After weeks of consultation and a three-day vote, members of the Innu Nation fell short of ratifying what would have been a historic settlement with Hydro-Québec.

The Tsheuatishiun Agreement would have seen Hydro-Québec pay $87 million to Sheshatshiu and Natuashish over 16 years, along with three per cent of the dividends the Quebec Crown corporation receives from Churchill Falls.

But to ratify the deal, at least 50 per cent of eligible residents of both Sheshatshiu and Natuashish had to vote on the settlement, and negotiation committee member Peter Penashue says that count wasn’t met in Sheshatshiu.

Although the numbers have not been published, Penashue said the community was about 10 votes short of the 50 per cent threshold.

“The agreement is … dead as far as I'm concerned,” he said

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