Innu facts for kids

The Innu are an Indigenous group living in Quebec and Newfoundland. They are also known as the Montagnais. For a long time, the Innu lived by hunting and gathering. But the Canadian government later made them move from their traditional lands and change their way of life.

Innu Land

The Innu people call their traditional territory Nitassinan. This means "Our Land" in their language. It is a large area of land that has been important to them for many, many years.

Innu History and Changes

A Roman Catholic ceremony involving Innu and other First Nations people in Labrador.

For a long time, the Innu lived a nomadic lifestyle. This means they moved from place to place to follow animals for hunting and to gather plants. They lived in harmony with the land.

However, the Canadian government later made the Innu live in permanent communities. This meant they could no longer follow their traditional nomadic way of life. The government also made Innu children go to special schools run by churches. In these schools, Innu children were often not allowed to speak their own language or practice their traditional beliefs.

Because of these big changes, the Innu people faced many challenges. They lost some of their traditional knowledge and ways of living. The schools also did not fully prepare them for life in Western society. On top of this, they often faced unfair treatment because they were Indigenous. The Innu people are still working to heal from these past actions and to keep their culture strong.

See also

In Spanish: Innu para niños

Images for kids

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  Lands traditionally inhabited by the Innu. Naskapi land is shown in yellow and Montagnais land in red

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  Reindeer hunting in Labrador

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  "Buckle up your children" sign in Innu-aimun language, in the Pointe-Parent reserve near Natasquan, Quebec.

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  Housing

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  Canoes