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Chief, Jennifer (Jenny) Brake
Jenny Brake was elected to Council as Western Vice Chief in 2021 and on December 3, 2023 became the Bands Acting Chief. Acting Chief Brake brings with her a diverse background and experience as a welder, artist and community advocate. She strives to foster meaningful relationships throughout the community and promote a strong sense of pride in the people she represents.
Acting Chief Brake enjoys a high level of engagement with the community as a volunteer and advocate for diversity and inclusion. She is the past Vice Chair of the Qalipu Cultural Foundation and the current Chair of Empowering Indigenous Women for Stronger Communities. She also sits on the Provincial Indigenous Women’s Steering Committee and supports Flat Bay Chief Joanne Miles as a proxy at the Assembly of First Nations Women’s Council.
Acting Chief Brake is committed to increasing Mi’kmaw visual representation in our communities and uplifting and promoting other artists. She is well known for her contribution to the Mikwite’km Garden with her centrepiece image “Don’t Forget Me, Mukk-aqanta’sualiq”.
With the support of her three children, her son Jhoni, and daughters Mya and Ivy, Jenny is committed to the growth of Qalipu First Nation and the preservation of Mi’kmaq values and traditions.
Central Region Vice-Chief, Colleen Paul
More information coming soon!
Benoit's Cove Ward Councilor, Terri Greene
Terri Greene was born in Corner Brook, NL in 1984 and grew up along the south shore of the Bay of Islands. Terri is a graduate from Regina High School and received her diploma in Internet Application Developer from College of The North Atlantic in 2007.
By 2008 she relocated to Goose Bay, Labrador with a baby boy, Ethan, where she resided for 10 years. There, Terri extended her studies with a second diploma in Information Management and began work at Labrador-Grenfell Health where she continues to work but remotely from her home, back to her roots, in Halfway Point, Newfoundland.
Terri is the President on the volunteer board of directors for the Benoit’s Cove Aboriginal Housing Corporation.
Terri is very eager to represent the Benoits Cove Ward, to work with Chief and Council to help improve existing and future programs, while sitting on the committees of Operations and Communications, Housing and Health, and Finance and Audit.
Corner Brook Ward Councilor, Ernest Green
More information coming soon!
Exploits Ward Councilor, Shianne Squires
More information coming soon!
Gander Bay Ward Councilor, Calvin Francis
Calvin Francis is serving his third term as Qalipu Councilor for the Gander Bay Ward. Calvin is currently on the standing committee for Mi’kmaq Alsumk Mowimsikik Koqoey Association (MAMKA), a Natural Resources association whose mandate is to represent Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland in aquatic resource and ocean management issues. He also servces on the Qalipu Housing Committee.
Calvin was born in Clarke’s Head, Gander Bay, to a family of 9 children. He has lived there for 64 years and has been married for 35 years to his wife Anne. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Calvin has been Chief of the Gander Bay Indian Band for 35 years, and has been on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians throughout this time. In addition to this experience, he has worked as a housing inspector, fisheries director, and manager.
Calvin says his work with the FNI has been very gratifying, as he has been able to meet and assist aboriginal people with social and economic issues. With the creation of the Qalipu First Nation Band, he is gratified that people are now recognized as status Indians. He wants to see the Mi’Kmaq communities improve both socially and economically.
Glenwood Ward Councilor, Francis Skeard
After elected in 2012, Francis (Frank) is serving his third consecutive term as Qalipu Councilor for the Glenwood Ward. Over the first two terms, Frank was the Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder and then the Chairperson of Service Qalipu Standing Committee. Currently, Frank is the chairperson of the Qalipu Natural Recourses Standing Committee, a member of the MAMKA board of Directors, a member of FNI – Implementation Committee along with being the Vice President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians.
Frank was born in Mount Moriah and now lives in Gander with his wife Deneka. He has two adult daughters (Jordan and Kaitlyn) and one granddaughter (Norah).
Frank has worked for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador since 1991 in a variety of roles all focusing on the sustainable management of forested ecosystem. Currently, Frank is the District Ecosystem Manager for Forest Management Districts 4-5-6-8, an area spanning from boundary of Terra Nova Park in the east to the Exploits River in the west.
Frank has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick, two Masters Certificate’s (Project Management and Business Analysis) from Schulich School of Business – York University, Third Party Neutral (Conflict Resolution) from Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, Public Sector Leadership and Management Development Program from Memorial University and more.
Besides volunteering with Qalipu, Frank is actively involved the community at large. His latest endeavors are the establishment/operation of Kikmanaq (our family; our friends) Indigenous Cultural Revival Association and working towards the establishment of a Family Resource Center for Gander and area.
Frank is passionate and committed to helping members and other liked minded individuals reclaim their Mi’kmaq / indigenous culture and traditions.
Port au Port Ward Councilor, Lory Benoit-Jesso
More information coming soon!
St. George’s Ward Councilor, TO BE DECIDED BY BY-ELECTION
More information coming soon!
Youth Representative - Salome Barker
Salome Barker was born and raised in Grand Falls- Windsor, NL and is a fancy shawl dancer. Growing up Salome has always felt deeply connected to her Mi’kmaq ancestry, growing up in a rural area Salome started to notice all the areas in which Indigenous youth get left out of the narrative. This started Salome’s passion in the area of cultural revitalization for youth. Salome’s ancestry is linked to the John family of Conne River.
Salome attended St.Francis Xavier University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Women and Gender Studies. After graduating in 2019 Salome received an Oceanpath Scholarship in the area of community development. Salome created an initiative that was aimed at revitalizing Mi’kmaq identity among youth in central Newfoundland. Over the past 9 months Salome has created safe spaces for youth to partake in cultural workshops led by Mi’kmaq community leaders and Elders to learn more about their Mi’kmaq identity and fostered many important relationships over the duration of this fellowship.
Upon completing the Oceanpath Fellowship Salome wants to continue uplifting Indigenous youths voices all across the province and bring more cultural programming to the central region of Newfoundland. Salome believes that empowering Qalipu youth with cultural teachings, community gatherings, knowledge and a supportive network is vital for the future of Qalipu. Salome see’s a bright future for Qalipu youth and will continue to support youth as much as she can. Salome is excited to be a voice for Qalipu youth and bring their voices to the Chief & Council table. Msit No’kmaq.