May 27, 2019 Corner Brook— Qalipu First Nation was recently recognized as a committed supporter of
Reservists in the Canadian Armed Forces and received the Special Award for support to the Reserve
Force on May 9, 2019 during a formal ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The nomination was made by Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Bond, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, in
acknowledgement of QFN’s work in hosting information sessions to help raise awareness of the Black
Bear Program, a summer program geared primarily toward Indigenous youth. In the nomination, Bond
noted “As Qalipu Chief, Chief Brendan Mitchell is committed to the ongoing development of Qalipu on
behalf of his community. He promotes positive change in fostering a prosperous tomorrow for all
especially the youth in the Qalipu community. He was very quick to seize the opportunity to promote
the Black Bear program as a source of employment for youth and at the same time promote indigenous
culture.”

Chief Brendan Mitchell was unable to attend the awards ceremony in Ottawa. The Chief was
represented by Monique Carroll, Director of Education and Training. Carroll and her staff led the
Black Bear promotion initiative, brining information sessions across all the Wards.

Carroll said, “we are always looking for partnerships that will help us deliver more education,
training and employment opportunities to our people. The Black Bear Program provides great pay,
covers meals, accommodations and travel and positive cultural experiences along with basic military
training. We want young people to know about these opportunities, we want them to succeed. We
were pleased to partner with the Canadian Armed Forces to do this.”

Reflecting on the award, Chief Brendan Mitchell noted, “we had four indigenous people from
Newfoundland take part in the Black Bear Program in 2018. This was the first summer for
participation by Newfoundland’s Indigenous youth. For some, this was an important step in
recognizing their own potential and dreams. We expect to see much greater Newfoundland
representation at Black Bear this coming summer. We will continue to work with the Canadian Armed
Forces to bring opportunity to our youth and others”.

Members are invited to keep an eye out for education, employment and training opportunities, like
Black Bear, on the Band’s Education and Training Facebook page.

April 12, 2019 Corner Brook—Qalipu First Nation is pleased to share that following a recent meeting of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC), the Band has been accepted into the APC.  This policy and advocacy body represents more than thirty First Nation communities in Atlantic Canada and Gaspe region of Quebec; as of April 11, 2019, the APC now counts Qalipu as its newest member.

As a regional policy, research and advocacy organization, the APC plays an important role in economic development activities across the region in support of all Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy and Innu communities across the Atlantic.   Following the vote, Chief Mitchell spoke to how Qalipu will work together with the APC, and what acceptance means for the Band and the Mi’kmaq people of Newfoundland.

“Reconciiation, for us, is unique.  Acceptance by our own Mi’kmaq community continues to be an important aspect of our identity and our reconciliation.  For us to be accepted here, for our people to be accepted here, this has a sense of coming home.”

Qalipu has already been working with the APC in areas of Education, Community Development and Natural Resources and looks forward to new ways of collaborating and building strength as a united First Nation peoples.

Chief Mitchell noted, “Our wish at Qalipu First Nation is to work collaboratively with other Chiefs and Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada in an effort to work to build a better tomorrow for all Mi’kmaq people.”

About Qalipu

Qalipu First Nation is a vibrant Mi’kmaq First Nation established in 2011 as an Indigenous Band under the Indian Act.  With a large membership spread across 67 traditional Newfoundland Mi’kmaq communities and abroad, we are one of the largest First Nation groups in Canada.

Newfoundland is part of the traditional Mi’kmaq Nation whose territory extends from Quebec through the Maritime Provinces and into Newfoundland.