Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) Appealing on Behalf of Some Applicants, Notifications Arriving in the Mail
In February 2017, Chief Brendan Mitchell announced that the FNI Board would exercise its rights under the Agreement in Principle to issue its own appeal where FNI lawyers identified potential grounds to do so. Based on advice received from the FNI lawyers, they were instructed to initiate those appeals and this process is now underway.
This week, approximately 3100 appellants have begun to receive notification of this process in the mail titled Appeal Notice of FNI. The letter indicates that “the FNI believes a mistake or error was made and that the documentation submitted with your application demonstrates that you do meet the requirements to become a Founding Member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation.”
For those who were unaware of this action of the FNI, there may understandably be some confusion. The Appeal Notice of FNI letter does not change the decision of the Enrolment Committee of which applicants and members were notified on January 31, 2017. It simply indicates that the FNI believes a mistake or error was made and is subsequently appealing that decision of the Enrolment Committee on the applicant’s behalf.
Steve May of Cox and Palmer, legal counsel for the FNI, explains the real meaning of these letters. He said, “under the Agreement, when a party issues an Appeal, the Applicant is to be notified. The reasons for this are to let them know of the appeal and to give them the opportunity to structure or revise their own appeals accordingly based on the grounds of the FNI appeal.”
Brendan Mitchell, Chief of the Qalipu First Nation, is hopeful that this legal action may lead to some positive outcomes on behalf of appellants. “However,” he states, “Those with a right of appeal should not rely solely on the appeal being made by the FNI. Please ensure that your appeal is sent, post marked no later than April 13, 2017.”
Chief Mitchell also clarified that the ability of the FNI to appeal decisions of the Enrolment Committee is part of the Agreement that created the First Nation and does not constitute legal counsel for the appellants named in its appeal.
New Q A about Qalipu Enrolment Appeals Process re Additional Grounds
Q: I already submitted my appeal notice, but I would like to submit another reason to support my appeal. Can I do this and what is the process?
A: Yes, you can submit another reason for appeal if you already submitted your appeal notice. To submit another reason for appeal, please note the following instructions:
Send a letter with your full name and file number at the very top of the first page and on every additional page. The letter must be sent to the following address by April 13, 2017:
Office of the Appeal Master
Box 9100
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 0M9
Ensure the first page contains the following heading: SUPPLEMENT TO PART 2 OF THE APPEAL NOTICE: REASONS FOR APPEAL
Your opening paragraph must say, “The following are my supplemental and/or additional reasons to appeal and are to be appended to my Appeal Notice dated [provide date].”
You can then proceed to outline your additional reasons to appeal.
*This Question and Answer is intended only for individuals who have already sent in their appeal notice and later thought of additional reasons that might support their appeal.
Click here for more questions and answers about the appeals process
Are You Interested in a Health Career
When:
August 13 – August 20, 207
Where:
Grenfell Campus, Corner Brook, NL
CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF QALIPU FIRST NATION COMMUNITY FORUM
Employment Opportunities For Qalipu Students
Employment Opportunities for Qalipu Students
Would you like to work in with an organization known throughout the world?
Parks Canada, in partnership with Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation Band is offering unique employment opportunities to Qalipu students.
Be part of protecting and presenting this beautiful part of Canada; come join our team!
Positions
Student Park Communicator
Greet visitors and provide information and orientation related to facilities, services, programs, regulations, and safety precautions in person or by telephone. Collect revenue suing a point of sale system and complete daily sales deposits.
(Bilingual candidates and students may be given preference)
Campground Janitoral Student
Interact with other park employees and visitors as a member of the Visitor Experience Team. Perform a variety of duties to ensure parks facilities and campgrounds are clean and accessible for our visitors.
(Must have a driver’s license)
Student Heritage Communicator
Deliver on-site programs for specific audience needs using a variety of new and innovative approaches. Greet and orient visitor, respond to questions and provide information about National Historic Sites, Gros Morne National Park, other sites in the Field Unit, Parks Canada, and the surrounding areas.
(Bilingual candidates may be given preference)
Student Field Technician
Collect field data, including monitoring on a daily basis and recording, and other resource conservation activities such as surveys.
(Must have a driver’s license)
Locations:
Gros Morne National Park, Port au Choix National Historic Site, L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Red Bay National Historic Site.
Period of Employment: Mid-June – Labour Day
Hours of Work: 37.5-40 hrs. /wk.
Burgeo Community Session Report
Qalipu First Nation Would Like to Announce the Availability of Two Communal Commercial Fishing Licenses
Qalipu First Nation would like to announce the availability of two Communal Commercial Fishing Licenses.
Details are as follows:
Area 13A – St. George’s Bay – Two Licenses Available
Licence #1: Groundfish except Lumpfish, Herring Fixed Gear, Mackerel Fixed Gear, Eel, Lobster, Snow Crab (Queen), and Bait.
Licence #2: Herring Fixed Gear, Lobster, and Bait.
Successful applicant will be designated to fish this license by paying an annual administration fee to Qalipu First Nation Band. The purchase and maintenance of all fishing gear is the responsibility of the designated fisherperson. This designation may be renewed annually on the basis that the fisherperson remains compliant with QFN’s Fishing Designation Policy and meets the following criteria:
- Member of Qalipu First Nation Band
- All regulations of governing agencies of these licenses are followed
- Licenses are utilized annually
- Administration Fees are paid on time
Any member of the Qalipu First Nation Band interested in such a designation is encouraged to print and complete this application and indicate in which opportunity they are interested. Printed applications are also available at the Corner Brook and St. George’s offices.
Deadline to apply is: Monday March 20, 2017 @ 4pm
Please submit applications by e-mail, fax, mail, or hand-delivery to:
Email: jstrickland@qalipu.ca
Fax: (709)639-3997
Qalipu First Nation
3 Church Street
Corner Brook, NL A2H 2Z4
Attn: Jonathan Strickland
Membership Search Service
The Federation of Newfoundland Indians is pleased to offer a membership search service to applicants of the Qalipu enrolment process through our End of Enrolment Support Team.
If you were a documented band member in one of Newfoundland’s Mi’kmaq bands prior to the signing of the Agreement in Principle (AIP) on June 23, 2008, then your name should be on the master list of band members that was compiled at that time. The Mi’kmaq bands of Newfoundland that were recognized for inclusion at the time of the AIP included the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), Ktaqamkuk Mi’kmaq Alliance, Benoit First Nation and Sip’kop Mi’kmaq Band.
Why does this matter?
Applicants to the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation could satisfy the enrolment criteria of Self Identification, or obtain 9 points toward the 13 point criteria of Group Acceptance, through their documented membership in one of Newfoundland’s Mi’kmaq bands prior to the signing of the AIP.
Were you a member yet did not meet self-id or did not receive 9 points for your membership?
To request a search for your name on the master list to verify your membership in a recognized Mi’kmaq band prior to the signing of the AIP, please contact a member of our End of Enrolment Support Team at the contact information below. Please note, you will be asked to complete a Request to Search Membership form to process your search request, and you will be verbally notified of the result.
End of Enrolment Support Team
Flat Bay (709) 647-1370
St. George’s (709) 647-3514
Glenwood (709) 679-2142 or (855) 263-6440
Grand Falls-Windsor (709) 489-2898
Stephenville (709) 643-3774
Corner Brook (709) 634-4010 or (844) 368-7160
Mawio’mi 2017: Resource Innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador. Indigenous Youth Invite
The Qalipu First Nation is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its sixth annual Aboriginal Business Forum, Mawio’mi 2017: Resource Innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Forum this year will be comprised of three event filled days; day one will feature a Youth Innovation Challenge, day two will showcase presentations from industry innovators in the Resource Sector, while day three will offer students an entrepreneurial workshop.
This year’s business forum will provide a unique opportunity for 26 youth from across the province. Qalipu First Nation will partner with Allen’s Fisheries and the College of the North Atlantic to offer the students an innovation challenge. The facilitated session will expose the post-secondary students to real-world industry situations while encouraging innovative solutions. This year’s participants will build skills as leaders, team players, innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs in solving this year’s industry challenge. On the final day of the Business Forum, the students participate in a seminar titled, “Introduction to Entrepreneurship as a Viable Career Option”, hosted by Chelsey Paterson of the Newfoundland and Labrador YMCA.
Qalipu First Nation is inviting youth to apply to attend this three-day forum being held March 21st-23rd, 2017 in Gander, NL.
*Open to all interested youth between 18-29
Applicants must be:
- Between the ages of 19 to 30.
If you are interested in applying for this exciting opportunity, you will need to submit a:
- Verification of enrollment at a post-secondary institution
Limited space is available so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, but no later than 12 P.M. on Thursday, March 16, 2017. Accommodations, meals and a travel subsidy will be provided. Please note that the hotel requires a credit card for incidental purposes. If you’re interested in this opportunity, please apply to: Mitch Blanchard via email mblanchard@qalipu.ca with subject line “Miawio’mi 2017 – Youth”
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest. Successful applicants will be notified by March 16th, 2017. Confirmation of attendance is required by March 17th, 2017 @ 4 P.M.