Chief Brendan Sheppard
Brendan Sheppard was born in the small rural community of Flat Bay, in the district of St. George’s. He came from a very large family, 21 in all. He still lives in the community with his wife. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Brendan has been the President of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians for the past 16 years and a member since the early 1970’s. He has led the successful drive to negotiate with Canada the agreement that forms the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band.
Brendan believes the education and employment opportunities that the FNI has created for its members have contributed to positive changes in many people’s lives. The health programs have also helped people cope with issues such as diabetes. Overall, he believes that the FNI has also done an excellent job of raising the profile of the aboriginal movement in Newfoundland and Labrador.
As the leader of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band, Chief Sheppard is excited about the benefits that will be available to members through programs such as health, education and employment. He believes that by working together “we will build a strong and proud First Nation Band.”
Western region Vice Chief, Kevin Barnes
Kevin Barnes was born in Frenchman’s Cove, a small fishing village on the south shore of the Bay of Islands. He has three brothers and has lived in Benoit’s Cove, Humber Arm South for the past 30 years.
Kevin is married to Sharon White from Halfway Point, Humber Arm South and they have a daughter and a son. Sharon is a retired nurse. He works with Parks Canada in Gros Morne National Park as a Park Interpreter where he takes visitors on guided hikes throughout the Park.
Kevin has been a member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians for approximately 10 years and the thing he enjoyed most about his work was the reward of teaching children about Aboriginal culture and beliefs. He also enjoyed working with the different members of the nine Bands as they have all contributed something unique to the work and yet they all had the same commitment to help the Mi’kmaq people.
Kevin is looking forward to the future now that the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band has been formed and thinks that “the ghost of Confederation will finally be laid to rest”. He believes it has been a long road with many bumps but states that “thanks to the Creator, we made it”.
Central region Vice Chief, Terry Mills
Terry was born in Corner Brook in 1955 and has four brothers and four sisters. He has lived in Botwood for the past 51 years and is married to Heather Jewer Mills. They have a son and a daughter.
Terry is presently CEO of an aquaculture shellfish farm and a processing plant in Notre Dame Bay. He has been in the business since 1986.
Terry says he has always known of his Aboriginal roots growing up and became a member of the Exploits Indian Band, now Sple’tk First Nations in 2002. He ran for Central Vice President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians three years ago and this is his second term in that role.
As a member of the Executive Committee of FNI Terry has enjoyed being involved with the day to day operations, learning about programs and services, and providing members with assistance as needed. He has also enjoyed working with various departments of government, both Federally and Provincially, but most of all he had appreciated the opportunity to meet and work with members all over the Island.
The long process and main goal of the FNI was to be recognized as a Status Aboriginal Band and as status Indians individually under the Indian Act. Terry says that being on the team that helped achieve this historic event is a milestone in his life.
Terry is looking forward to being part of the transition team that leads the new Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Indian Band. He wants to see Mi’Kmaq members avail of the programs and services for elders and youth who are to be future leaders.
He wishes to thank all the past Chiefs, FNI Board members and the present Chief, Board of Directors, and staff of the FNI for all their dedication and commitment to making this historic achievement possible.
Terry believes that while the struggle is over for recognition it does bring back “memories of the elders who have passed on without fulfilling their dream but live on in our dreams with respect to their determination, their knowledge of our culture, and making this land a better place to call home”.
Councillor Gerard Alexander
Gerard Alexander was born in Stephenville Crossing on Jan 22, 1948. He comes from a family of 13 and still lives in Stephenville Crossing.
Gerard was married for 25 years to Tillie Gillis of Port Au Port East before she passed away. He has two sons and a daughter, along with three grandsons. He is also a retired telephone company employee and continues to work at his own rental business.
Gerard has been a member of the Indian Head First Nations for approximately 8 years and has served as Chief for the past two years.
As a Board Member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, he has had a rewarding experience working with other Directors and staff to achieve official status. With the creation of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nations Band he feels privileged to carry on the work of the members who preceded him.
Gerard believes the Band programs of Education, Health, Economic Development and Culture will carry the Band into the future. He would like to encourage any Band member interested in playing a part in the governance of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nations Band to step forward in the Band’s election and play a part in future prosperity.
Councillor Karen White
Karen White was born in Seal Rocks, St. George’s and her maiden name was Bennett, or Benoit as it was before the priests changed the names from French to English in this area. The Benoits have lived in Seal Rocks for many generations. The first Benoit who settled there was George Benoit, son of Francois Benoit and Karen’s 4th great-grandfather.
There were 11 children in her family, 8 girls and 3 boys and she has always lived in St. George’s. She has been married to Melvin White, originally from St. Theresa, for 31 years. They had a son and two daughters and a step-daughter; however they lost their son four years ago. Karen describes this as the biggest tragedy of her life. She also has five grandchildren.
Karen worked for Canada Post for the past 35 years as Postmaster in 3 different offices and retired in January of 2011, although she has been back working for a short time as a supervisor in Stephenville. She has been a member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians for the past 15 years and has been involved as a Director of the St. George’s Indian Band for nine years, with the last four as Chief of the Band.
Karen was Chair of the Courthouse Restoration Committee which transformed a 100 year heritage building owned by the Band into a building which now houses a Mi’Kmaq museum and three satellite FNI offices for the area. As a Director on the FNI Board she served on the Financial Committee and enjoyed being involved in the exciting times as recognition of Indian status is realized after so long a time.
She believes the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band will bring opportunities and prosperity to the Mi’Kmaq people through health, education and economic development.
Councillor Kristina Duffy
Kristina was born and raised in Benoit’s Cove and still living there. She comes from a small but very close-knit family. She has always lived with her grandparents, however last year her grandmother passed away. Kristina’s grandmother is still her inspiration and says she is still very much a “Poppy’s girl”. She considers her Aunt and Mom as her best friends.
She has two step-sisters and “a beautiful niece and handsome nephew”. Kristina often refers to her older cousin as her brother as she has always looked up to him. She also says her family includes a five month old Pomeranian puppy named Chachi (after my favourite character on Happy Days).
Kristina has the Business Administration diploma from CNA. As the former Youth Director with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians she was also the Newfoundland youth representative for the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples National Youth Council (CAP NYC). Together, with the youth council, they have completed a Stay in School booklet and a Youth Resource guide. She has also been involved with the CAP NYC Youth Awards which recognize achievement, effort and establishes role models for aboriginal youth.
Her best memories of her work with FNI include the relationships with other youth across the province and Canada, and her greatest success is sharing what she has learned about her culture with other youth and gaining their interest to learn and participate more willingly.
With the creation of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band Kristina is looking forward to celebrating how far the Mi’Kmaq people have come. She says it has been amazing to see all the members embrace their culture and come together around the issue of Band formation.
Councillor Nellie Power
Nellie Power was born in Glenwood to a family with 6 children and her maiden name is Vivian. Her maternal grandparents were named John and came from Conne River to Live in Glenwood in the early 1900′s. She has been married to Ed Power for the past 40 years and they have a son and a daughter as well as four grandchildren. They have been living in Grand Falls-Windsor for the past 46 years.
Nellie has worked as a student assistant for the Central Nova School District for the past 23 years. She has been Chief of the Sple’tek First Nations Band for 23 years.
She was a founder of the first Band in Central Newfoundland in 1987 which now encompasses members in approximately 15 communities. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with the Band members and getting to know their families. Nellie also enjoyed helping with the research of Band member’s ancestry.
As a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, she has been greatly rewarded by helping people with getting recognition to become status members of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band.
Councillor Calvin Francis
Calvin Francis was born in Clarke’s Head, Gander Bay to a family of 9 children. He has lived there for 61 years and has been married for 32 years to his wife Anne. They have two children and a grandchild.
Calvin has been Chief of the Gander Bay Indian Band council for 31 years, and has been on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians for the same amount of time. 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 Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band he is gratified that people will now be recognized as status Indians. He wants to see the Mi’Kmaq communities improve both socially and economically. He also believes better health care will be available to all members and new jobs created. He wants to see better housing conditions and improved education for members.
Councillor Litty MacDonald
Litty says she was born back in the days when children were born at their homes with the assistance of a midwife. She was born at her childhood home in Kippens, near Stephenville, to a small family. One baby sister passed away, as did her mother when Litty was quite young. She also has a half-sister.
Litty currently lives in Campbell’s Creek on the Port au Port Peninsula with her husband John. They have a daughter and four sons, along with five grandchildren.
She is working with the enrolment process for the Qalipu Band and was a school teacher for 30 years before that. She says her favourite group to teach was the Grade Ones but she enjoyed all the grades she taught.
When they first married her and her husband lived and worked in St John’s. In 1971 they moved to Campbell’s Creek and she became a member of the Port au Port Indian Band and a member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians. Litty has been Chief of the Port au Port Band for the past 10 years.
Litty has enjoyed working through FNI to enrich the lives of its members with programs such as housing and diabetes. She says it has been wonderful just seeing how programs such as these have helped so many people. Another goal was the creation of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band and she believes it is extremely satisfying to see this become a reality.
As the new Band develops Litty anticipates that members who have felt less than equal will have a sense of pride and take advantage of the programs and services that have been due them for many years.
Councillor Liz LaSaga
Liz LaSaga is a native of Flat Bay, NL and was elected by the Flat Bay Mi’kmaq Band in July 2007. Since her election, the council delivers an average of 19 programs every 12 months for the Flat Bay and St. Teresa’s community and Band membership.
Liz draws from over 18 years of professional life coaching, career and business consulting. She is a certified Life Coach and her additional credentials derive from disciplines in Business Management and Adult Education. Liz has performed transitional services for specialty groups such as; at risk youth, ex-offenders, and women in transition, aboriginals and organizations looking to build community capacity. She is the former President of the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network and a Board of Director for the Federation of Newfoundland Indians.
She has long been recognized as an intuitive and inspiring motivational speaker. Liz credits the late Mary Webb, who was a Mi’kmaq healer, mid-wife and intuitive, for her mentorship and friendship during childhood. She has spoken nationwide to audiences in excess of 3,000 people and is a member of the Atlantic Speakers Bureau as well as a sought after trainer for Industry, Trade and Rural Development through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Kwe’, For me, the union of spirituality, self-actualization and lifestyle has been a passionate journey filled with personal struggle, profound lessons and a countless number of both big and small miracles. The possibility for anyone to create a whole lifestyle that blends his or her inner identity, personal desires and career aspirations is not just a practical reality, but also a pre-determined responsibility and great blessing. In my life, I’ve exchanged lessons and gifts with many people, as they accompanied me for a time on my personal path of true purpose. On the Qalipi path, I hope to attract the company of like-minded, gifted people, who are meant to cross directions with me and to share in the fulfillment of our individual horizons.” ~ Wela’lin, Chief Liz LaSaga
Councillor Ed Webb
Ed Webb was born in Corner Brook into a family of four brothers and three sisters. He still lives there with his spouse Ellen Edmunds. Ed has three children and six step-children.
Ed is a River Guardian and Natural Resource Technician with the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band. He had been a member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians since 1972. He also served as a Board Member on the Corner Brook Indian Band Council from 1976–2005. In 2005 he became acting Chief of the Corner Brook Band and was elected Chief in 2007.
Throughout his various roles Ed has strived to help members gain recognition as Status Indians. He is also very passionate about the environment and has a deep appreciation of his work.
Ed is very pleased with the creation of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band and that members are receiving their birth right and the benefits that are available to them.
Councillor Marie Vaters
Marie was born in Glenwood with the help of her grandmother Ellen (Benoit) John, who at the time was a midwife and assisted with the delivery of many of her own grandchildren. Her maternal grandparents were James and Ellen (Benoit) John who walked across country from Conne River got married and settled down in Glenwood and raised their family. She has two sisters and three brothers. Her younger sister is Chief Nellie Power of the Sple’tek First Nations.
Marie has been married to Joe Vaters for 44 years and they have two sons and four grandchildren. One of her sons participated in the Federal Government’s Aboriginal Youth RCMP Training Program made it a career.
She was employed for 15 years with the Central Aboriginal Training Institute as a Program Officer, and for the past two years with the Miawpukek First Nation as a Program Officer working with the off-reserve status Indians.
Marie has been involved with the Glenwood Mi’kmaq First Nation for the past 35 years, and attended meetings with the Native Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, which later became the Federation of Newfoundland Indians. She is now Chief of the Glenwood Mi’kmaq First Nation.
She has served on the Federal Government’s Pathways to Success Board, as well as the Eastern/Central Aboriginal Board. With the Federation of Newfoundland Indians she has served the Board of Directors and several committees, including the Off-reserve Aboriginal Housing Committee and the Finance Committee. She also helped past Glenwood Band Chief Tony John to establish a fishing lodge on the Gander River.
Marie says she would like to acknowledge past Chiefs Larry Jeddore (deceased) and Tony John for all the work they contributed to the FNI and to the Glenwood Mi’kmaq First Nation. Her wish for all Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation members is that they get what they have been denied since Confederation, “recognition, equality, and a very prosperous future as Mi’kmaq people”.
Annie Randell – Chief Executive Officer
Annie was born and raised in Benoit’s Cove and continues to live there with her family, which she says includes “my beautiful daughter”. She has been a member of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians since 1981.
Upon graduation from high school she completed a Stenography course and worked in several different positions before beginning her career with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians in 1988. Annie has continued her education while working and is now completing under-graduate courses at the university level. She says that throughout her years of employment with the FNI her position evolved and she ended up as General Manager. She is now the first Chief Executive Officer of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band.
Annie says that working with the FNI has been a life time of learning and a constant challenge. She also believes that all that work did lead to great outcomes and that is was also exciting.
Annie is looking forward to being one of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band team that will continue to help people access education, training, employment, health and cultural programs. She believes that the Band will enhance the social, economic and spiritual development of Mi’Kmaq communities.