ST. JOHN'S, Nfld. (CP) -- Negotiators for 5,000 Labrador Inuit, the Newfoundland government and Ottawa have reached a tentative agreement on a land-claim settlement, eliminating one of several obstacles on the road to a mining development at Voisey's Bay.
The tentative agreement in principle, reached late Thursday night and to be formalized in the next few weeks, is a significant step in a process that began eight years ago with the signing of a framework agreement.
"This is a good step ahead in that there are no more issues to negotiate," said Winston White, spokesman for the Labrador Inuit Association.
"We're starting to work toward more certainty."
The negotiations were based on a deal reached last year that would see the Inuit take control of a five per cent chunk of Labrador, as well as 25 per cent of Newfoundland's revenues from mining, oil and gas production.
The Inuit will also be given direct ownership of about 15,700 square kilometres of Labrador.
Boundaries for the Inuit territory have not yet been drawn.
Inuit will also co-manage with the Newfoundland government a further 56,000 square kilometres to be known as the Labrador Settlement Area. That land will remain under the control of the Crown but preferential hunting and fishing rights will be given to the Inuit.
White said he hopes the final agreement, which could take another year to reach, will bring the kind of immediate and positive changes for the Labrador Inuit that he has seen develop in the eastern Northwest Territories since a deal was reached to establish that region's own government.
"Within a year after that agreement, opportunities opened up for Inuit entrepreneurs" said White.
"It was a new stimulus, not just economic, but the culture was revived."
One of the most immediate economic development opportunities for the Inuit could come from Inco's proposed nickel development at Voisey's Bay, situated on land claimed by the Inuit and the Innu Nation.
But both groups have said there will be no project without land-claim agreements and separate benefit-sharing deals with Inco.
Negotiations between governments and the Innu are continuing, as are talks between Inco and the aboriginals.
Premier Brian Tobin said Friday he was pleased with the latest developments in negotiations.
More details will be released once the agreement in principle has been thoroughly reviewed, he added.
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