Message from the Chief to Qalipu First Nation Membership Dear Qalipu First Nation members,

I am writing to you on behalf of your Council to acknowledge the hurt and concern caused by the recent targeted harassment directed at Qalipu First Nation, our members, and our staff. We know that harmful messages, direct calls, online posts and recordings, and physical materials have a real effect on people’s sense of safety, dignity, belonging, and wellbeing.

Please know this: Chief and Council are taking this seriously. No one should be targeted at work, at home, in their community, or online because of their Mi’kmaq identity or connection to Qalipu First Nation.

We have activated a coordinated response to protect our people and pursue accountability. This includes workplace-safety measures for staff, confidential reporting and support for people who have been affected, preservation of evidence, reports to online platforms and the appropriate authorities, and legal review of all available options. Where the evidence supports it, we will pursue appropriate action through police, platform, legal, and other lawful channels.

Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our members and staff. We are not going to amplify harmful content or engage in online arguments. We will continue to communicate directly with you, our membership, through Qalipu First Nation’s official channels, and we will provide updates as they can be shared without compromising anyone’s safety, privacy, or an active process.

It is also important to be clear about who we are. We as Mi’kmaq people have deep and enduring connections to Ktaqmkuk. Mi’kmaq oral history records a presence on the island since the 1400s, if not earlier. Historical sources document Mi’kmaq families hunting, fishing, and trapping along the southwest coast and toward Placentia Bay during the 1600s, and records of Mi’kmaq presence become more frequent in the 1700s. In May 1767, during the survey of St. George’s Harbour, a record from Captain Cook’s expedition noted meeting “a tribe of the Mickmak Indians”.

Canada’s formal recognition of Qalipu First Nation in 2011 did not begin the story the Mi’kmaq people of Newfoundland. It recognized an elected government of our people and our communities with a history, kinship, culture, and connection to this island that long predate 2011. Our members’ identity and belonging are not for a social media misinformation campaign to decide.

We welcome respectful, good-faith dialogue and remain committed to respectful relationships with our relations across Mi’kma’ki and Turtle Island. Harassment, intimidation, falsehoods, and targeted abuse are not dialogue, and they will not define who we are.

If you receive an abusive or threatening call, message, post, or recording, please do not engage. Preserve the details if it is safe to do so: take screenshots, record the date and time, save the link or caller information, and report it confidentially to communications@qalipu.ca. If there is an immediate threat or you fear for your safety, call 911.

We also recognize that seeing or experiencing this content can be upsetting, even when it is not directed at you personally. Support is available:

• 811 HealthLine: Call 811. Nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, need support, or are looking for health information, call 811.
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988, anywhere in Canada, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Hope for Wellness Helpline: Call 1-855-242-3310 or use the online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca for immediate, culturally grounded support for Indigenous people across Canada.
• Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 and press 3. Text CONNECT to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults. To request an Indigenous volunteer crisis responder when available, text FIRSTNATIONS, INUIT, or METIS.
• Provincial Lifewise Warm Line: Call 1-855-753-2560.

We are a family, and through challenging times, it is essential that we remain strong, united, and steadfast. Let us be reminded of the resilience that has always defined this place and the strength passed down to us by our L’nuk ancestors. I hear your concerns, and together with Council, we will do everything possible to support and advocate for this Nation.

Please look after one another. Reach out if you need support, share concerns with us through our confidential reporting channel, and rely on Qalipu First Nation’s official communications for verified updates.

Nmultes and wela’liek,

Chief Jenny Brake
Chief, Qalipu First Nation
On behalf of Chief and Council

🌿 Land-Based Learning Pop-Up Camps! 🌿

Qalipu First Nation is excited to offer two one-day Land-Based Learning Pop-Up Camps this summer, bringing hands-on cultural and land-based experiences to communities that have not had week-long camp offerings.

📍 Camp Locations:

• Badger
• Gander Bay

📝 To Register:
Email Alicia Whiffen at awhiffen@qalipu.ca to reserve your spot.
Please include:

• Child’s name
• Age
• Community
• Parent/Guardian name
• Phone number

Staff will follow up with registration details and any required forms. Registration is only confirmed once all required documents have been completed and submitted. Spots are limited, so be sure to register early!

See the attached poster for your community for camp dates and additional information.

Qalipu First Nation is seeking volunteers to serve on seven (7) newly established Special Committees of Council. These committees will provide valuable advice and guidance to Council and Administration while creating new opportunities for members to help shape the Nation’s priorities and initiatives.

Members are invited to express their interest in serving on one of the following committees:

• Events and Commemorations
• Emergency Response Planning
• Youth
• Elders and Seniors
• 2SLGBTQ+ Mi’kmaq Communities
• Disabled Mi’kmaq Communities
• Organizational Review – Kiwaskitayk (We Are Changing)

Each committee has a unique purpose but shares a common goal of strengthening member engagement and ensuring members’ voices inform the Nation’s work.

Committees
The Events and Commemorations Committee will provide guidance, coordination, and support to QFN Administration and Council for Nation-wide events and commemorative activities.

The Emergency Response Planning Committee will provide guidance on emergency preparedness and advise on the development and ongoing review of Qalipu First Nation’s Emergency Response Plan.

The Youth, Elders and Seniors, 2SLGBTQ+ Mi’kmaq Communities, and Disabled Mi’kmaq Communities Committees will provide guidance based on members’ lived experiences, identify priorities affecting their communities, and make recommendations to Council to help strengthen programs, services, and member engagement.

The Kiwaskitayk (We Are Changing) Committee will review Qalipu First Nation’s organizational structure and governance practices and make recommendations to Council that support continuous improvement. Through this work, the committee will help strengthen the Nation’s governance, policies, operational practices, and organizational structure to ensure Qalipu First Nation is well positioned to meet the evolving needs of its members.

Committee Appointments
Qalipu First Nation is seeking members to serve in the following roles:

• Two (2) members to serve on the Events and Commemorations Committee, one of whom must be an Elder.
• Two (2) members to serve on the Emergency Response Planning Committee, one of whom must be an Elder.
• A member to serve as Co-Chair for Each of the Following Committees: Youth, Elders and Seniors, 2SLGBTQ+ Mi’kmaq Communities, and Disabled Mi’kmaq Communities. Once selections are complete, these Committees will be open to all members of these lived experience groups to attend.
• Two (2) members to serve on the Kiwaskitayk Committee. Applicants must not have served as a Qalipu First Nation Councillor or employee within the past ten years and should have significant experience in organizational transformation, governance, or related fields.

Committee appointments are voluntary and will be for a one-year term. At the conclusion of the term, Council will review recommendations to help determine how these committees may become permanent Standing Committees of Council.

Committee meetings will be held in a hybrid format whenever possible, allowing members to participate either in person or virtually.

Express Your Interest
Qalipu First Nation members are encouraged to volunteer for a committee that reflects their interests and lived experience. Committee-specific membership requirements apply.

To express your interest, please complete the Expression of Interest Form by August 3, 2026. Click here to fill out the form:
Expression of Interest: Qalipu First Nation Special Committees of Council

Questions about the committees or the expression of interest process can be sent to info@qalipu.ca

Wela’lin.

View the BCR’s here: Governance – Qalipu
Council Meeting Minutes: Council Meeting Minutes – March 28, 2026 – Qalipu

The next meeting of Chief and Council is virtual and has been scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm.

Council will discuss important matters, including internal policy, the Nation’s budget, and other business.

Members can watch the meeting live by logging in to their KINU member profile: https://mala.qalipu.ca/ginu/login.aspx

Please note that the meeting may begin slightly later than scheduled. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Qalipu First Nation invited students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to participate in its annual logo contest. The contest encouraged youth to engage with the significance of this important day through learning, reflection, and creative expression centered on the history and lasting impacts of residential schools. Students were asked to create original artwork that reflected the themes of truth, remembrance, healing, and reconciliation.

Qalipu First Nation is pleased to announce Lydia Dyer as the winner of the 2025 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Logo Contest.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all students who participated and shared their creativity and perspectives. Each submission demonstrated a commitment to learning about the truths of Canada’s history and the ongoing journey toward reconciliation.

Congratulations to Lydia and to all participants for helping to honour and recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation through their artwork.

Qalipu First Nation (QFN) is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity in partnership with Ridegell Consulting Inc., a Canadian Indigenous-owned technology consulting firm. This $1,000 scholarship supports QFN member students pursuing post-secondary studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The scholarship is open to QFN members completing Grade 12 who have been accepted into a STEM program at a recognized post-secondary institution. Preference will be given to members entering programs in Information Technology, Cyber Security, and Computer Science.

One scholarship, valued at $1,000, will be awarded. The recipient will be selected by a committee, with each application assessed based on academic performance, career goals, and volunteer involvement.

Submission details and application form can be found here: Application Forms
Application deadline: July 31, 2026

Qalipu First Nation extends sincere thanks to Ridegell Consulting Inc. for their generous support in creating this scholarship opportunity and for investing in the future of our youth in STEM education.