Natuashish band council office, cultural stage burn down hours after election

By Heidi Atter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

RCMP are investigating after the Mushuau Innu First Nation Band Council Office and a cultural stage burned down early Friday morning. 

Police say at approximately 3:09 a.m. on Friday morning they spotted  smoke coming from the band council office and local fire crew arrived on  scene shortly thereafter.

No one was injured but the building sustained “significant damage,” RCMP say. The cause is under investigation. 

In a statement on Facebook, newly-elected Chief Patricia Andrew said  “what happened last night was wrong, and not the kind of news anyone  wants to start their day with.”

“Our community has been through enough, and violence will never solve  anything,” she continued. “Together we will rebuild what was lost and  move forward towards the goals that people voted for, a better and  stronger community. Let us respect one another. There is already enough  trouble in the world.”

It was a close race, with Andrew beating Nui by 13 votes. Nui held  the position of chief the past nine years and had been in council for  the past 15. Andrew earned 288 votes; Nui had 275. 

New chapter for Nui

Nui said in an interview with The Independent that it’s somewhat of a  relief to see the election results, as it begins a new chapter. 

“It’s been 15 years I’ve been sitting in the council, and that’s all  I’ve been doing all my life,” he said. “It’s going to be somewhat new  for me because I have to adjust the way I do things here now. I’m going  to certainly spend a lot of time here at home, and hopefully I’ll find  work to keep me busy.”

Nui said he visited Chief Andrew after the results were announced at  midnight and offered his full support. He was later woken up by his wife  at around 3:30 a.m. and was told the band council office was on fire,  he said. 

“I was very shocked,” he said. “I can’t believe it happened right  after the election. And I just can’t help but feel sorry for the new  chief.”

There have been a number of rumours posted on social media — from  allegations that the fire was started by Nui’s family or supporters, or  to burn documents from the past council.  Nui said it’s important to  think clearly and rationally. 

Nui said he fully supports Andrew, who is also his niece. He pointed  to how files and documents are backed up at offices in Happy  Valley-Goose Bay’s finance office, so there would be no point in anyone  burning the office in Natuaashish. Nui said there are always rumours and  finger pointing, no matter what chief and council does. 

“Every day you hear people putting the blame on the chief and  council. So I’m thinking, it’s not going to be any different with this,  but I just hope that they don’t want to take it seriously, to take it to  the next level,” Nui said. 

Nui said he hopes people don’t escalate any violence and that  residents support the new chief and council as they work to rebuild.  While the coming weeks and months  may be hard on Andrew, Nui said she  has a good team and public support. He said transparency is key. 

Nui hopes the new chief and council focus on putting the election  code into place. It’s in the final draft and needs to go to the public  for consultations,  then a referendum with Mushuau members, he said. 

During the consultations, the Innu could decide the punishments for  candidates found to be bribing residents for votes with drugs or  alcohol. Nui said the consultations would decide how to address alleged  vote-buying, such as banning people from running for office. 

Nui said he hopes the new council will support each other and be  stronger together as they work to rebuild. For himself, Nui plans to  spend a lot of time with his kids before job hunting. 

Natuashish father Kevin Pastiwet said the fires were “a great loss”  for the community. The band office was a loss but the cultural site was  where the community gathers on National Indigenous Peoples’ Day to  celebrate Innu culture.  

“I think the community voted for three women, three men and one chief  to represent our community of Natuashish for the best interest of our  Mushuau Innu members,” Pastiwet said. The community elected these people  and have trust and confidence to elect them.

The RCMP is asking anyone with information to contact Natuashish RCMP or Crime Stoppers. 

editor