Imappivut represents all Labrador Inuit who live in Nunatsiavut’s five communities (Rigolet, Makkovik, Postville, Hopedale, and Nain), the Upper Lake Melville region (Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River, and Mud Lake), and throughout Canada and across the world.
Nunatsiavut means “Our Beautiful Land” in English.
Inuit have occupied the circumpolar regions of the world for longer than 5,000 years. Our earliest ancestors lived mainly on the north coast of Labrador where they travelled all over to harvest the resources of the land and sea. We are considered a maritime people and are one of the founding peoples of Canada.
The Labrador Inuit Association (LIA) was formed in 1973 and filed a statement of claim with the Government of Canada four years later. For the next 30 years, we worked hard to promote our culture, our health and well-being, and our rights. The Nunatsiavut Government came into effect on December 1, 2005, and we began preparations for the first ever Nunatsiavut elections.
The Nunatsiavut Government represents approximately 7,400 people who live in Nunatsiavut, Labrador, and throughout the world.
From prehistory to modern government, the epic story of Labrador Inuit is one of resilience in the face of great change. We are proud of our past. And now, more than ever, we are focused on our future.