N.L. premier Danny Williams in a photograph taken in St. John's in early 2010. (CBC)

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is accusing members of the Quebec Innu of trying to provoke violence with their recent caribou hunt in western Labrador.

"Statements made this week by elected officials within the Quebec Innu, coupled with their recent illegal hunt of the Red Wine Caribou herd, are completely unacceptable to our government and must be exposed as rhetoric and activity with a goal of inciting violence," said Williams in a news release Wednesday.

The provincial government says Innu hunters killed caribou in an area where the protected Red Wine caribou herd is known to live.

He was responding to interviews that Innu leaders representing communities in northeastern Quebec did with media on Monday, in which they defended the actions of hunters who killed caribou in Labrador in late February. They said the hunt was done to protest their exclusion from a deal that will compensate Labrador Innu for the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric megaproject.

"Real McKenzie, chief of the Matimekush-Lac-John Quebec Innu community, stated that 'This is a war that begins as of now'," said Williams. "These words, which conjure up images of violent behaviour, are completely unacceptable to me personally and to our government. Furthermore, threats to economic development activity, such as the Lower Churchill and mining projects, will not be taken lightly by our government."

Williams said any illegal activity by Quebec Innu will not be tolerated.

"The provincial government will use any legal resources required to ensure that violent and illegal activities are addressed head-on while ensuring the protection of law enforcement officers and the safety of the public at large," said the release.

In all, 250 caribou were killed during the February hunt. The haul will be used as food for the communities, the Quebec Innu chiefs said in a statement March 1.

The expedition "was successful and also a great victory," said Georges-Ernest Grégoire, chief of the Uashat Mak Mani Utenam. He said the hunt had drawn the attention of the Newfoundland and Labrador government.