Benoit 1st Nation would like to announce the following information  from last night’s Chase The Ace at the Mi’kmaw Centre in Degrau on January 17, 2017.

The evening’s total ticket sales were $3,814.00. Congratulations to Emmanuel Simon who ticket  #24239 won $762.80 (20% ticket sales). Emmanuel cut the deck of cards hoping for the sneaky Ace of Spades and drew the Ace of spades!!!!The Ace of Spades was worth $1,144.25 (30% ticket sales) plus $10,975.00 which was worth $12,882.00 in total take home winnings. 50% ticket sales $1907.00 goes towards the Mi’kmaw Centre Building upgrades.

The 50/50 Ticket draw winner was Teddy Rouzes who won $503.00. Thanks so much to all the volunteers that helped with this event and also thanks to everyone who came out for this very successful Mi’kmaw Centre Fundraiser.

The Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women performs an important role to the Provincial Government by ensuring that the experiences of women are considered while Government develops new policies and programs, as well as continuing its ongoing work.

The voices of women are essential in informing the actions of government.

Could you, or someone you know, be the next member of this important Advisory Council? Please click here to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of being a member of the Status of Women Advisory Council, and to apply online.

The next regular meeting of Council will be held on Saturday January 20 2018 1:00 pm at the Days Inn in Stephenville. To register please contact Mabel MacDonald at 634-5111 or email mmacdonald@qalipu.ca

Would you like to join a team of aboriginal youth on Team Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2018 NL Provincial Winter Games? Now is your chance!

The Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Circle Newfoundland and Labrador is now accepting applications.

Please note the Sports Circle requires applications be received at their offices by January 12, 2018.

For more information, please contact:

Mike Alexander
Regional Coordinator
Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Circle NL
Ph: 709-643-3130

Please click here to complete the Application

There will be a presentation on the Jordan’s Principle at the Appleton Town Hall in Glenwood this Monday, December 11. The presentation will begin at 7:00 PM.  The presentation will be led by Rocky John of Conne River.

The Jordan’s Principle is in place to support indigenous children living on or off reserve. The intention is to fill the gaps in service from the local care provider(s) and what INAC is willing to fund. For example common types of services approved are: Respite Speech Therapy, Nutritional supplements, Special needs assistants (for pre-school aged children), Intensive behavioral interventions, Specialized diagnostic assessments (psychological Education is the most common), Medical equipment/supplies not covered under NIHB.

This is an important opportunity to for us to gain a greater understand of programs and resources that are available to the indigenous community.  I hope to see you there.

Frank Skeard,

Glenwood Ward Councilor
Qalipu First Nation

For more information on the Jordan’s Principle, please click here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/first-nations-inuit-health/jordans-principle.html

Please join us for presentations, and an open discussion regarding the state of the environment in our communities.  Through talking and break-out sessions we will work toward solutions together.

Saturday, December 9 2017
9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Qalipu Community Room
1 Church Street, Corner Brook

Please RSVP to Mabel MacDonald at 634-5111 or email mmacdonald@qalipu.ca

• Emera Newfoundland & Labrador is in the final stages of completing the Maritime Link. Energizing and testing of infrastructure is underway.
• Members of the public should approach Maritime Link sites with the same caution as you would with any existing substation or power lines in your community.
• Components should be considered energized with high voltage electricity and should only be accessed by Emera NL authorized workers.
• Emera NL is committed to the health and safety of workers and the public. For more information call 1-855-722-3373 or visit EmeraNL.com.

A regular meeting of the Qalipu Chief and Council took place on November 18, 2017 at the Community Room in Corner Brook.  Below is a summary of the discussion that took place regarding the establishment of an Elder Advisory Council.

Other Nations, including Miawpukek First Nation, has an Elder Advisory Council.  Qalipu recognizes the value of having such an established group.

A draft Terms of Reference was written and shared with Council prior to the meeting

More than 40 names were submitted when Council put out a call for recommendations.  Ward Councilors submitted names that they had received, and members of the Executive (Chief and Vice Chiefs) submitted names as well.

The Terms of Reference outlines the purpose, mission, values and ways of working for this soon to be established Council.  Membership on the Elder Council will be based on inclusion of “anyone who is sought after and recognized for their wisdom, knowledge, and caring for humanity within their communities.”

Some of the roles of the Elder Council will be to give direction, request full disclosure about matters and issues in order to give informed direction/advice, sit on committees as requested, assist Chief and Council with making important decisions that impact our Mi’kmaq communities and build relationships and exchange knowledge with Elders from other areas.

Chief expressed the desire to make a shortened list of Elders who can make up this Council, and asked Council how they thought this should be structured.

He asked, “How big do you think this group should be, for function?”

One Councilor suggested that we have so much difficulty moving forward with the nine people we have at the table, that establishing this Council may further delay our ability to move forward.

Several Councilors suggested that if we are looking at putting an Elder Council together, we should stick to a guideline of not anymore than five or six people. This can’t be done with 40 + people.

Another Councilor spoke to the fact that there are nine Wards, and all Wards should be represented.  It would make the group larger than ideal, but all areas would be represented.  The Councilor also suggested that the community should determine the person, not Council.

A Councilor responded that this list of names was submitted by the people in our communities.  What the Council is attempting to do is shorten the list.

Another member of Council suggested that we keep the group small, maybe have regional representation.

Most Councilors agreed that keeping the group size small would be best.

Another issue was that for Wards representing several distinct and separate communities, maybe its time to engage an individual from a community that is not typically recognized.

One Councilor said that “in the Newfoundland context, our culture was so underground.  If we look to Nova Scotia and other provinces whose culture has not been underground, their Terms of Reference on Elders would include a lifetime of their culture not being underground.  The kind of Elder you meet in Nova Scotia, we don’t have many people like that here.  Some of the people submitted on this list, are they really Elders?”

A discussion on what defines an Elder in this process followed:

• Knowledge keeper
• Acknowledged, and accepted in the community as having wisdom, life experience and understanding of our culture and teachings.
• Someone that carries the traditional knowledge that has been involved in the Mi’kmaq way of life for many years.
• Someone who can conduct ceremonies
• A life-long learning knowledge.
• A community leader
• Someone who is giving of their time and gifts

 

An idea that came forward was how to include the entire group of people whose names were put forward.  Maybe a retreat, and other ways to get together as teaching and learning opportunities.

A member of Council spoke to the seriousness of being an Elder.  It is an important role that comes with self-sacrifice.

All requests for registration under the Indian Act in the Qalipu First Nation will be processed by the Winnipeg Processing Unit.  The Winnipeg Processing Unit will review all applications and:

• Register individuals that are currently entitled as the child of a Founding Member who will retain an entitlement after the new Founding Members list is passed through an Order in Council in the Spring of 2018; and
• Place on hold any files where entitlement cannot be determined past spring 2018 (where parent may not retain Founding Membership) and notify the applicant as such.

Please note, Charmaine Bath, Qalipu’s Indian Registration Administrator, is on hand to assist with completing the application form and ensuring that all necessary documentation is included in your application package.  For assistance, please contact Charmaine at (709) 679-2142, or toll free (within Newfoundland only) at 1-855-263-6440 or email cbath@qalipu.ca