The Central Labrador community of North West River has been used as a congregational meeting place by nomadic fur traders for the past 3000 years(documented). The village was established as a community in 1743 by Louis Fornel when the fur trade between the Innu, Métis, Inuit and European explorers became a commercial entity. History has seen French Revillion and Freres and the Hudson's Bay Company establish North West River as an isolated center of commerce. This commerce also brought with it the International Grenfell Association’s center of health care and educational services.
Sivunivut was successful in obtaining funding to complete an Economic Leakage Study. The goal is to complete an economic leakage study that will help reverse the current trend of outflow of spending from North West River into the neighbouring central Labrador community of Happy Valley – Goose Bay. This study will identify specific business opportunities for North West River that would bring new businesses, jobs and wealth back into the community.
Since the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (LILCA) was approved, members of the former Labrador Inuit Association are now referred to as "Beneficiaries". Beneficiaries in North West River and Sheshatshiu, are represented in the Nunatsiavut Assembly by Sivunivut Inuit Community Corporation Incorporated (formerly North West River ICC). Sivunivut Corporation is headed by a Chairperson and a Board of Directors. Mina Campbell-Hibbs was elected as the first Chairperson of the NWR ICC on September 19, 2006.
AYEP seeks to help Indigenous youth develop the attitudes and skills necessary to achieve success in secondary school, the workplace, during post-secondary education or training, and in daily life. The curriculum teaches students to develop entrepreneurial opportunities that can lead to business ownership. They gain an introduction to business that will help them prepare for the working world regardless of their choice of career.
The Connections Career Centre is an aboriginal program whose mandate is to promote and develop demand for the aboriginal population in the workforce by building relationships and partnerships with employers and aboriginal communities and organizations in the region.
The mission of the Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Centre is to provide structured, social-based programming for Urban Aboriginal People while serving as a focal point for the urban aboriginal community to gather for a variety of community functions and events.
"The Plenary provides a forum for members of the Aboriginal community, Federal representatives, Provincial representatives, members of the private sector and other JEDI partners to network and share information. It is also an opportunity to review and receive updates on other economic development initiatives that are occurring in the province."
