Acting Chief Jenny Brake and Central Vice Chief Andy Barker have filed an application in the Court of Appeal seeking standing as former members of Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) Board of Directors. Their request is scheduled to be heard at the Court of Appeal in St. John’s at 10 AM on May 21st.

Addressing concerns about the involvement of QFN directors or local chiefs in the process, Acting Chief Brake stressed the significance of unity and cooperation towards a common objective. The former FNI directors actions were driven by a sense of duty to the community and their legal obligations.

“We understand the potential perceptions, but fulfilling our role as former members of the FNI board was necessary to ensure the process proceeds appropriately.”

 

“Our efforts are geared towards reinstating disenfranchised members. This was our responsibility as FNI directors, and one we wish to continue. Our focus is to ensure that the veterans file has an opportunity to be completed , and those who will gain membership in the Qalipu Band under that agreement are not delayed in any way.  We wish to ensure that we have further opportunities to work with Canada to support the reinstatement of the members of the FNI including the many family members that are still seeking membership.”

 

“We remain dedicated to assisting families,” stated the former directors. “The determination of who is eligible for membership is not the exclusive role of QFN or FNI. As directors of the FNI, we had an opportunity to advocate fully for those seeking reinstatement and we wish to continue to do so.”

The Qalipu First Nation continues to emphasize its steadfast commitment to upholding justice and ensuring equitable processes for all community members.

Did you know that Jordan’s Principle is named after a little First Nations boy named Jordan who was denied health benefits and died at just five years old while the provincial and federal governments argued about who was responsible for his care?

The blue teddy bear that you see associated with Jordan’s Principle was the friend that Jordan kept at his side in the hospital.  After he passed, a human rights case was filed.  Jordan’s bear was brought to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearings to remind those in attendance of the little boy whose life was lost, and to bear witness.

On May 10th, we celebrate Bear Witness Day and bring remembrance to the little boy whose life led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle, a program that ensures that children can access all public services in a way that is reflective of their distinct cultural needs, takes full account of the historical disadvantage linked to colonization, and without experiencing any service denials, delays, or disruptions because they are First Nations.

The Health and Wellness Department is asking community members to join in remembrance and bring awareness to Jordan’s Principle by staging a picture with a teddy bear and sharing it on your social media accounts using the hashtags #JordansPrinciple, #BearWitnessDay, #QalipuFirstNation.

Additional Information:

Jordan River Anderson was from Norway House Cree Nation.  Jordan spent the first two years of his life in a hospital for a rare genetic condition. The two years following, while living with his family, he was denied health benefits. The federal and provincial governments argued over which government was financially responsible for the child’s health care. In 2005 Jordan passed away at the age of 5.

This jurisdictional dispute caused a lapse of service to a First Nation’s child, where other children would have normally received care or service. A human rights case was launched and won, resulting in First Nation children and families accessing Jordan’s Principle. Spirit Bear served an important role in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearings on Jordan’s Principle.

After ten years at the Tribunal, using the powerful case of Jordan River Anderson and a history of racism as evidence, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society was finally successful in proving that discrimination existed, and the federal government was ordered to make things right. The CHRT issued the first of several compliance orders on May 10, 2016. May 10 is Spirit Bear’s birthday, which has become the mascot and an important symbol of Jordan’s Principle.

Bear Witness Day serves as a reminder – and a day for us all to “bear witness” that First Nations children receive the services and support they need when they need them.  If you or someone you know have a child in need, please reach out to Brigitte White, Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator at 709-634-2234 or email Brigitte.white@qalipu.ca

May 10, 2024, between 1pm to 3pm anyone who is in the Corner Brook area is invited to stop by the Qalipu Community Room at 1 Church Street to share a piece of birthday cake with Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator Brigitte White and Jordan’s Principle Service Officer Jadean House.

Phyllis Webstad was the little girl who had her orange shirt taken away from her on her first day of residential school. Who would have thought that this traumatic experience would lead her to become the founder and ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society?

The Orange Shirt Day movement and Phyllis’ message of love and hope that “Every Child Matters,” began in 2013 and a National day to recognize the impact of the Canadian Indian residential school system was implemented on September 30, 2021. This day became known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

Judy Falle (Client Intake Officer with QFN) recently published her children’s Indigenous book, “Poppa and His Drum”. The book explores the topic of Truth and Reconciliation from a local perspective. Throughout her creative process and the publication of the book, Judy sought guidance and support from Phyllis Webstad. This friendship and collaboration inspired Judy to meet Phyllis in person and bring her positive message of love to our community so she partnered with local organizations to host a visit.

After much planning and preparation, Phyllis will visit Newfoundland next week to meet with community members including several school visits.

Let’s show our community support by filling the Lion’s Club and welcoming Phyllis next Friday evening in Stephenville from 6:00-8:00 pm.

Thank you to Judy and her partners for working together to host this wonderful visit.

Partners: Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network, People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre, Mi’kmaw Cultural Foundation, and Ulnooweg.

Interim Chief Jenny Brake and Band Manager Charles Pender were in Germany this week to represent Qalipu First Nation’s priorities and expectations as a key stakeholder among international interests in the development of clean hydrogen energy.   Other stakeholders included Canadian and German government officials, European offtakers (industrial clean fuel customers), First Nations leadership from Atlantic Canada, and Canadian renewable energy project developers.

Events included a workshop hosted by the Canadian German Chamber of Industry in Hamburg on March 18 and a conference hosted by the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue (BETD) on March 19-20 in Berlin.  Important conversations and collaborations took place at these sessions and helped expand reach and opportunities for Qalipu First Nation.

Chief Brake and Charles Pender shared feedback on their participation in a session at the BETD conference entitled “Community Engagement and Indigenous Knowledge as Underestimated Resources in the Energy Transition”.  They participated alongside Traditional Chief, Ktaqmkuk, Mi’sel Joe, and Rose Paul, CEO of Bayside Development Corporation (Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation), who was a speaker on the panel.

“We were excited to be at this session today and feel fortunate to bring these important conversations back to our communities. We were especially proud that Rose Paul was here to share the Mi’kmaw voice from Atlantic Canada. As we say, ‘nothing about us, without us,’ and she was here in Germany to share that message.

Chief Brake also joined Chief Joe at an important Ministerial-CEO roundtable meeting that offered a unique and timely opportunity for Qalipu First Nation to have a direct voice at the table in an intimate setting, alongside Minister Wilkinson and Vice-Chancellor Habeck.

Chief Brake added, “To ensure Indigenous perspectives remain a focal point in resource exploration, we need to be here; speak with project proponents, and governments, and share our voice. We are offered a seat at the table alongside Minister Wilkinson and Vice-Chancellor Habeck and that demonstrates their commitment to respecting our communities.”

As interest in the utilization of environmental resources has increased, the need for land monitorship became evident. Qalipu First Nation’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched a Land Monitor Program in the fall of 2023. The Department has a long history with their Fishery Guardian Program working to protect local waterways, so it was a natural progression to ensure natural resource protection was the focus of any land development, particularly in the Central region of the province that has seen a rapid expansion of wind energy development and mining. The goal of guardianship is to protect the environment that holds reverence in our ancestral traditions. Land monitors use a combination of traditional and modern scientific exploration to not only protect the environment but also to participate in vital preservation research undertaken by the Department.

The site of the inaugural Land Monitor Program undertaken by Qalipu was Charlie’s Place, nestled between the Southwest and Northwest Gander Rivers, it has been a cultural beacon in its neighboring communities for generations. Qalipu First Nation Council has been working to establish the area as an Indigenous protected area for several months, bolstered by support from band member and Land monitor, Justin Hodge. Justin was joined by Dean Gillingham to maintain guardianship of Charlie’s Place during the Fall of 2023.

The 2023 Land Monitor Program was a resounding success supported by many fellow land monitors, environmental researchers, including Natural Resources Canada, and corporate partner Teck Resources Limited, which supported the program via a financial contribution. The work helps to build on Environment Canada’s knowledge base regarding the biodiversity and significance of the area. Working closely with these partners has demonstrated the value of collaboration between government entities, industry, and Indigenous peoples to share knowledge and protect sacred environmental resources. Based on the success of last year’s work, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources hopes to expand into the western region, and to make this program a permanent part of their operations.