Labrador

Labrador is a large region in eastern Canada, part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It makes up 71% of the province's land but has only 6% of its people. Labrador is separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle. It is the largest and northernmost part of Canada's four Atlantic provinces.

The land of Labrador stretches across much of the eastern Labrador Peninsula. To the west and south, it borders the province of Quebec. It also touches the territory of Nunavut at Killiniq Island.

For thousands of years, many Indigenous groups have lived in Labrador. These include the Northern Inuit of Nunatsiavut, the Southern-Inuit of NunatuKavut, and the Innu people of Nitassinan. Today, Labrador remains an important home for these communities and their traditions.

Etymology

Labrador is named after João Fernandes Lavrador, a Portuguese explorer who sailed along the coasts of the Labrador Peninsula in 1498–1499.

In the Inuttitut and Inuktitut languages, spoken in Nunatsiavut, Labrador is called Nunatsuak, which means "the big land."

History

Early history

The history of Labrador is closely tied to the sea, with the Innu and Inuit peoples living there long ago. Around the year 1000, the Norsemen, from what is now Norway, were the first Europeans to see Labrador. They called the land Markland.

In the late 1400s, Portuguese explorers João Fernandes Lavrador and Pero de Barcelos reached this area, which helped give Labrador its name. Over time, the name was also used for parts of Greenland.

In the 1500s, Basque whalers came to the northeast coast and set up a whaling station. They called the area Butus, which is now Red Bay. A ship called the San Juan sank there in 1565 and was later raised in 1978.

In the 1700s, the Moravian Brethren came to help the Inuit people living on the coast. They founded several small settlements.

20th century

Labrador became part of Canada in 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada.

During World War II and the Cold War, Labrador was important for military operations. A German weather station was placed near Cape Chidley, and a major air force base was built at Goose Bay. This base was used by many countries over the years.

In the 20th century, large iron ore deposits were found in western Labrador. This led to the growth of towns like Labrador West, where mines and railways were built to transport the ore.

In the 1960s, a big dam was built on the Churchill River, flooding a large area and creating a reservoir. More recently, construction began on another dam at Muskrat Falls.

From the 1970s to the early 2000s, roads were built to connect inland communities to the rest of North America. These roads changed life for many people in Labrador.

Geography

Labrador has a triangle shape and is part of the Canadian Shield, an area with thin soil and many minerals. It shares borders with Quebec and Nunavut, and its coastline touches the Atlantic Ocean. The climate in northern Labrador is very cold, while the south is colder but not as extreme.

Labrador has four main areas: the North Coast, Central Labrador, Western Labrador, and the South Coast. The North Coast has tall mountains and is mostly home to the Inuit people. Central Labrador contains big rivers and important power stations. Western Labrador has mining towns, and the South Coast has small fishing villages and beautiful sea areas.

Boundary dispute

Further information: Newfoundland and Labrador–Quebec border

Long ago, there was a disagreement about where the border of Labrador should be. In 1809, Labrador was moved from one area to become part of Newfoundland, but no one had clearly said where the border should be. Newfoundland wanted the border to be far inland, while Canada said it should be just a little way from the coast. Leaders from both places asked a special group in London to decide. They chose a border mostly along the coastal area, with part following a line far north.

When Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, one of the conditions was that this border would be protected in Canada’s important rules. Even though Quebec, another area nearby, did not agree with this border, a study in the 1970s found that Quebec no longer had a legal right to Labrador.

In 2023, a leader from Newfoundland and Labrador talked about how a group from Quebec showed a map that included all of Labrador as part of Quebec, which upset many people.

Self-government

In 2002, a Royal Commission found that some people in Labrador wanted to separate from Newfoundland and become their own province or territory.

Over many years, the people of Nunatsiavut in northern Labrador worked with government leaders. In 2005, Nunatsiavut became its own region with its own elected leaders. The Innu people also hope to have Labrador recognized as their home land.

The Labrador Inuit Association asked for land rights in 1977. After many talks, they signed an agreement in 2005. This gave them rights to use the land and own some of it, covering a big area of northern Labrador. This also helped create Torngat Mountains National Park.

Demographics

The Labrador region has a population of 26,655 people, which is smaller than the populations of the northern Canadian territories such as Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Most people in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador live on Newfoundland Island.

Most towns in Labrador have fewer than 1,000 people. In 2011, the people of Labrador were mostly White (55.1%), with many also being Inuit (18.5%), Metis (15.6%), and First Nations (Innu) (8.6%).