Natuashish, Newfoundland and Labrador

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Natuashish is an Innu community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The community is inhabited by the Mushuau Innu First Nation.

Natuashish was established in 2002 as a planned community, in the hopes of resolving the social problems that had plagued the prior community of Davis Inlet.

However, recent reports suggest that the Canadian government's plan of renewal and healing has ultimately been a failure. The community is still plagued with alcohol and drug abuse. The government has been accused of creating a system overburdened with bureaucracy, and not adequately addressing the issue. The local tribal band also has been accused of corruption, as was shown in a 2005 CBC report in which it was shown that the leadership was trafficking drugs and other illicit substances to maintain power.

However, in January 2008 the community voted narrowly to ban alcohol on the reserve. The new bylaw, passed by a margin of only two votes, prohibits the sale, purchase and possession of alcohol in the community.

The community is served by the Natuashish Airport.

[edit] External links

• "From Davis Inlet to Natuashish", CBC.ca, February 14, 2005
• "Labrador Innu village votes for booze ban", CBC.ca, February 1, 2008