Land, resources and discourses of development in central Labrador

Burke, Rhonda Carol (2003) Land, resources and discourses of development in central Labrador. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

During the last decade, a number of large-scale resource development projects have been proposed for Labrador. Most prominent among these are the mining complex slated for Voisey's Bay and the expansion of hydroelectricity generation on the Lower Churchill River. Debates about the merits of these proposals have been particularly heated in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the bureaucratic hub of Labrador. This thesis explores the core elements of the pro-development discourses that were put forth by the town's political and business elites. These individuals tended to characterize Labradorians as having a set of shared goals and interests that could only be realized through modernization. Many spoke disparagingly about the Innu Nation, which they accused of selfishly standing in the way of the aspirations of other Labradorians through their public opposition to certain aspects of these new developments. This research contradicts this claim. While many interviewees did support some degree of industrial expansion, most voiced serious concerns about the potential social, cultural, and environmental impacts of further development. These concerns were evident among people from a wide range of backgrounds, and do not appear to be easily ascribed to any particular group.

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