Peter Penashue was born on April 9th, 1964 in the Labrador Innu community of Sheshatshiu. After growing up in Sheshatshiu he moved to St. John’s where he graduated from Brother Rice High School and pursued studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Since his early adult life Peter assumed a number of leadership roles in the Labrador Innu community, from Land Claims Director, Executive Director and Financial Administrator with the Naskapi Montagnais Innu to Grand Chief of the Innu Nation.

Peter was elected President of the Innu Nation at the age of 26, and served as Grand Chief of the Innu Nation from 1990 to 1997 and 1999 to 2004. He has also served as Deputy Grand Chief from 2007 to 2010.

Peter has taken a lead on many issues of importance to the Innu community, negotiating with federal and provincial governments on matters ranging from land claims and self-government.

Peter was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Labrador on May 2nd, 2011, and shortly after was named as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada. He is the first Labrador Innu to be elected to Parliament, and the first Innu to hold a Cabinet post.

Minister Penashue has four children, Jean-Paul, Peter Robert, Thea and Pupun Halina, and four grandchildren, Seth Connor, Grayson, Meshkuss and Starla. He currently lives in Sheshatshiu with his wife Mary Ann.