Journey Across the Island: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Cancer Strategy Development and Practice Change Implementation Initiative
Journey Across the Island is an initiative of the Provincial Cancer Care Program (PCCP) of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in collaboration with Indigenous partners located on the island portion of the province (Miawpukek First Nation and Qalipu First Nation). The purpose of this project is to improve the quality and accessibility of care provided to Indigenous cancer patients and their families throughout their cancer journey. This goal will primarily be achieved by increasing the amount of relevant resources and information available to health care providers and Indigenous community members and developing action plans to address any identified issues with cancer care.
The main areas of focus for the project will include: Transitions in Care – Cancer Care Journey, Burden of Cancer – Scorecard, and the development of a Provincial Indigenous Cancer Care Strategy. The importance of understanding how cancer affects a community is part of developing supports and resources, and for the community it helps in the allocation of resources and how they can better support the patient and family.
If you would like to take part in community engagement sessions, talk about your cancer journey, or have any questions in general about this project, please feel free to contact the project lead: Rebecca Whalen Rebecca.whalen@easternhealth.ca, or (709) 725-0736.
Mawita’jik Maljewe’jk 2020
Small Business Support Fund Fully Allocated, Call for Proposals Closed
On October 22, 2020 the Qalipu First Nation announced $150,000 in funds available to small member-owned businesses in the form of non-repayable grants of up to $10,000. Following the call for proposals, 60 businesses applied for the fund and 23 grants were distributed throughout the province. The fund has now been fully allocated and we wish to advise our membership that applications are no longer being accepted.
We thank all those who applied and look forward to the many developments and work being done by small business owners as a result of receiving the support grant. Proposed activities for this fund include increased online marketing, purchase of tools and equipment to increase business capacity, relocation to reduce rent costs, and new technology equipment to keep up with virtual demands.
Message From The Chief – November 10, 2020
Tomorrow, November 11, is Remembrance Day across Canada and in our Communities.
It’s the day we acknowledge and show gratitude for the bravery and sacrifice of those who served their country and those who continue to serve our country and our communities today.
Many made the ultimate sacrifice in World Wars and other conflicts. Their sacrifice has allowed us to experience the safety and freedoms we have today.
This Remembrance Day will be different from that of previous years due to the absence or scaling down of Remembrance Day services caused by our dealing with the reality of COVID-19.
Let us however take time tomorrow to reflect and remember in our own way the contributions made by Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Veterans and those currently in service. Take time to observe your own moment of silence in their honour. We pray to the Creator to protect them.
Act of Remembrance
They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the Sun
And in the morning
We shall remember them.
Clarification Regarding Qalipu First Nation Covid-19 Community Support
Please be advised, Qalipu First Nation is not directly involved in the supply of groceries to community members and individuals cannot add their names to a food distribution list by calling our offices. There are several community organizations who have applied to grocery chains for frozen foods that are being shared among their membership including the Flat Bay Indian Band, St. George’s Indian Band and others. In other communities, food is being distributed by Indigenous community groups who have applied to Qalipu and other funders for money to prepare and distribute food hampers, sanitation supplies and to respond to a variety of other community needs.
Chief and Council at Qalipu First Nation are doing everything possible for communities as they navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Following is a summary of past and ongoing initiatives put in place to support our membership during Covid-19.
Qalipu First Nation Covid-19 Relief Fund (first round): $52,975 received from Indigenous Services Canada, $22,625 supplied by Chief and Council on behalf of Qalipu First Nation. These funds have been fully allocated to 14 Indigenous community groups which were in turn distributed to individuals in the form of food hampers, sanitation supplies, personal protective equipment and other needs in some 25 communities. Click here to view the list of recipients of this fund.
Post-Secondary Student Support Program: $244,720 allocated to Qalipu-funded students in the form of lump sum living allowances at $460/eligible student dispersed in April, 2020.
Qalipu First Nation Small Business Support Grant: $150,000 in funding provided by Indigenous Services Canada being distributed as non-repayable grants of up to $10,000 per eligible member-owned business. This process is ongoing; apply for the fund here
Community Emergency Response Fund for Urban & Off Reserve: $678, 311 in funding received from Indigenous Services Canada for Qalipu to develop and distribute vulnerable population kits, provide for essential transportation, develop youth wellness and prevention kits, and provide a subsidy for essential workers childcare costs. A coordinator has been hired to oversee this fund, and a hiring process is underway for support specialists in each region. Delivery of products and services under this fund is expected to begin soon.
Post-Secondary Student Support Fund for Qalipu Students: $1,496,987 in student funding was used to sponsor students for Intercession/Summer sessions and additional students for the Fall/Winter semesters. Apply for funding with Qalipu here.
New Horizons for Seniors: $25,000 received from Employment and Social Development Canada has been partially dispersed buying iPad’s to be made available on loan to seniors participating in virtual workshops. The remainder is earmarked to be spent on a community cookbook project. Member recipes and stories about hunting and foraging on the land will be compiled to create a digital cookbook which will be put into print and mailed to seniors.
Qalipu First Nation Covid-19 Relief Fund (second round): $51,000 in funds available to support Indigenous community groups in providing relief at the grassroots level. Funding priority will be given to those groups who did not receive funding during the first round. Applications for this fund are now being accepted, apply here.
Artist Talk with Meagan Musseau
Meagan Musseau is a L’nu artist who nourishes an interdisciplinary practice by working with customary art forms and new media, such as basketry, beadwork, land-based performance, video and installation. For the artist talk, Meagan will share about her journey as an artist from Ktaqmkuk. She will speak to ways of embodying knowledge through the use of art techniques, land-based practices, and collaboration.
Register for the Artist Talk here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LXW9HGK
New! Long Range Biodiversity Newsletter
In this issue, you will learn about exciting research on bats, birds, and insect pests that impact rare and endangered plants of the limestone barrens. Stories describe conservation work on beautiful nature reserves and sea duck nesting islands. You will learn how youth workshops accommodated smaller gatherings while participants learned and had fun.
This initiative is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Community Nominated Priority Places program, with additional support from the NL Department of Fisheries and Land Resources and many organizations, businesses, and individuals. Core partners are Qalipu First Nation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and lead organization Intervale. Many organizations, businesses, and individuals play key roles in project implementation and we are extremely grateful to them all.
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NLITA Applauds ITAC Support for Indigenous Tourism Operators
The Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Tourism Association (NLITA) is applauding the work of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) in supporting Indigenous tourism operators throughout the province.
“Prior to COVID-19, Indigenous tourism was one of the fastest growing segments in the Canadian tourism sector, and that was certainly the case here in Newfoundland and Labrador as well” says NLITA Board Chairperson Tara Saunders. “While it’s been a challenging year for tourism operators, ITAC’s continued support – including the financial contributions to the 33 Indigenous operators in this province – has been instrumental to the survival and continued development of Indigenous tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador through these challenging times.”
ITAC has awarded a total of 678 grants to Indigenous tourism businesses across the country with its COVID-19 Stimulus Development Fund. The Fund, which has been supported by the federal government via Indigenous Services Canada, was made possible by the pointed advocacy campaign by ITAC which brought forth the impacts that COVID-19 was having on the once-thriving Indigenous tourism sector.
“The impacts of COVID-19 on our Indigenous tourism sector cannot be understated,” says Keith Henry, ITAC’s President and CEO. “We are very proud to have been able to provide $766,500 to support 33 operators in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to 2020, Indigenous tourism was outpacing Canadian tourism activity overall but came to an almost complete standstill. The ability to not only advocate for but ultimately to step up alongside Indigenous Services Canada to provide financial support to struggling businesses is exactly what ITAC is here for. We take our responsibility for protecting and growing the Indigenous tourism industry across the country very seriously and we are proud to be able to do so now when we are needed the most.”
NLITA, one of Canada’s newest provincial Indigenous Tourism Associations, was established in early 2020 and released its 5-year strategy in February. “With the establishment of the Association and then the release of our strategy in February, we had such high expectations for Indigenous tourism growth within our province this year” Saunders said, “but what happened this year is out of our control, and we are very confident that Indigenous tourism will be key to the continued growth of Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism sector.
As for next steps for NLITA, the organization has begun preliminary discussions with funding agencies to position itself to play a more active role in Indigenous tourism development in Newfoundland and Labrador. Their goal is to open an office sometime early in 2021 that will include an Executive Director and other support staff, while also being able to support its members through advocacy, as well as funding for marketing, product development and training.
Qalipu Announces Second Round of Covid-19 Relief Funds
Description
In August 2020, Qalipu First Nation set aside $75,000 to provide support to community-based Indigenous groups to better support members of the Qalipu First Nation during the ongoing pandemic.
This Qalipu COVID Relief Funds provided 14 Indigenous groups on the island of Newfoundland with a means to help Qalipu members with COVID-19 initiatives. The fund provided $5,400 per organization for initiatives that directly benefited the health and well being of vulnerable populations within our membership.
Some examples of projects that were made possible with these funds include food hampers, essential travel and issuing personal protective equipment in over 25 communities.
We are pleased to announce the availability of an additional $51,000 to be allocated to community-based Indigenous groups with priority being given to those who did not receive funding on the first round.
These additional funds will provide a mechanism for grassroots Indigenous organizations on the ground in their communities to target and support vulnerable populations by aiding:
- mental health and wellness programs,
- personal protective equipment,
- personal hygiene products,
- food and
- vulnerable population essential transportation.
Qalipu First Nation is currently accepting proposals, from organizations interested in receiving 5,400 per funding year in grant funding from the Qalipu COVID Relief Fund for projects that are up to 6 months in duration. Funding is limited so interested groups are encouraged to apply early.
Eligibility
The proposal must be submitted by an eligible organization. To qualify your organization must be an established Indigenous organization on the island of Newfoundland, in good standing with the provincial Registry of Companies, and servicing the needs of the members of the Qalipu First Nation in their area.
Proposal Assessment
Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria to determine overall quality and merit.
- Priority
Has the Indigenous community-led group already received funding from Qalipu First Nation with the previous call for proposals? Priority will be given to new applicants, or applicants who did not receive funding during the first round.
- Objectives
What is the purpose of the project? Organizations will need to clearly identify the goal of the project and provide a rationale as to how it will address the identified need highlighted above.
- Vulnerable Populations
How will projects benefit seniors, youth, or other vulnerable populations in our communities?
- Cost effectiveness
A budget outlining the project costs must accompany the proposal which supports the project activities and does not exceed the maximum allowed.
Deadline
The proposal for funding must be received no later than Friday, November 13th, 2020 via mail or email.
Apply by email
council@qalipu.ca
Apply by Mail
Qalipu COVID Relief Fund
3 Church Street
Corner Brook, NL A2H 2Z4
Contact us
If you require any further information please feel free to contact Keith Goulding, Band Manager at kgoulding@qalipu.ca or via telephone (709) 634-1147.