Labrador land claim deal with Innu delayed

A Labrador Innu leader says finalization of a land claim agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador is falling behind schedule.

"We had the end of this month [June] as our target. I don't think that's going to happen," said Deputy Chief Peter Penashue, speaking at an annual business expo in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador on Tuesday.

Last September, the province announced a proposal called the New Dawn Agreement that would give the Innu ownership of 13,000 square kilometres of Labrador.

Under the proposal the Innu would receive millions in payments related to hydro developments.

In return, the Innu won't stand in the way of future development of hydroelectric dams on the lower reaches of the Churchill River.

But eight months later, the fine print of the proposal is still being hammered out.

Penashue said the exact boundaries of the new Innu territory haven't been drawn and the wording of compensation for the Upper Churchill hydroelectric project needs to be clarified.

Details of the agreement on payments to Innu from any future Lower Churchill project also need to be sorted out.

Penashue said it's not clear how Innu businesses would participate in construction of new dams on the Churchill River.

"We'll all have to sit down and figure out how this is all going to be," said Penashue.

Some critics of the agreement have said only a handful of Innu business people would profit it there is a deal. But Penashue said they're overlooking benefits such as land ownership and royalties.

"It's going to take time for people to look at the big picture," said Penashue. "Once you start looking at the big picture all the other small stuff will be insignificant."

Innu leaders predict a final deal will be presented to Innu this summer. Penashue said he hopes it will go to a ratification vote in the fall.