Innu visionary Peter Penashue is the driving force behind the negotiation of the Impacts-Benefit Agreement (IBA) between the Innu Nation and the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company in Labrador that brought overnight wealth to the nation. He was born to be a leader in his small Innu community of Sheshatshiu and one of the first from his community to attend high school in St. Johns and attend Memorial University.
Penashue was destined for many leadership roles from the Land Claims Director, Executive Director and Financial Administrator with the Naskapi Montagnais Innu to Grand Chief of the Innu Nation. He has navigated the Innu nation through challenging and turbulent waters.
Penashue was elected President of the Innu Nation at the age of 26, and served as Grand Chief of the Innu Nation, for twelve years. He was elected as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the riding of Labrador in the 2011 election. He is the first Innu from Labrador to be elected to the House of Commons of Canada, the first Innu cabinet minister in Canadian history, and the first Conservative to be elected from the riding of Labrador since 1968.
