There are signs the Matshishkapeu Accord might run into some trouble in the Innu communities in Labrador.
Not surprising, at all, is that.
Expect some heavy concern among non-aboriginal people in Labrador as well, especially when it gets closer to defining Labrador Innu Land. Any non-Innu people currently holding title to land in the area will have to be properly compensated or have their title recognized.
The land claim is a long way from settled. The Lower Churchill deal is a long way from sanctioned if it is sanctioned at all. These things are complex and they take time to work through all the details.
So one does have to wonder what all the rush was about last week. By the Premier's own account the deal was cut in a week of intense negotiations that finished in an all-nighter Thursday. The thing was settled before seven in the morning Friday and the newser was held before anyone had time to do much more than grab a quick show and head to the media gathering.
On something this important, it seems like a rather high pressure tactic to use, one where people are bound to make mistakes in the heat of the moment and under the undue duress of the style.
It's not like really bad deals haven't come out of just such an approach before.
Anyone else remember the mess that came out of just such a high-pressure situation in early June 1990?
Anyone else wonder what Danny Williams would have said if the oil companies tried the same thing on him?
This thing is far from settled.
-srbp-