John Nui re-elected as Mushuau Innu chief, says housing among top priorities

The chief ofMushuau Innu First Nation, who's held office for the past six years, has been re-elected for a third term.

John Nui says there are a number of priorities for himself and the newly elected band council, with his top concern being housing.

"We do have to keep in mind that the children will be the priority first. That's why the houses need to be fixed, so there won't be overcrowding in one house," said Nui.

Nui initially announced that he wouldn't be seeking re-election but said he received calls from community members encouraging him to run again. Nui says he took that as a sign the people of Natuashish approved of his work over the past six years.

There arearound 100 people on the waiting list for housing, and Nuisaid thelist expandsevery year because families are growing.

Council this term consists of three men and three women. The last band council had two representatives of each sex.

Nui says he believes adding two extra councillors will generate more ideas among leadership.

During the election, Nui spoke to the importance of Natuashish having sober leadershipand said it's been a struggle to keep drugs and alcohol outof the dry community.

Some alcohol and drugs brought into the community have been confiscated by the RCMPor Natuashish's community safety officers, said Nui, but policecan't stop everybodyand are often tasked with ensuring people can travel safely in remote parts of Labrador.

"My staff can't be everywhere at the same time.In the winter times they go by Ski-Doo and they're part of the search and rescue team as well, and by boat they have to rely on the people from other communities on the coast to help them out," said Nui.

With the seasons changing and colder temperatures approaching,Nui is concerned about those traveling along the coast in the fall season and people getting stormbound during the winter.

"It's worrisome. You have to look after your [commmunity safety officers']safety as well, but at the same time have to try to find thosewho are stormbound in other areas. You have to look at all the options that we have to make sure everyone comes home safe," said Nui.

'We're not going to stop people from drinking'

Mushuau Innu First Nation has, in the past, chartered flights to bring community members who make up some of the transient and homeless population in Happy Valley-Goose Bayback to the community.

But Nui says bringing people back to Natuashishdoesn't necessarily mean they will stay.

"We have people in Goose Bay helping us transport them to the Goose Bay airport. You have to make sure that they're being looked after until they get on the flights. When they do, they stay here for a couple of weeks and by the time we knowthey're in Goose Bayagain."

Nui says he's struggling with how to get people to stay in the community, acknowledgingcouncil can't stop people from decidingto drink.

"We have a bylaw here in our community and I think that's something that needs to be respected, because we have a beautiful community.We don't need to add more stress by bringing more alcohol into our community, because that's not going to work," said Nui.

Nui says council is still thinking about chartering flights in the future to help bring those people home.

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