Qalipu provides the support, preapprovals, processing and payment for all Medical Transportation Benefits for members of the Band in Atlantic Canada who are travelling for medical reasons.

Medical Transportation is one of the benefits of the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, a health plan which all members of Qalipu, and other First Nations and Inuit in Canada, are eligible to receive.  This benefit provides financial compensation, based on rates set by Health Canada, for the cost of travel, meals, and accommodations for members with a health condition requiring travel to locations outside their communities to receive necessary medical services.

Qalipu began administering the benefit last year with a six-month pilot in the Glenwood Ward, and has since expanded the delivery to include all members living in Atlantic Canada who are travelling for medical reasons within Canada.

Jenna Osmond, Manager of the Qalipu Health Division said the move to administer the benefit to all members living in Atlantic Canada was a big piece of work but, that it’s going smoothly.

“After the expansion, the demand for service enhanced significantly.  To keep up, we hired another Data Entry Clerk.  With more than 20,000 members living in the region, our health team is busy!”

Osmond noted that many members are calling to ask for their claims within days or a couple of weeks of sending it in.  She added that while returns may happen sooner, the standard for processing claims is 6-8 weeks.

She said, “Members should wait the full 8 weeks before calling the office to ask if their claim has been processed.  This will allow our team to focus on processing claims rather than responding a high volume of calls.”

Members are reminded that all Medical Transportation Benefit claims are to be sent to Qalipu’s Corner Brook office.  Claims sent elsewhere will be redirected back to the Corner Brook office which will likely cause a delay.  Members should also be aware that they are required to sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to receive payment on their claims.  Find these details, and other important facts regarding the Medical Transportation Benefit by reading the Medical Transportation Benefit Fact Sheet and Useful Links

For more information, please contact a member of the Non-Insured Health Benefits team at 1-855-675-5743

At the June 10 meeting of Council in Corner Brook it was decided that Ward Councilor’s would seek recommendations from their communities to establish an Elders Advisory Council.  The Elders Advisory Council will ideally consist of individuals who are respected and engaged in their communities and are able to represent a broad range of voices when the Band is making important decisions, planning events, delivering programs and identifying & developing key initiatives.

We need your help to help identify the elders in our communities who could be a representative on the Elders Advisory Council. While these individuals can be Elders in the traditional sense of the word, they can also be an elder that you see as a strong community leader who is involved in one or more active community groups, who communicates well with others.

With their permission, you are invited to make a recommendation on who you would like to have representing the communities in your Ward.  Please contact your Ward Councilor to make the recommendation.  Click here to find your Ward Councilor and their email address

When the Council meets again in August, they will discuss the feedback received from this request, and determine how to move forward with this initiative and the establishment of the Elders Advisory Council.

Sign up Now! Experience Qalipu presents Petroglyph Paint Night with Host Marcus Gosse.

A paint night with a cultural twist.  Join Marcus as he leads you through a discovery of ancient Mi’kmaq petroglyphs, and then have fun incorporating them into your own painting.  You will leave with your own beautiful piece of art.

Corner Brook, July 20 at 6:30 PM in the Qalipu Community Room

 St. George’s, July 27 at 6:30 PM in the Mi’kmaq Museum

 Stephenville, August 3 at 6:30 PM at 90 Main Street.

 Cost is $40 per person, all materials included.

To register, contact Tara Saunders at tsaunders@qalipu.ca or call 709-634-5972

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/experienceqalipu/videos/165400964002639/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”0″]

[fbvideo link=”https://www.facebook.com/QalipuFirstNation/videos/1534797929906368/” width=”500″ height=”400″ onlyvideo=”0″]

A group of exceptional young athletes from Newfoundland and Labrador will represent our province in competition with teams from across North America, at the North American Indigenous Games this July 16-23 in Toronto.

Team NL, a group of 90 representing the province’s four indigenous groups; Inuit, Innu, Metis and Mi’kmaq, will compete in volley ball, swimming, badminton, athletics, wrestling and rifle shooting.

Mike Alexander, Regional Coordinator of the Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Circle in Newfoundland, said that some members of the team are returning athletes who won medals at the 2014 games in Regina but noted, “there are a lot of new faces as well.  They are all exceptional athletes.”

Best of luck to Team NL and have fun at the games!

Culinary Tourism Training Opportunity

A great proportion of visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador are looking for unique opportunities to connect to place and people.   As a people food has been much more then just something that we eat, it is something that sustains a way of life in NL.  Our traditions of food gathering and preparation have deeply connected us to the land and sea for centuries.  So the great question now is how do you make sure that every visitor that comes to NL gets a little of who you are as a people through a unique experience.

Join Lori McCarthy, award-winning owner of Cod Sounds who will share with you her story of growth and development as one of the top “foodie” experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Over the course of the day Lori will engage you in an actually food experience and use that as the basis for larger discussions on how you can capture and tell your story to visitors through food.

When: July 10^th, 2017

Where:  Corner Brook Qalipu Community Room, with an outdoor excursion to a neighbouring Bay of Islands community

Space is extremely limited.  For more information, or to sign-up, contact Tara Saunders at tsaunders@qalipu.ca or 709-634-5972

*Preference will be given to current tourism operators or those who are currently developing tourism products and  those who can demonstrate the greatest need for the training

From August 8-11, The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Qalipu Cultural Foundation are partnering to host the Junior Police Academy at Killdevil Camp.   This camp is designed to create stronger relationships with youth (ages 10-12 years old) and police as well as with other community partners.

Participants will have an opportunity to take part in this fun filled and educational camping experience, where the RNC and partner organizations will foster stronger and healthier relationships between the participants and the police by breaking down historical barriers.  The Junior Police Academy will enhance participant learning on a variety of topics by providing a healthy, active and unplugged environment where they will be educated on the benefits of healthy, responsible decision making. Youth at the camp will receive education on a variety of topics including (but not limited to) healthy eating, decision making and lifestyle choices, bicycle safety, fire safety, environmental sustainability, police investigative techniques and Mi’kmaq cultural awareness.

For youth who attend the camp, transportation will be provided from Corner Brook to Killdevil and return (transportation to and from Corner Brook is the participants responsibility). Transportation can be arranged for pickup and drop off in Deer Lake for those youth and volunteers that are east of Deer Lake (transportation to and from Deer Lake is the participants responsibility).  While at the camp, all accommodations and meals will be provided. Participants will be asked to bring their own sleeping bag, or bedding, and their own clothing.

To facilitate this event, we are currently seeking volunteer chaperons. Volunteers will be responsible for general supervision of youth during the camp. All accommodations and meals will be provided to volunteers while at the camp. Volunteers will be asked to bring their own sleeping bag or bedding and their own clothing.

If you are interested in being a volunteer or are seeking additional information, please contact Mitch Blanchard.

Youth participant click here for the RNC Junior Police Academy 2017 application

Note: Deadline has been extended.

Volunteer Chaperons click here for Volunteer Application

Note: Deadline has been extended.

All participant and volunteer application forms can be submitted to Mitch Blanchard, Resource Coordinator at 3 Church Street Corner Brook, NL or faxed to: 709 639 3997 or via email mblanchard@qalipu.ca

Sponsored by:
United Way Newfoundland and Labrador
Communities Foundation of Canada – Canada 150

We’ve all roasted hot dogs and made smores but, you would be surprised about the culinary delights that can be prepared around an open fire.

Let Executive Chefs Frank Widmer and Alain Bosse be your guide to exploring the possibilities!

Accompanied by songs and storytelling by Mi’kmaq Park Interpreter Kevin Barnes and friends, the Chefs will incorporate Mi’kmaq traditional foods to show you how to create something beautiful in a hands-on, interactive evening around the campfire.

June 28, 2017 at 7:00 PM

Shallow Bay day use area, Cow Head (Gros Morne National Park)

This event is a partnership between Qalipu First Nation, Parks Canada and the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism.  Everyone is Welcome!