Innu Nation Grand Chief Joseph Riche credits younger voters with backing the New Dawn agreement in strong numbers. (CBC)

The leader of Labrador's Innu Nation said young voters were key to passing a landmark land claim that clears a major hurdle for the Lower Churchill hydro project.

But Grand Chief Joseph Riche said younger members of the Innu Nation also have expectations of what the pact, known as the New Dawn agreement, can deliver to about 2,400 residents in two communities that have been struggling to overcome poverty, violence and substance abuse.

"They're three quarters of the vote in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish and they wanted to [send a] word, a new direction, a new mandate to the Innu Nation," Riche told CBC News.

"The people said, OK, now we've voted you guys in, now show us, don't talk to us, show us. Don't think about it, don't talk about it, don't discuss it — make it happen."

Innu Nation members ratified the deal in a vote on Thursday.

The New Dawn agreement has been years in the making and involves far more than just approval for the $6.2-billion Lower Churchill proposal, a key part of which is building a dam at Muskrat Falls on the Churchill River, which will flood traditional lands.

The agreement also ratifies a long-developing land claim, as well as $2 million in annual compensation for the existing Upper Churchill development, which was started in the 1960s without the consent of the Innu.

New Dawn will give Innu control over traditional lands, including hunting rights in about 34,000 square kilometres.

Support for New Dawn reached 96 per cent in the northern coastal community of Natuashish, with 84 per cent of participants in Sheshatshiu supporting the agreement.

Riche said the turnout was encouraging and shows confidence in the future of the Innu Nation.

"I'm glad that I've established trust with my youth, with my elders, with Natuashish, with Sheshatshiu. With this leadership, what it's going to do is take all the positives and negatives and bring them forward," he said.