Innu

American  

[ee-noo, ih-noo] / ˈi nu, ɪˈnu /

noun

plural

Innus,

plural

Innu

1. a member of one of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, divided into two linguistic groups, a larger southern group that French colonists called the Montagnais and a smaller northern group they called the Naskapi.

2. the Algonquian languages of the Innu, closely related to Cree.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the Innu or their languages.

Innu British  

/ ˈɪnuː /

noun

1. a member of an Algonquian people living in Labrador and northern Quebec

2. the Algonquian language of this people

---

Etymology

Origin of Innu

First recorded in 1990–95; from Innu; literally, “person”

Example Sentences

"This COP is all about halting and reversing biodiversity loss," said Valérie Courtois of the Innu community of Mashteutiatsh and director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2022

The daughter of an Innu leader is taken captive by their enemies.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2019

In 1861, local Innu leaders wrote to the colonial government of the time pleading to be allowed to fish in the river.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2017

But the Innu claim is a bit unusual.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2017

Another part of the deal compensates the Innu for the flooding of their burial sites and hunting grounds during the construction of the original Churchill Falls Hydro Dam.

From Scientific American • Sep. 13, 2011