Natuashish

{{about|the town|the ethnic group|Mushuau Innu First Nation}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Natuashish

| official_name = Natuashish Indian Reserve No. 2

| native_name =

| settlement_type = Indian reserve

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| pushpin_map = Canada Newfoundland and Labrador

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| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Newfoundland and Labrador.

| coordinates = {{coord|55|55|00|N|61|07|30|W|region:CA-NL|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{CAN}}

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = {{NL}}

| established_title = Settled

| established_date = 2002 {{Cite web |last=Adrian Tanner |date=1999 |title=Innu History |url=http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/aboriginal/innu-history.php |publisher=Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage |access-date=2016-06-20 |archive-date=2015-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910151005/http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/aboriginal/innu-history.php |url-status=dead }}

| government_type =

| leader_title = Chief

| leader_name = John Nui{{Cite news |date=2019-11-07 |title=John Nui re-elected as Mushuau Innu First Nation chief in Natuashish |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nui-mushuau-innu-chief-1.5351198 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107184356/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nui-mushuau-innu-chief-1.5351198 |archive-date=2024-11-07 |access-date=2024-11-07 |work=CBC News}}

| leader_title1 = Federal MP

| leader_name1 = Philip Earle (L)

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| population_total = 856

| population_as_of = 2021

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| area_code = 709

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| leader_title2 = Provincial MHA

| leader_name2 = Lela Evans (PC){{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Labrador MHA Lela Evans leaving the NDP to return to PC caucus |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/labrador-mha-lela-evans-leaving-142331305.html |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}

| timezone = AST

| utc_offset = -4

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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 became a federal Indian reserve in 2003.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2002 |title=Mushuau Innu First Nation Band Order SOR/2002-415 |url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-415/FullText.html |publisher=Justice Canada}}{{Cite web |date=Nov 2007 |title=Archived - Reserve Creation at Natuashish |url=https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100018920/1100100018921 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada}}

Natuashish (Little Sango Pond){{Cite web |last=Bibeau |first=Pierre |title=Phase 2 Report on a Heritage Study for the Utshimassit Community Relocation Project, Sango Bay, Labrador |url=https://www.gov.nl.ca/tcar/provincial-archaeology-annual-report-series/1996-toc/bibeau1996sangbay/ |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |website=Government of Newfoundland and Labrador - Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation}} 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, {{convert|15|km|mi}} away.{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Davis Inlet Innu get new home |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Davis+Inlet+Innu+get+new+home-a030183252 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)}} The population of Natuashish at the 2021 Census was 856, down from 938 in 2016.{{Cite web |date=9 February 2022 |title=Natuashish 2, Indian reserve (IRI) Newfoundland and Labrador [Census subdivision] |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&DGUIDlist=2021A00051010801 |access-date=26 February 2022 |publisher=Statistics Canada}}

Initial reports suggested that the Canadian government's plan of renewal and healing had been a failure, as the community was still plagued with alcohol and drug abuse. The government was accused of creating a system overburdened with bureaucracy, and not adequately addressing the issues. The local tribal band was accused of corruption, as was proven in a 2005 CBC News report in which it was shown that the leadership was trafficking drugs and other illicit substances to maintain power.{{Cite web |date=December 14, 2004 |title=The Innu of Labrador: From Davis Inlet to Natuashish |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aboriginals/natuashish.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217030423/https://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aboriginals/natuashish.html |archive-date=December 17, 2004 |access-date=October 16, 2020 |website=CBC News}}{{Cite web |date=Feb 8, 2005 |title=Natuashish: Struggling with the hangovers of old Davis Inlet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/natuashish-struggling-with-the-hangovers-of-old-davis-inlet |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CBC}}{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Peter |date=March 6, 2015 |title=A decade after the people of Davis Inlet were relocated, they are still hunting demons |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/hunting-demons/article23331533/ |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=The Globe and Mail}}{{Cite web |date=Feb 9, 2005 |title=Band money fuelling addictions: sources |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/band-money-fuelling-addictions-sources-1.542082 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}{{Cite web |date=Oct 26, 2005 |title=Labrador Innu leaders pocketing band money: audit |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/labrador-innu-leaders-pocketing-band-money-audit-1.542105 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}

The community's attempt to resolve its problem with alcoholism led to a ban on the sale, purchase, and possession of alcohol within the reserve. The bylaw was originally passed in 2008 by a margin of two votes.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Labrador Innu village votes for booze ban |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-innu-village-votes-for-booze-ban-1.765467 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202071725/https://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/02/01/natuashish-dry.html |archive-date=February 2, 2008 |access-date=16 October 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2008 |title=Natuashish to vote on all-out ban on alcohol, drugs |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/natuashish-to-vote-on-all-out-ban-on-alcohol-drugs-1.736964 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131205036/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/01/30/natuashish-dry.html |archive-date=January 31, 2008 |access-date=16 October 2020 |publisher=CBC News}} The prohibition bylaw was upheld in a subsequent referendum held in the community in March 2010.{{Cite web |date=Mar 26, 2010 |title=Natuashish votes to keep alcohol ban |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/natuashish-votes-to-keep-alcohol-ban-1.938213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328233829/https://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/03/26/nl-keep-alcohol-ban-326.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |access-date=16 October 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}

The community has continued to struggle with drug abuse and youth boredom.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Bailey |date=Jun 20, 2017 |title='Killing our youth': Natuashish leaders call for crackdown on bootlegging |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/natuashish-leaders-call-for-bootlegging-crackdown-1.4159846 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Sue |date=May 15, 2017 |title='They're doing it right on the street': New gas-sniffing crisis grips Natuashish Innu |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gas-sniffing-crisis-grips-natuashish-innu-1.4115621 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}} As recently as 2017, gas sniffing by youths has been a notable issue.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Sue |date=May 15, 2017 |title=New gas-sniffing crisis grips Natuashish Innu |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/new-gas-sniffing-crisis-grips-natuashish-innu-1.3414084 |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |publisher=CTV News}}

Natuashish is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.{{Cite web |last=Churchill Duke |first=Laura |date=20 Sep 2019 |title=Hopedale woman circulating petition calling for the province to subsidize flights to northern Labrador |url=https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/provincial/hopedale-woman-circulating-petition-calling-for-the-province-to-subsidize-flights-to-northern-labrador-354868/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |publisher=Saltwire}} The community is served by the Natuashish Airport.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Angel |date=Apr 5, 2020 |title=Indigenous leaders asking that access to Labrador be sealed off |url=https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/indigenous-leaders-asking-that-access-to-labrador-be-sealed-off/ |access-date=Oct 16, 2020 |website=APTN News}}