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Natuashish

Natuashish
Indian reserve
Natuashish Indian Reserve No. 2
Natuashish Location in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Coordinates: 55°55′00″N 61°07′30″W / 55.91667°N 61.12500°W / 55.91667; -61.12500
Country	Canada
Province	Newfoundland and Labrador
Settled	2002 [1]
Government
• Chief	John Nui
• Federal MP	Yvonne Jones (L)
• Provincial MHA	Lela Evans (PC)[2]
Population  (2021)
• Total	856
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
Area code	709

Natuashish is an Innu community in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The community is inhabited by the Mushuau Innu First Nation. Natuashish became a federal Indian reserve in 2003.^[3][4]

Natuashish (Little Sango Pond)^[5] 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, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away.^[6] The population of Natuashish at the 2021 Census was 856, down from 938 in 2016.^[7]

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. 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.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

The community's attempt to resolve its problem with alcoholism 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.^[13][14] The prohibition bylaw was upheld in a subsequent referendum held in the community in March 2010.^[15]

The community continues to struggle with drug abuse and youth boredom.^[16][17] As recently as 2017 gas sniffing by youths has been a notable issue.^[18]

Natuashish is inaccessible by road and may be reached only by air or sea.^[19] The community is served by the Natuashish Airport.^[20]

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