Natuashish is an Innu community in the

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

province of

Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

. The community is inhabited by the Mushuau Innu First Nation. Natuashish became a federal Indian reserve in 2003. Natuashish (Little Sango Pond) 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 Davis Inlet was a Naskapi community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, formerly inhabited by the Mushuau Innu First Nation. It was named for its adjacent fjord, itself named for English explorer, John Davis, who in 1587 cha ...

, away. The population of Natuashish at the 2021 Census was 856, down from 938 in 2016. 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 Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...

. The government was accused of creating a system overburdened with bureaucracy, and not adequately addressing the issue. The local tribal band was accused of corruption, as was shown in a 2005 CBC report in which it was shown that the leadership was trafficking drugs and other illicit substances to maintain power. The community's attempt to resolve its problem with

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...

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. The prohibition bylaw was upheld in a subsequent referendum held in the community in March 2010. The community continues to struggle with drug abuse and youth boredom. As recently as 2017

gas sniffing Inhalants are a broad range of household and industrial chemicals whose volatile vapors or pressurized gases can be concentrated and breathed in via the nose or mouth to produce intoxication, in a manner not intended by the manufacturer. They ...

by youths has been a notable issue. Natuashish is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea. The community is served by the

Natuashish Airport Natuashish Airport is west of Natuashish, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the ...

References

Innu communities in Newfoundland and Labrador Populated places in Labrador Road-inaccessible communities of Newfoundland and Labrador Indian reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador First Nations reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador {{Labrador-geo-stub