich history. We are one of the founding peoples of Canada; descendants of the prehistoric Thule hunters who were drawn to Labrador because of the region’s abundance of whales and other wildlife.

We are the southernmost Inuit homeland and the first Inuit in Canada to achieve self-government. Through our various departments, we continue to make strides in restoring our language through online classes, school and daycare curriculum, and every day conversations.

We continue to showcase and promote our culture

and heritage through initiatives like the Torngat Mountains Base Camp Youth Leadership Program, the Tupik Pilot Project, the Kajak Revival Project, annual language and culture camps, youth and Elder gatherings, just to name a few. And we are always eager to share the beauty of our land and natural resources to the many visitors to our communities each year.

We should be proud of how far we, as Labrador Inuit, have come and who we are today, as we help shape the future for the generations ahead.

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