What we needed next was an awakening. We had to resurrect the true Innu spirit to struggle with governments, protest changes to our land and heal our sickening souls. For me, the awakening came when I saw Innu protest against the military activity in Ntesinan. I saw the people of Sheshatshiu protesting while the police carried them away to waiting buses. I knew then that it was time to take new kinds of action to fight the ignorance of governments.

When we defied government policies, we created among ourselves intense feelings of empowerment. The military and law enforcement agencies had us in their grip for many years. Now we were finally breaking free. We could speak out and show the outside world what the Canadian government was doing in their own backyard to aboriginal people. Since then, there has been a lot of support from other countries. Governments have changed their attitudes toward the Innu in Ntesinan. Once again, we can feel proud to be Innu. I can see it on the faces of the Innu in our communities.