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Pine Marten Hair Snag

The Newfoundland Pine Maren (Martes Americana atrata) is a subspecies of the American Marten which is found only on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland Marten was identified as endangered in 2001 and has been a protected species since 1934, It is currently listed as a threatened species, however, the population is still in decline.  The Newfoundland Marten can be found in areas surrounding Little Grand lake, Red Indian Lake, and Main river on the west coast, on the east coast of the province there is a small population within Terra Nova National Park.

This year Qalipu Natural Resources began monitoring the presence of Newfoundland Marten through the Recovery Action for Species at Risk in Western Newfoundland project in partnership with Intervale Associates. Lewis Hills and North Arm Hills areas were selected to conduct marten hair snag surveys with 12 traps at each site. Traps were set up in February 2020 and checked periodically for one month. All hair samples collected will be submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources for testing. This project will help to document Newfoundland Marten distribution and relative abundance of the species.

For more information on this program, contact Alyssa Hunter at ahunter@qalipu.ca or 709-634-1500.  For more information about the Newfoundland Pine Marten or to make a report please contact CWS at 1-800-668-6767,  Fish and wildlife enforcement at 1-877-820-0999 or visit  https://www.flr.gov.nl.ca/wildlife/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mammals/marten.html

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Message From the Chief – April 13 2020

On behalf of everyone at Qalipu, I extend our sincere condolences to Ward Councilor Odelle Pike on the passing of her brother Pat Muise who left us for the spirit world yesterday. Over the past few years, I’ve been around Pat on many occasions and always appreciated his honesty and a great sense of humour.

He will be missed by all of us.

I realize that during this time of COVID- 19 there won’t be an opportunity for a funeral service. This is another sad impact of this pandemic which is affecting all families who deal with the loss of a loved one during these trying times.

Our prayers are with you and your family at this time.

Let us take a moment to look back on this story from Qalipu’s newsletter of April 2016 in which Pat shares some of his story, and we see his good heart shining through.

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Wela’lin,
Chief Brendan Mitchell

YSEP Deadline Extended

Youth Summer Employment Program DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 30TH

Apply for Your Summer Student Today!

Are you a small business owner that could benefit from a little extra help this summer? Qalipu is pleased to offer support by paying student wages in exchange for valuable work experiences for Indigenous students.

Over the years, the Youth Summer Employment Program has been successful in improving the employability skills of hundreds of Indigenous youth. Skills gained on summer placements help students enter the workplace with the confidence that comes with experience.

Join the growing list of employers who are supporting Indigenous students on their journey. Business owners and organizations are invited to apply for a summer student by noon on April 30, 2020.

Click here to apply for the Youth Student Employment Program

Facebook Video Schedule April 6 to 10

Video Content this Week on Qalipu Facebook Page

Qalipu First Nation is pleased to connect with you via pre-recorded and Live video with our team and other knowledgeable members of the community. It is important that we stay in touch during this difficult time of self-isolation, and we invite you all to join us.

For more information on the following events, please visit our Facebook Page.

Tuesday, 3:00 PM Beading with Alex and Nicole. This is week two of a two part series to bead a medicine wheel.

Wednesday, 7:00 PM Bedtime Stories with Kristen. Children’s Books demonstrating the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

Thursday, 3:00 PM Forms and Claims Tutorial with Qalipu Health

Thursday, 7:00 PM Bedtime Stories with Kristen. Children’s Books demonstrating the Seven Grandfather Teachings.

Friday, 3:00 PM Culture with Kasondra, Let’s Make Luskinikn!

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Qalipu to Share Video Content Starting Tomorrow on Facebook!

Qalipu First Nation is pleased to share that starting tomorrow, we will be reaching out from our living room to yours with pre-recorded and Live video with our team and other knowledgeable members of the community.  It is important that we maintain connections during this difficult time of self-isolation, and we invite you all to join us.

For more information on the following events, please visit our Facebook Page.

Tuesday at 3:00-3:30 PM (Live) Beading with Alex and Nicole. 

Alex Antle and Nicole Travers work with the Band in the areas of tourism and culture.  In their own time, the talented duo are beaders and owners of their own small businesses, Bunchberry Beadwork and Blomidon Beadwork, respectively.  On Tuesday they’ll begin a two-part series to create a beaded medicine wheel.

Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM (Live) Bedtime Stories with Kristen

Hearing stories that demonstrate the Seven Grandfather Teachings is something that will speak to the kid in all of us.  Education and Training Team Lead Kristen Pittman will share children’s stories that demonstrate Respect, Honesty, Truth, Humility, Courage Wisdom and Love.

Thursday at 3:00 PM (Pre-recorded) Comprehensive Community Planning (CCP)

CCP Coordinator Samantha Gardiner was on tour in our communities before COVID-19 grounded life as we know it to a halt.  Now, she’s working from home with two toddlers to keep her company! Tune in to this interview to hear about the community plan, and to find out who wins the bag of swag (your name was entered if you completed the survey.)

Friday at 11:00 AM (Pre-recorded) Interview with Qalipu Health Team

Do you have questions that you would like answered? Send them to communications@qalipu.ca by 4:00 PM Wednesday to have them asked in an interview to be pre-recorded on Thursday.  The team will talk about NIHB Benefits, Your Claims, Prescriptions, Medical Travel and whatever you want to know!

Friday at 3:00 PM Medicine Walk with Scott and Kasondra (Pre-recorded)

Kasondra Perrier was hired as Education Outreach Officer just before COVID-19 shut down our offices.  Kasondra adapted quickly to be able to offer cultural outreach with our membership and others by creating this video, and her own video series that will broadcast every Friday at 3:00 PM.

In this video, take a Medicine Walk along Flat Bay Brook with Kasondra and her dad, local artist and cultural carrier Scott Butt.  Scott’s friendly dogs are along for the walk as well; entertainment and education at its best.

 

Programming to Continue:

Beading with Alex and Nicole, Bedtime Stories with Kristen and Culture with Kasondra will continue next week in their same time spots.  We’ll have new programs to share as well and, we hope you’ll join us.

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Message From the Chief – March 27 2020

Kwe’

While it has been a long week, perhaps the heavy snowfall this morning will provide some of you with a healthy way to get some fresh air while practicing the concepts of physical distancing. I hope that all of you are finding ways to be peaceful and happy in our time at home in self-isolation.

Each day, we learn of the increasing number of COVID cases in Newfoundland. I want to remind you all that we must be careful. There are some important tips that we should all be following, and I hope that we are each doing our best. Remember, the best way to prevent the spread of infections is to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your face; when coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your arm or tissues; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and if you can, stay home.

Many of you have heard about a funding allocation for First Nation communities. We have been at the table for many discussions regarding this funding however, it has largely been allocated for reserve communities. We continue to work with our partners in Indigenous Services Canada to find ways to access funds and resources to support our membership.

We are as well looking at existing programs and services to see if we can find any ways to provide some assistance to members at this time of need, but we do not anticipate government support at this time.

I would like to remind you all that our staff and Council continue to work from home, to maintain the service and programs on which we rely. I would like to thank our staff for their professionalism and adaptability during this difficult time, and I look forward to seeing what they’ve been working on with new video programs to help us all feel more connected while learning new things. Programming begins on our Facebook page next week.

Take care, everyone.

Wela’lin

Chief Brendan Mitchell

NLITA Announcement
L-R Robert Bernard, Roxanne Notley, Jillian Larkham, Tara Saunders and Keith Henry

Qalipu First Nation a part of first Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Tourism Association, announced at HNL Conference 2020

February 28, 2020, Corner Brook—Yesterday, members of the newly established Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism Association (NLITA) shared their story of coming together to form an association that will support Indigenous tourism development in this province.  What began as a conversation two years ago during the first province-wide Indigenous Tourism Gathering in Happy Valley-Goose Bay became a reality as the group announced their new Association and 5-year development strategy.

On hand to share in the announcement were Tara Saunders of Qalipu First Nation, Roxanne Notley of NunatuKavut and Jilliam Larkham of Nunatsiavut. Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) representatives President and CEO Keith Henry and Atlantic Coordinator Robert Bernard were also on hand to show their support. The Indigenous-led team will pursue grassroots tourism support, cultural preservation, inclusion, leadership, marketing, product development, education, training and capacity building.

Tara Saunders, who also holds the provincial seat on the ITAC Board of Directors and serves on the Board with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, noted that the five-year strategy was developed with input from many voices heard through an engagement process that included industry, partners and Indigenous communities.

Saunders noted that 91% of those reached during the engagement process agreed that an Indigenous tourism association would be an asset for their communities. They also felt it could help businesses to prosper and reconcile with the past. She added, “this is the first step in laying a solid foundation for the Indigenous peoples of this province to positively impact their communities through the fastest growing tourism sector in Canada. Indigenous tourism is about so much more than economic benefit, it is about giving the community a platform through which they can share their own stories and values.”

Community pre-launch events were held in Goose Bay and in Corner Brook so that community people would have the opportunity to be the first to hear about the new plan. In Corner Brook Chief Brendan Mitchell was on hand to pledge his support to the development of Indigenous Tourism.

To learn more about NLITA, the new Provincial Indigenous Tourism Strategy, and how Mi’kmaq and Qalipu member owned businesses can be part of the good work being done, please visit nlita.net or connect with Tara Saunders at tsaunders@qalipu.ca

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Message From The Chief – March 20, 2020

Kwe’

Greetings from my living room to yours!

It has been quite a week at Qalipu First Nation, and around the world.  As details came to us about the COVID-19 pandemic, we responded accordingly.  First, we postponed all scheduled public events and restricted staff travel.  Then we took the additional step of closing our offices to outside traffic, we shut down the community rooms and closed our Council meeting. Finally, before the week was out, we found ourselves equipping staff to work from home, and making plans to continue the delivery of programs and services upon which our members rely.

We are still reeling from these changes, the stripping down of many of our relied upon routines, activities and social living.

The truth is, we are experiencing an unprecedented moment in our shared history and change can be difficult.  However, the decisions we are making today demonstrate that we are willing to put the health of our communities above all else, and that is something of which we can all be proud.

I hope that we can stay connected in the weeks ahead before things return to normal.   I encourage you to send in pictures and news of how you are finding ways of enjoying this time off the beaten path.  We will share them in our weekly newsletter to help us all feel a little more connected and perhaps even inspired.

Wela’lioq

Chief Brendan Mitchell