


Winners of the Qalipu First Nation & Valentine Gold Mine 2023-2024 Scholarships
Qalipu First Nation and Calibre Valentine Gold Mine are pleased to announce the five recipients of the scholarships introduced last year to encourage and support Qalipu band members with career development and growth as they attend post-secondary education.
Please join us in congratulating Kaelan Pidskalny, Nicholas Gillingham, Jacob MacDonald, Preston Patey and Evan Janes, winners of this year’s scholarships. Each recipient exemplifies the qualities of academic excellence, community service, and extracurricular involvement upon which the scholarship program is based.
Qalipu Chief Jennifer Brake noted that the promotion of education pursuits is one of the top priorities for the Band, commenting “On behalf of Qalipu First Nation, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of you for being awarded the Qalipu First Nation/Valentine Gold Mine Scholarship. This achievement is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and commitment to your education and community. We are so proud to support the academic and personal growth of our members. As you continue your educational journey, remember that you carry the hopes and aspirations of your entire community with you.
May this scholarship serve as both a recognition of your past accomplishments and a source of encouragement for your future endeavors. We look forward to seeing all that you will achieve. Congratulations once again, and best wishes for your continued success.
James Powell, VP Regulatory and Government Affairs, Calibre Canadian Operations, commented “Calibre Valentine Gold Mine is pleased to partner with Qalipu First Nation in administering this important scholarship program and to support the 2024 scholarship recipients in their continuing education. In alignment with Calibre’s sustainability strategy, we understand that investing in education fosters the comprehensive development of individuals. We congratulate each recipient for their academic achievements and community involvement and wish them every success in their future endeavors”.
Congratulations to all!

Band Council Election Update
The dates are set, and preparations are underway for the upcoming Band Council Election. More details including how and where to file nomination papers, appointment of Electoral Officer and information regarding a helpdesk to support voters who may need assistance will be issued in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, here is some important information to know:
- Members will have the option to vote electronically or by telephone. To ensure members receive their voter information package, we will need your current mailing address and/or email address. The voter information package will contain a secure PIN that will be needed to submit your ballot. Please register your current information by completing the Voter Registration Form or by updating your KINU membership profile.
- The call for nominations will open on September 23 at 8:30am and close on October 2, 2024 at 12:30pm.
- Election day has been set for October 25, 2024. Voters are reminded that voting takes place over the course of a window of time and votes can be cast online or over the phone between October 18 starting at 8am until October 25 ending at 8pm. All votes will be counted, and the election will end on October 25.
- All the latest election related information will be posted to Qalipu’s Voter Information Hub. Find it here: https://qalipu.ca/qalipu-election-hub/

“I’tesnen: We Are Staying” Emergency Housing Support Program expanding to all Qalipu First Nation members who reside in Canada.
The Housing Division of the Department of Health & Wellness is expanding the Emergency Housing Support Program “I’tesnen: We Are Staying” program services through a partnership with The Atlantic Policy Congress (APC). The program is expanding to all members who reside in Canada and who require assistance with the following:
- Emergency Housing Set-Up – Provide rental startup assistance such as first/last month’s rent and damage deposit.
- Housing Placement – Time- Limited rental assistance to support individuals or families being placed into housing.
- Prevention and Shelter Diversion – Assist with rental and/or utility arrears to prevent eviction.
- Emergency Housing – Provide short term placement for a maximum of five (5) nights.

Meeting of Chief and Council
The next meeting of Chief and Council is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 9:00am in the Qalipu Community Room, 1 Church Street.
Registration is required to attend the meeting. Deadline to register is July 12, 2024, at 12:30pm.
Members wishing to attend can contact Natasha or Allyson by telephone or email:
Natasha – 709-634-6895, email: nlavers@qalipu.ca
Allyson – 709-634-5111, email: arobbins@qalipu.ca
Members can view the meeting’s livestream by logging on to their KINU membership profile: https://mala.qalipu.ca/ginu/login.aspx

National Indigenous Peoples Day, June 21, 2024
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day where we recognize and celebrate the rich cultures and contributions of Indigenous communities across Canada. To celebrate, the Qalipu First Nation hosted events in several of our communities.
The office in Glenwood hosted a community breakfast which was catered by Allison’s Catering, a local Glenwood business. Staff from Glenwood and Gander were on hand to support the event and without their help, breakfast would not have been possible. During the event, Audrey Doyon performed a smudge ceremony while a prayer was provided by Delphine Richards, Glenwood First Nation council member. Also in attendance was Frank Skeard, QFN Glenwood ward councilor for Glenwood and Calvin Francis, QFN Gander Bay ward councilor. All of those in attendance provided positive feedback and everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast.


The office in Grand Falls-Windsor also hosted a community breakfast at the QFN office.
In Stephenville Crossing (Meski’k Tui’tn), staff were present for a flag raising ceremony at the cenotaph. Hayward Young, Ward Councilor for Stephenville assisted Frank Russell in raising the Grand Council Flag while Mutchie Bennett provided an opening prayer. Mayor Lisa Lucas was in attendance to bring greetings on behalf of the town council. Troy Bennett did a community smudge ceremony, and the Spirit Bay Drummers performed the Honor song and social songs to end the gathering. There was also tea, coffee and muffins for everyone.


In Corner Brook, the day started with a sunrise ceremony at Margaret Bowater Park hosted by the Corner Brook Aboriginal Women’s Association (CBAWA). The attendance for this event was fantastic with over 75 people who joined the CBAWA for a smudge, prayers and drumming. Around 9am, a crowd was starting to gather on the Majestic Lawn for the celebrations hosted by QFN. The morning started off with song sharing which was led by the Corner Brook Aboriginal Women’s Association and followed by a grab-and-go breakfast in the community room which was provided by Qalipu First Nation. The tipi was set up on the lawn for photo opportunities which caught the attention of all ages. Chief Brake was in attendance participating in drumming and she brought greetings on behalf of staff & council.
“The goal is to raise awareness and encourage education for both indigenous and non-indigenous people; the more we know about our past, the brighter our futures can be. By learning from each other’s diverse backgrounds and experiences, we become better neighbors and more compassionate individuals”.
The morning continued with activities for children including face painting, rock painting and a scavenger hunt. Artisans were also set up on the lawn with their crafts for sale. The event concluded around 12pm.








Message from the Chief – June 14th 2024
The month of June brings a lot of excitement as our teachers and students are counting down to the last day of school. Bikes and scooters are tuned up and campers are ready to go! As classroom learning comes to an end, this month offers opportunities to learn of the dual significance of both Indigenous History Month and Pride Month.
June is a time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, but it is also an opportunity to acknowledge the unique role that Two-Spirit (2S) individuals play in our community.
Long before the arrival of European settlers on Turtle Island, the concept of Two-Spirit individuals thrived within Indigenous communities. These individuals, often embracing both masculine and feminine spirits, were esteemed as gifted members of their communities.
The term “Two-Spirit” itself emerged more recently, in 1990 during the Third Annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg. Coined by Elder Myra Laramee, it derives from the Anishnaabemowin term “niizh manidoowag,” meaning “two spirits.”
While the concept of 2 Spirit holds significance within many Indigenous philosophies, it is not universal across all cultures. It is also very important to acknowledge that Two-Spirit identity cannot be appropriated by non-Indigenous individuals.
Let us set an example of respect and celebrate our diversity, not only during Pride and Indigenous History Month but every day of the year.
Classroom doors may be closing, but our hearts and minds should remain open to ensure every member of our community feels safe and valued. We should always be respectful of where we are on our journeys and allow each other the space to safely find our way.
Afterall, there’s nothing more extraordinary than the colours of the rainbow.