Service Members Agreement — September 2026 Update

Posted by Qalipu on
Service members agreement

Introduction

The Service Members Agreement was developed by the Government of Canada (“Canada”), Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation (“QFN”) and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (“FNI”) to establish criteria for accepting former and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces (“CAF”) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) as founding members of Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. This Agreement was founded in the special place of honour these Service Members hold in the Mi’kmaw culture due to their service as protectors of Canada and their communities. The Agreement applies to persons who were part of the enrolment process between 2008 and 2012 but were denied founding membership based on the group acceptance criterion.

The following is a tripartite statement from all parties to the Agreement:

 

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Questions and Answers from QFN

Q:          What does the joint statement mean for the Service Members?
A:           The Service Members Agreement remains in place, and the files remain active. Canada has ceased work and is waiting for further clarification from the court before proceeding.

Q:          Have the Service Members been denied?
A:           No. The files remain active. This is not a decision to deny or close applications, this is a delay.

Q:          Is Qalipu First Nation (QFN) still supporting the Service Members?
A:           Absolutely. QFN has consistently supported completing the Service Members Agreement. That has been our position and remains our position. We recognize the importance of this process to individuals and families who have been waiting too long.

Q:          Why can’t QFN just move forward with the applications?
A:           This is a tripartite agreement involving QFN, the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) and the Government of Canada. All parties need to be prepared to move forward.

QFN remains committed to the process, but we also must respect all parties involved and our tripartite decision-making process—we cannot act on our own according to the Agreement.

Q:          Was this a delay caused by either QFN or the FNI?
A:           This is a tripartite discussion involving all three parties. As stated above, in spite of any other matters or disagreements, QFN and the FNI were prepared to proceed with outstanding applications. Canada was not.

Q:          How long will Service Members have to wait?
A:           We do not have a current timeline to provide. We don’t want to speculate about when Canada will be prepared to resume this process following matters before the courts.

Q:          What do you say to Service Members who are frustrated?
A:           We understand the frustration of service members and share them. Many people and families have been waiting for a long time, and we recognize how difficult continued uncertainty can be for individuals and families. We will continue to stick to our principles and positions.

As Chief Jenny has said before:

We firmly believe that Service Members deserve a prompt and fair resolution. You have waited long enough, and we are determined to see this work progress without further delay. Our goal is to ensure that the process continues in a way that is consistent, accountable, and respectful of the people whose lives and families are directly affected… Our position stays unwavering: Service Members deserve justice, and they deserve it now. We are committed to moving this process forward in line with the commitments we have already made, and we will continue to advocate for the prompt completion of this work.

Q:          What about the impact this is having on our people’s mental health?
A:           We recognize that this has been a long and difficult process. Further, waiting without knowing when there will be an outcome can take its toll.

We would encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for support. There are mental health and wellness resources available. Taking care of yourself and your family is important.

  • 811 health line nurses are available 24/7 — If you are experiencing a mental health and addictions crisis, need support, or are looking for health information, call 811.
  • Suicide Crisis Hotline — Call 988 (for all of Canada).
  • Hope for Wellness Helpline — Call 1-855-242-3310 or “connect” to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca to access immediate help for all Indigenous people across Canada.
  • Kids Help Phone — Call 1-800-668-6868 and press 3. For texting, text “CONNECT” to 686868 (youth) or 741741 (adult). To connect with an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder (when available), text “FIRSTNATIONS”, “INUIT”, or “METIS.”
  • Provincial Lifewise Warm Line — Call 1-855-753-2560.

Previous Statements and Updates: