This week the country observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is not just another day. It is a day when we pause to remember and honour the children, survivors, and families whose lives were forever changed by the residential school system.

We wear orange because of the courage of Phyllis Webstad, who shared her story with the world. Her orange shirt, taken from her on her first day at residential school, has become a symbol of what was taken from those children, their language, their culture, their sense of belonging. Phyllis turned her pain into purpose, and today, that orange shirt represents every child who was told they didn’t matter. We wear it to say, Every Child Matters.

When I spoke at our event this week, I called on our provincial government to acknowledge what happened in 1949, when Newfoundland joined Canada under Terms of Union that failed to recognize the Indigenous peoples of this land. That omission led to decades of exclusion from services, recognition, and rights. The impact is still felt today.

To those in leadership, if you’re listening, respond. Words alone are not enough. We are ready to build strong, respectful relationships with the next Premier and cabinet, but we need a government that meets us halfway. One that understands consultation must begin at the idea stage, not after decisions regarding our resources have been made and approvals are granted to those seeking profit. One that acknowledges the truth and commits to meaningful action to correct the mistakes of the past.

As a Nation, we will continue to stand firm. We will meet disrespect with dignity, hostility with honour, and ignorance with education. As the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair wisely said:

“Achieving reconciliation is like climbing a mountain. We must proceed a step at a time. It will not always be easy. There will be storms, there will be obstacles, but we cannot allow ourselves to be daunted by the task because our goal is just and it is also necessary.”

This journey demands courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to truth, healing, and justice, for those we remember, and for the generations yet to come.

This week, we took time to celebrate the incredible staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes and on the front lines to serve our Nation. Staff Appreciation Day gave us a chance to reflect on the dedication, compassion, and hard work that go into delivering the programs and services that support our communities every single day. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our team, you are the heartbeat of Qalipu First Nation, and it is an absolute honour to work with you each day.

Next week we mark an incredibly special milestone, the 14th anniversary of the formation of Qalipu First Nation. Fourteen years ago, we took a bold step forward in reclaiming our identity, our rights, and our place in the broader Indigenous landscape. It was the result of years of advocacy, determination, and unity. To all those who helped lay the foundation, thank you. Your vision and perseverance have brought us to where we are today. There is still much to do, we know our formation came with its challenges, but we are determined to carry forward that perseverance that got us here to heal our communities and grasp opportunities to not just survive but thrive as a nation.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to building a future that reflects our values and aspirations. Our Council stands firmly behind the work of our staff, ensuring that we grow in a way that is thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in community.

Together, we have come a long way, and together, we will continue to build a Nation we can all be proud of.

It’s great to be back with our weekly messages. I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the summer. It was wonderful to see so many of you at our gatherings, soaking up the sunshine and spending time together.

Of course, the summer also brought its challenges. Wildfires across the country affected many families, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those impacted.

One of the key moments for me was attending the Bill C-5 Summit in Ottawa, where I joined other Indigenous leaders and federal officials to talk about Canada’s infrastructure plans. Bill C-5 aims to speed up major projects by reducing red tape. While that might help the economy, we raised concerns about how it could affect Indigenous rights, especially since there has been little consultation. It was made clear that if Canada wants to close its infrastructure gap, it must work with us, not around us. Development needs to respect our sovereignty and reflect our values.

I also met with Prime Minister Carney this week at an announcement at Newdock in St. John’s, and I left feeling encouraged. It seems like our message from the summit was heard, and there is real effort to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities.

Last week, I was in Winnipeg for the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Assembly, where we passed several important resolutions. One of the most urgent was a call for immediate federal action to address the fentanyl, opioid, and substance abuse crisis that’s affecting First Nations communities across the country.

We also reaffirmed our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, especially those focused on health and the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle. Unfortunately, recent changes by Indigenous Services Canada have made things worse, causing delays, denials, and a backlog in services for First Nations children and families. We will continue to do our best to work with families to alleviate the stress caused by this.

We’re not backing down. We’re calling on both the federal and provincial governments to fix this, starting with allocating funding and support for the creation of culturally grounded addiction treatment centres and aftercare programs. These are essential for healing, especially for our youth and families, who deserve real support.

As we settle into the school year, we’ll keep sharing updates and working together to build a stronger Nation.