Qalipu First Nation will be conducting interviews in Corner Brook from November 20th to January 8th. The purpose of these interviews is to gather information from Qalipu members about their experiences on the land. Topics will include hunting, fishing, gathering, farming and camping.

To participate in an interview, individuals must be Qalipu Band members and at least 18 years of age.

If you would like to participate in this study, please contact Sara Leah Hindy, project coordinator, at shindy@qalipu.ca or call (709) 634-9653.

Dates:
November 20th – January 8th

Location:
Qalipu First Nation 3 Church Street Corner Brook, NL

Office Hours:
Interviews are conducted during office hours
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The next regular meeting of Council will be held on Nov 18, 9:00 am  in Corner Brook at the Qalipu Community Room.  To register please contact Mabel MacDonald at 634-5111 or email mmacdonald@qalipu.ca

The  general public is cordially invited to attend a Talking Circle on  “The State of the Waters and Pollution Concerns in the Port au Port – Bay St. George Region.” The event will  be held at the Port au Port East Town Hall starting 7 pm on Sunday, November 12th, 2017.

A Talking Circle is a traditional way used by first nations to solve problems and is very effective in removing barriers and allowing  people to freely express themselves.  It provides a means for people to connect and search for new directions,  make amends, right the wrongs and establish new pathways for tomorrow.

As Indigenous peoples, First Nations recognize the sacredness of water, the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of protecting water from pollution, drought and waste.

This Circle will be facilitated by Mi’kmaq cultural leaders and is supported by Qalipu First Nation, traditional Mi’kmaq people and the Port au Port Bay Fishery Committee.

A special invitation to attend and participate in this event is extended to the general public and municipal, provincial and federal government representatives.

For further information please contact:

Bill O’Gorman
Chair of the Port au Port Bay Fishery Committee
Phone:  709 642 5715, Cell 709 649 2174, Email: billogorman1948@outlook.com

Alison White
Communications Officer, Qalipu First Nation
Phone: 709 634 5163, Email: awhite@qalipu.dca

Kenny Bennett
Mi’kmaq Cultural Leader
Phone: 709 214 1102, Email: kwb1@eastlink.ca

The Qalipu Cultural Foundation is seeking a local snow shoe maker(s) to deliver workshops in Central Newfoundland this fall/winter.  Sessions will ideally be delivered in one, 2-hour class, per week.  All required materials will be provided, and the teacher will receive a per diem for their time.  Up to 16 participants will register for the class, free of charge.

Experience teaching, sharing and crafting snow shoes, as well as knowledge of the cultural history of snow shoe making and use, is preferred.  Style of snow shoe to be determined by crafters skill set.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in delivering a 4-8-week long snowshoe making workshop in the Gander and Badger area, please contact Mitch Blanchard at mblanchard@qalipu.ca

The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network is starting a new project.

Building Understanding; Strengthening Lives is a three (3) year project funded by Status of Women Canada.   Our goal is to give the mainstream justice system, front line workers and support systems on the island the ability to enhance their knowledge of cultural differences and how to help Indigenous women and youth feel supported and protected when they need to report family violence or assistance in family violence situations.

The project will recruit a 10-member working committee through information sessions, distribution of pamphlets, letters and advertisements.  Our 10-member working committee will consist of members from NAWN, Elders and the Indigenous community of Bay St. George to ensure their voices are heard.  The mainstream justice supports, front line service agencies and, community service program workers will also be members of the working committee, this will give all involved the opportunity to share what their agencies do and how to access them.

The working committee will prioritize the real issues indigenous women and youth experience within the mainstream justice system that will be gathered from the 6 focus groups, the on-line and paper surveys anonymously completed from across the province.  We will be mindful of previous trauma and experiences and will seek support from our local Elders through traditional ways and local agencies to ensure those involved feel safe and secure.

The working committee will develop and implement the project that will provide the mainstream justice system workers, first line workers and community service providers with relevant, inclusive and culturally relevant information and protocols that will improve communication with Indigenous women and youth that report family violence and that are going through the justice system due to family violence.

For more information, please contact Nona Matthews at the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network at (709) 643-1290 or email nona.nawn@gmail.com

The People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Center is currently looking for volunteers to work with seniors in and around our communities for the Helping Hands Program!
They are seeking volunteers to help seniors with things such as: Shovelling snow (once the snow falls), duties around the house, or just come in to the seniors home to spend some time with them, play cards, etc.

The Friendship Centre is also looking for seniors who would be interested in having a volunteer come in to their home and help, or simply spend time with them.

The Centre also hopes to have something at either the Stephenville office or the St. George’s center where seniors can come in, play cards, chat, have some coffee, and volunteers can assist with anything they may need/want there.

Volunteers are required to have a criminal conduct check completed, however, the center will cover the cost of this application for the approved volunteers.

Please click here for the volunteer application form.

For more information, please contact the People of the Dawn Friendship Centre at 709-643-3902 or email helpinghandsprogram@gmail.com

Hello everyone,

Based on the performance of the Aboriginal youth at the 2016 NL Summer Games as individual Nations and after subsequent discussions, the ASRCNL feel that it would be in the best interest that we compete as one Team Indigenous. To have a competitive chance at competing for the overall title and having more aboriginal youth participate, the aboriginal population of NL would be better served to compete as one, compared to having the four individual Nations competing as individual Nations as we did in the 2016 NL Summer Games. By competing as one, would bring everything into realistic opportunities for our Indigenous youth to not only participate but be very successful on the Provincial, National and International stages. If youth would rather participate with their electoral district, that will be left up to the individual based on when being officially named to the team.

The NL Winter Games will take places March 10-18, 2018

As the ASRCNL would like to have as many aboriginal youths participate, we would be better served to unite as indigenous people as a collective instead of competing as individual Nations and succeed in one or two disciplines in the sports that are offered at the NL Games, but including the opportunity to make the electoral district team just increases the number of aboriginal youth we have participate on this stage.

Here is the information I need,

A list of possible volunteer coaches and managers and dates, locations of possible try-outs, please forward to anyone you may feel interested in these positions.
Below is what we are looking for:

2018 NL Winter Games

Team Indigenous
Badminton (4M-4F-Ages 11-18)
Coach:
Manager:
Try-outs Locations/Date
Makkovik / December??

Male Hockey (17- Ages 13-14)
Coach:
Coach:
Manager:
Try-outs Locations/Date
Sheshatshui/ November
Makkovik/November
Corner Brook/November

Table Tennis (4M-4F U17)
Coach:
Manager:
Try-outs Locations/Date
Nain/November

Female Volleyball (12 U16)
Coach:
Coach:
Try-outs:
Locations-/Date
Hopedale/November
Nain/November
Stephenville/ December

Male Volleyball (12 U16)
Coach:
Coach:
Try-outs:
Locations/Date
Hopedale/October??
Nain/November??
Stephenville/ December??

Wrestling (10M-5F Age 11-18)
Coach (M):
Coach (F):
Manager (M):
Manager (F):
Try-outs Location/ Date
Sheshatshui/November??
Conne River/ November??

Please contact me at any time to discuss

Regards,

Todd Winters
ASRCNL Executive Director
asrcnl@nf.aibn.com
709-896-9218