On Dec. 3, 2020, the Innu communities of Uashat mak Mani-utenam and Matimekush-Lac John signed a Reconciliation and Collaboration Agreement with the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC). The agreement was named “Ussiniun,” which means “renewal” in the Innu language. The agreement facilitates increased participation by the Innu communities in IOC’s activities, delivering financial benefits and socio-economic initiatives across employment, training and business opportunities. IOC also agreed to collaborate with the Innu on environmental monitoring and protection.
The financial details of the agreement are confidential. The agreement also includes an apology to the Innu from IOC and provides for the withdrawal of the legal claims instituted by Uashat mak Mani-utenam and Matimekush-Lac John relating to IOC’s activities that had been litigated before the Supreme Court of Canada in Newfoundland and Labrador (Attorney General) v. Uashaunnuat (Innu of Uashat and of Mani‑Utenam), 2020 SCC 4, and in Iron Ore Company of Canada, et al. v. Uashaunnuat (Innus de Uashat et de Mani-Utenam), et al., 2015 CanLII 66243 (SCC).
The financial details of the agreement are confidential.
IOC was represented by
Benoît Palmer.
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP also represented IOC with a legal team including
Pierre-Christian Labeau.
Dionne Schulze s.e.n.c. represented the Innu of Matimekush‑Lac John with a legal team including
David Schulze,
David Janzen.
O’Reilly & Associés represented the Innu of Uashat and Mani-Utenam with a legal team including
James A. O’Reilly,
Marie‑Claude André‑Grégoire.
Kendall Carot also represented the Innu of Uashat and Mani-Utenam with a legal team including
Morgan Kendall,
Sophia Ladovrechis.