November 7, 2019 Corner Brook—On Sunday November 3, the small community of St. George’s welcomed visitors for a special tourism experience that can’t be found anywhere else; a rich sensory event featuring medicine identification and collection, hands-on preparation of tea and traditional foods, cooking on an open fire, cultural sharing, and ceremonial teachings.

St. George’s Indian Band Chief Marlene Farrell partnered with Experience Qalipu to deliver the event, one of a larger series of events aimed at building upon the talent of community people, empowering them to share their gifts with visitors from around the world. The St. George’s Band, owner and operator of the Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq Museum, hopes to attract more visitors into the historic building that has been converted into a museum and cultural centre.

Chief Farrell noted, “Visiting the museum is one thing, but we want to offer more to our visitors. This community is the oldest recorded Mi’kmaq settlement on the island, and we have talented people who can offer workshops, guided tours, experiences and so much more. The fire circle and medicine walk on Sunday is an example of that and we’ve got more in the works.”

At Sunday’s event, visitors helped to prepare locally procured moose, potatoes, carrots and berries alongside Chef D’Arcy Butler, an active member of the Bay St. George Indigenous community and culinary instructor at College of the North Atlantic.

“These ingredients are timely; many community people have just got their moose, and this is what we are eating.  The root vegetable harvest is ongoing; carrots for the event were picked sweet and fresh that morning. We wanted to offer visitors a true taste of our town, to share the story of the hunt and to know exactly where our ingredients were hunted and gathered. In the winter, for our next event, we are looking at making use of rabbit as the main ingredient, along with some of the preserves that Newfoundlanders have long relied on to get through the winter.”

The fall rain did not dampen the spirit of the participants, who were advised to come dressed for the weather and, they came prepared in their raincoats and boots. Elder Terry Muise lead them on a short walk through a nearby forest to identify medicines and collect ingredients used in their meal. Rose hips were collected for addition to the Labrador tea and fir needles were collected to be ground in with sea salt to season the meat and vegetables.

Local photographer Jonathan Meyers and filmmaker Matt Garnier used their talents to capture the event in detail and provide the St. George’s Indian Band colourful media content that will help promote these types of events in the future.

Tara Saunders Acting Director of the Community Development Department and Experience Qalipu noted, “this is exactly where we want to be; helping our communities to thrive and prosper. This event put off by the community is a terrific tourism product, and we will be there every step of the way to help them develop and promote their local experiences.”

Apajitayek [ahh bah jee die ekk] “we are coming back”

November 5, 2019 Corner Brook—The Qalipu Cultural Foundation is pleased to announce it will be hosting free language and culture camps in Grand Falls-Windsor, St. George’s and Corner Brook.  In addition to basic conversation and introductory Mi’kmaw language course work, the two-day camps will offer participants a chance to engage in learning song, dance, history and stories about their Mi’kmaq ancestors.

Sherry Dean, Chairperson of the Qalipu Cultural Foundation noted, “We are so pleased to work with our neighbours in Nova Scotia to bring language and cultural teachings to our communities in Newfoundland.   Language is the key to understanding culture and participants can expect much more than simple translations from English to Mi’kmaw; they will in fact begin to better understand the culture to which we belong.”

The Cultural Foundation has engaged Robert Bernard of the Diversity Management Group to bring the camps to Newfoundland.  Bernard will work with experienced teacher Joel Denny from Eskasoni and his apprentice, Newfoundland born Dean Simon, a member of the Qalipu First Nation.

Bernard shared, “Language lessons will be based on the root word system of learning.  This way of learning helps participants to better understand the heart of the language and build their word recognition and vocabulary.  We will focus on basic conversation first, in the home, conversations with friends and family.”

Sherry Dean explained that to be fair, selection will be made by a draw among all those who register.  For those unable to participate in person, Dean was pleased to share an exciting aspect of this project.

“We understand that not all of our members are living in or around one of our traditional communities and we know that everyone deserves the opportunity to be involved.  That’s why the teachings provided at these camps will be video recorded and made available online, wjit msɨt no’kmaq-for all our relations.”

Camps have been scheduled for the following locations:

Grand Falls-Windsor at the Corduroy Brook Nature Centre, November 19-20

St. George’s at the People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre, November 21-22

Corner Brook- to be announced

For more information please contact Nicole Travers at ntravers@qalipu.ca or call 634-4706.

October 22, 2019, Corner Brook—The Qalipu Cultural Foundation celebrated its fifth annual Ketip’nemk Fundraising Dinner and Silent Auction this weekend in Corner Brook. The event, featuring fine arts and crafts donated by Indigenous artists, cultural sharing, and a three-course meal using traditional ingredients, was well attended by some 175 people. The guest list included members of the Band and the broader Indigenous community, partners and businesses who all support the Foundation and its mandate of building and sharing Mi’kmaq culture in Newfoundland.

Sherry Dean, Chairperson of the Foundation noted that this has been a banner year for the volunteer led charitable organization. “We’re proud to report that this year, with much support from guests, donating artists and our sponsors, we have raised $16,480.50! This is a significant amount of money that will be put to good use funding community groups and individuals who deliver workshops, programs and initiatives that promote and share our culture and teachings.  In the past year many workshops and programs have been delivered in our communities. For the year ahead, we are ready to support more   of this good work.”

This years’ Gala featured music by the Spirit Bay Drummers led by Troy Bennett who also shared teachings about the community big drum and a fancy shawl dancing demonstration and teachings were provided by Marcella Williams. Guests enjoyed vying for their favourite pieces in the silent auction presenting dozens of fine art and crafts that were donated by local Indigenous artists. Western Vice Chief Keith Cormier and Elder Odelle Pike, also the Ward Councilor for Stephenville, emceed the event and greetings were brought by Chief Brendan Mitchell on behalf of the Qalipu First Nation.

Dean added, “I would like to thank my co-chair Lorraine Stone, and lead staff support Nicole Travers and, on behalf of all of us who serve the Qalipu Cultural Foundation, I extend a sincere thank you to all          of those who purchased tickets in support of our gala, participated in the silent auction, made donations or came on board as sponsors.  It is only through your help that we can continue doing the good work that we do. See you next year!”

Sponsorship

Mountain Level ($1500 or greater): Barry Group

Tree Level ($1000-1499): Tract Consulting Inc., Kruger Inc., Cox & Palmer

River Level ($500-999): BCJ Tax Centre

Brook Level (up to $499): Brendan Mitchell and Sheila Lasaga, Sherry and Mervyn Dean, Western Lock, Humber Motors Ford, Data Atlantic Systems

Art and Craft Donations:

Click here to apply for a cultural support grant with the Qalipu Cultural Foundation.