Encounters: An Anthropological History of Southeastern Labrador

Description

Part anthropological history| part informed critique| Encounters examines the relations between the people of southeastern Labrador and the many visitors who have come to fish| heal the sick| and extract the region’s resources. John Kennedy presents the latest archaeological| genealogical| and ethno-historical research that changes scholarly understandings of southeastern Labrador. Departing from the conventional view that coastal Labrador has distinct Inuit and non-Inuit regions| he argues that the coast should be viewed as a continuum of “Inuitness.” Encounters unravels the social implications of the region’s complex mercantile fishery| describes how twentieth-century military and resource development have impacted Labrador’s seasonal economy| and suggests that Newfoundland continues to use Labrador as a colony. Kennedy uses field research he conducted in 2013 to describe the origins| current economies| and future challenges of the region’s tiny villages. Although he is a strong supporter of Aboriginal land claims| Kennedy explores the impact of identity politics in the region| showing how land claims based solely on geography can unintentionally create inequities. Drawing on decades of field and archival research| Kennedy demonstrates how Aboriginal politics are transforming society in southeastern Labrador| empowering local people to overcome the stigmas of history and finally acknowledge their Inuit ancestry.