Healthy Lifestyles Elder and Youth Workshop

Posted by Qalipu on May 19, 2017

The Exploits Native Women’s Association (ENWA) in partnership with the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network (NAWN) are seeking participants in a six workshop project aimed at Aboriginal seniors in the Central NL area.

Seeking eight seniors (65+) and two youth between (16-20) . The aim of the workshops is to encourage our elders to become involved in our communities and maintain a healthy lifestyle on the four levels important to Aboriginal people: spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional.

Youth are also sought to participate, in encouragement of that necessary connection between our past and our future. The workshops are open to both female and male participants.

It is the intention of ENWA and NAWN that the participants have a great deal of involvement in deciding the direction of these workshops. The first workshop is tentatively scheduled to start June 10, 2017, in Grand Falls-Windsor.

Seats are limited and should interest exceed the number allotted, a fair process will determine the participants.

If you are interested in attending please contact Pat Cameron email address newfie46@hotmail.com or Marie Eastman email address marieeastman@hotmail.com or by phone 290-0675. The deadline for submission of names will be June 1, 2017.

Work at our Provincial Mi’kmaq Museum this Summer!

Posted by Qalipu on May 2, 2017

Work at our Provincial Mi’kmaq Museum this Summer!

This summer, be part of the youth team telling the stories of our Mi’kmaq history in Ktaqmkuk, the land across the water. The St. George’s Indian Band is currently seeking applications for three positions. See below for some information on the museum from the band’s website, and a link to the application information.

“Seal Rocks was the largest and principle Mi’kmaq settlement on the West Coast of Newfoundland. It was established in 1804 as permanent settlement for the Mi’kmaq of Newfoundland and for the resettlement of the Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia. Mi’kmaq oral tradition maintains occupation of the area is ancient.

To celebrate this rich culture a local historic old building has been renovated to house a cultural museum and interpretation center. This museum is the first and only official Mi’kmaw cultural historic museum for the island of Newfoundland. The significance of the tremendous contribution of our Mi’kmaq ancestors to Bay St. George will be recognized, celebrated and given its proper place.

The K’Taqmkuk Mi’kmaw Cultural Historic Museum is now what used to be the courthouse, pictured to the right, the outside of the building has been restored back to its’ former grandeur and the inside houses the K’taqmkuk Mi’kmaq Museum. It is located at Main Street, St. George’s, NL. The courthouse was built in 1903 and is one of three of its kind in the province of NL. The building has seen many changes over the years with it being a courthouse, jail, police station, post office, housed a medical clinic, public health and it was then turned over to the St. George’s Indian Band for the sum of one dollar! The St. George’s Indian Band Council has worked to turn this beautiful site into a cultural experience for all to see. The courthouse, which it is still called by the townspeople, is a large part of the rich history for the St. George’s area.”

http://www.sgibnl.ca/ktaqmkuk-mikmaw-cultural-historic-museum-newfoundland/

Click here to apply

Reach out to Have your Voice Heard at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Posted by Qalipu on May 2, 2017

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has announced that hearings will start soon. As the Inquiry’s Executive Director told us, if family members, loved ones and survivors don’t tell the Inquiry they are out there and want to talk, the National Inquiry won’t know they exist.

– Family members, loved ones, and survivors of violence who want to speak to the Inquiry, at a public hearing or in private, need to write to the Inquiry a simple letter, or give the Inquiry a quick call, to say “I want to speak to the Inquiry”. That’s it. If they do that much, the Inquiry will take over from there and make sure that person participates, and receives any needed travel (flights, hotels, taxis, meals, etc.) and other supports.

– “Family members” includes “adopted family members, foster care relatives, and even really close friends.”

– To contact the Inquiry, family members, loved ones and survivors of violence should call the Inquiry toll-free at 1-844-348-4119 or email at Profile@mmiwg-ffada.ca. or you may call Arlene Blanchard-White at 709-214-0256 or email ablanchard-white@qalipu.ca

– Please note there is also a 24-hour Crisis Line for anyone who may want support at any time; that number is toll-free 1-844-413-6649.

A person holding a Red Apple with engraved heart

Click Here for the Survey

Assessment of Health Promotion Needs and Cultural and Traditional Practices of Qalipu First Nation Members

Posted by Qalipu on April 27, 2017

Members Wanted as Participants for a Research Study

During the 60 years that passed before the recognition of Qalipu First Nation in 2011, our people experienced a loss from their cultural and traditional practices. Being an off-reserve landless Band makes us unique from other First Nations and, according to what some may say, may be responsible for a grassroots disconnection.

Research indicates that culture impacts individual and community health, as it influences interaction with the health care system and engagement in health programs and services (National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2008). In both the Federation of Newfoundland Indians Health Needs Assessment (2010) and Qalipu First Nation’s Healing Waters Study (2015), members indicated that culture was important to them in terms of overall health, and they identified a need for more culturally appropriate health initiatives.

To further investigate these findings, Qalipu First Nation’s Health Division is conducting a research study that will assess our members’ needs for health promotion initiatives, and help us gain a better understanding of their cultural and traditional practices with respect to health.

Survey participants will be asked to answer questions about what their needs are for health promotion initiatives, as well as what aspects of Mi’kmaq culture and traditions are most significant to them. Survey data will be collected through on-line, paper format, or through face-to-face or telephone interviews. Paper format surveys will be mailed out to members at their request. Face-to-face and telephone interviews will be conducted by a researcher. The on-line and paper format surveys will take 10-30 minutes to complete; face-to-face and telephone interviews may take up to 90 minutes.

To participate in this study, participants must be a registered member of Qalipu First Nation and be at least 18 years of age. They must be able to communicate in the English language.

Participants who complete the survey may benefit by participating in this survey by feeling that their opinions and desires regarding health promotion initiatives have been heard. Subsequently, they may be more inclined to engage in health promotion initiatives due to QFN integrating an approach in health promotion activities that are suited towards Mi’kmaq cultural and traditional practices. It is also possible that the benefits of this study may result in improved health outcomes of Qalipu First Nation members.

To learn more about or participate in this research study, please contact Jenna Osmond, Manager of Health, Qalipu First Nation.

Jenna Osmond, Manager of Health Services, Qalipu First Nation
Telephone: (709) 634-5041
E-mail: josmond@qalipu.ca

Click Here to Register for the Forum

Qalipu to Host Indigenous Tourism Forum

Posted by Qalipu on April 18, 2017

In 2016, the Qalipu First Nation developed a comprehensive Tourism Strategy together with a Five Year Implementation Plan. This Tourism Strategy, branded as Experience Qalipu, aligns its objectives with the economic evolution of Qalipu First Nation. It is designed to contribute in a coordinated and synergistic way to on-going community capacity building, to offer new opportunities for personal and business growth and to reinforce the credibility and profile of the Band to tourism customers and a broad range of potential partners. The Strategy recognizes the singular nature of Qalipu: as the largest by, membership, and newest Band in Canada; as a Band without reserve land; as First Nations people spread across nine Wards and deeply entrenched in the broader community. Already this year, Qalipu has begun the implementation phase of its strategy; building the Experience Qalipu brand, developing wayfinding signage, developing plans for territory gateways and other infra-structure development projects, and providing tourism training to member businesses and organiza-tions. Qalipu is currently planning an Indigenous Tourism Forum scheduled for May 4th in Steady Brook. To register for this event please click above, or call Nicole Companion at 709 634 8043

Afternoon Session: Connect your Visitors to Story with Dynamic Interpretation with Cal Martin

Cal Martin lives and breathes interpretation. For over 25 years, he has connected people and places through interpretive programming, signage, and ex-hibits. Ranging from front line interpreter to manager, Cal has worked for Parks Canada, Manitoba Provin-cial Parks, the Vancouver Aquarium, Assiniboine Park Zoo, and MetroVancouver Regional Parks.

Thoroughly passionate about interpretation, he has presented at numerous national and international conferences, and delivered training to over 50 muse-ums, parks, and sites. Cal has also published arti-cles in Interpscan and Legacy magazines, and writes for the international interpretive blog Media Platypus.

Cal has been on the National Executive Board of Interpretation Canada since 2003, holding the posi-tions of Chair, Past Chair, and Treasurer.

Qalipu Indigenous Tourism Forum
May 4^th, 2017
Marble Inn, Steady Brook
Agenda

8:00-9:00 AM Networking Breakfast

9:00-9:30 AM Tara Saunders and Ralph Eldrdige present Qalipu Tourism Strategy

9:30-10:15 AM Jonathan Foster, GMIST and Experiential Tourism Training Opportunities

10:15-10:30 AM Nutrition Break

10:30-11:15 AM HNL’s Juanita Ford will be presenting on labour market highlights.

11:15 AM Special Tourism Announcement! Chief Brendan Mitchell and Western NL Field Unit Geoff Hancock

12:00 PM Lunch

12:30-4:30 PM Training Seminar for Craft Producers and Tourism Operators Cal Martin delivers an interactive seminar “Connecting Visitors to Story via Dynamic Interpretation”

The RCMP Are Hiring

Posted by Qalipu on April 17, 2017

The word NEWS written in vintage wooden letterpress type in a wooden type drawer.

Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) Appealing on Behalf of Some Applicants, Notifications Arriving in the Mail

Posted by Qalipu on April 6, 2017

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

Posted by Qalipu on March 31, 2017

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.