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A glimmer of hope

Broadcast Date: Oct. 25, 2004

While the Labrador Innu have become synonymous with self destruction, there is hope, as heard in this radio documentary. Three women in Natuashish are attempting to heal their community in different ways. Healing is something Natuashish desperately needs as its residents learn of yet another suicide — a 21-year-old Innu man who hanged himself. It is the sixth suicide in a community that's barely two years old.

Healing for filmmaker Christine Poker is telling the story of her people. For the president of Next Generation Guardian, an Innu woman's group, healing means bringing the women of Natuashish together and providing support. And for ex-chief Katie Rich, it means looking for political solutions, such as banning drugs, for a better life for her people.

A glimmer of hope

• Moved by the heartbreaking images of life in Davis Inlet, aid has been pouring into the Innu community. Harmonica player Mike Stevens began performing as well as bringing instruments to the children in Labrador after meeting some of the gas-sniffing Innu children. He spoke about his experience in an emotional interview with the CBC's Mary Lou Finlay.


• Terry Ryan, a former first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, became involved with the Seedwater Youth Opportunity Society, a non-profit youth development program aimed at helping the children from Natuashish. Ryan is part of a group helping 20 minor hockey players from Natuashish with skills on and off the ice.

• In April 2001, 1.5 tonnes of donated hockey equipment were delivered to the children of Davis Inlet. Four Peterborough, Ont., residents organized the equipment drive after learning the children were wearing shoes and boots and using sticks and brooms to play hockey.

A glimmer of hope

Medium: Radio

Program: The Current

Broadcast Date: Oct. 25, 2004

Reporter: Dick Miller

Duration: 21:38

Last updated:
April 27, 2005