ABSTRACT
In 2015, the Canadian government created Akami-Uapishku-KakKasuaak-Mealy Mountain National Park Reserve. Located on the central coast of Labrador, it was designed to protect 11,000 square kilometres of natural landscape and safeguard a 7000-year history of Indigenous cultural heritage through co-management with local Innu and Inuit populations. However, the cultural and ecological history central to the park's creation narrative is at odds with the region's lesser-known, more toxic colonial history. Throughout the 20th century, colonial decision-making led to the depopulation of Indigenous settlements on the Porcupine Strand, a 40-kilometre expanse of scenic rolling sand dunes and beach along the eastern edge of the Park. This ultimately enabled Cold War military deployment and associated hazardous contamination to occur. Between 2001 and 2004 archaeological surveys recorded more than 100 Indigenous sites along the Porcupine Strand, while also recording evidence of naval Operation NORAMEX, a joint Canadian-American cold war era landing exercise that impacted the Indigenous archaeology on the Strand and continues to pose physical risks for both Indigenous users and visitors. We draw on archaeology, memory and history to situate the toxic legacy within the park into a long-term context and interpret the entanglement of militarism, park creation and colonialism, as well as the impacts of contemporary Indigenous communities.
