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Message From the Chief – January 2020

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Kwe

On behalf of our Council and staff, I wish to extend to everyone a very Merry Christmas and share my hope for a New Year that brings happiness, good health, prosperity and success to all.

This Christmas, may your homes be filled with the true warmth and spirit of the season; good times spent with family and friends, good food, nice music and special moments that will create beautiful memories with loved ones.

Wli Nuelewi aq Pusu’l Puna’ne
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Chief Brendan Mitchell

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Apajitayek Mi’kMaq Language And Culture Camps

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The Qalipu Cultural Foundation is pleased to announce it’s final language camp in the series for Apajitayek Mi’kmaq Language & Culture Camps.  The dates for the final camp in Corner Brook are January 14th and 15th. The camp will be led buy Robert Bernard, Dean Simon and supported by Elder George Paul.  In addition to basic conversation and introductory Mi’kmaw language course work, the two-day camp will offer participants a chance to engage in learning song, dance, history and stories about their Mi’kmaq ancestors.

The camp is free to attend and the number of seats are limited.  Due to such popularity,  the registration is for draw to participate.  Successful participants will be notified by January 8th, 2020.

Please see the form below to apply and participate.

For more information please contact Nicole Travers at ntravers@qalipu.ca or call 634-4706.

Full Name:
Email Address:
Telephone Number:
How do you identify?:
Proficiency in Language:
Dietary Restrictions:
This is a two day workshop, are you willing to attend both days?
The Application process is now closed, thank you to all that submitted an application.

 

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Participate in the Qalipu Strategic Planning Survey for your Chance to Win!

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Please take a few moments to participate in our Strategic Planning Survey. When the survey ends, we will draw for four $25 prizes.

Please check our Events Calendar (https://qalipu.ca/events/) for upcoming Strategic Planning Sessions. To give your feedback by email or phone, please contact planning consultant Terry Hickey at terryhickey@conach.ca or tel. 709-782-2180

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY 

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Qalipu First Nation to Begin Community Consultations On Development Of Five-Year Strategic Plan

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November 22, 2019 Corner Brook—Members of the Band are invited to participate in the development of the Qalipu First Nation five-year strategic plan via consultation sessions scheduled to take place throughout the territory starting in December and moving into the new year.

Band Chief Brendan Mitchell noted, “The Strategic Plan is the document that will help guide the ongoing development of programs and services the Band provides to its members.  A collaborative approach in its development is essential in ensuring our members’ needs and vision are reflected in our work.  I hope that members will participate in the process.”

The Strategic Plan will provide direction for Chief and Council, as well as staff, as they plan for future development in the areas of member services, brand and communications, culture and heritage, environmental stewardship, economic development and operational excellence.

Members who wish to contribute to the plan can choose to participate in-person at the sessions or by completing an on-line survey that will be published on the Band website, www.qalipu.ca.  Written submissions will be accepted at our office in Corner Brook and individuals may also communicate directly with the consultant on the strategic plan by contacting Terry Hickey, Conach Consulting at 709-682-9026 or via email at terryhickey@conach.ca.

Consultations in Western Newfoundland will be scheduled for the new year.  Central region consultations have been scheduled in the following locations:

Gander                               December 10th at 7:00 pm at the Hotel Gander
Grand Falls-Windsor       December 11th at 7:00 pm at the Mount Peyton Hotel

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Qalipu Youth Representative Jessica Saunders attends first meeting of Council, participates in Swearing in Ceremony

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Youth at the inaugural Mawita’jik Maljewe’jk youth gathering, held September 13-15 at West Haven in Pasadena, held an election to choose their youth representative seat at the Qalipu Council table.  Jessica Saunders of Bishop’s Falls was elected and on November 16 attended her first meeting of Council.

At the meeting, Jessica made her oath of office and took part in a Swearing-in Ceremony.

Following the day, Jessica noted, “it was really awesome to hear from the Grand Council.  They spoke a lot about the unity of our people which really resonated with me. I felt very accepted and I know that any ideas or input I have in the future will be openly received by the Council. I’m very excited to be this voice for the youth and the council seemed very happy to have me there, and everyone made a point to speak to me and shake my hand and welcome me which was awesome. I’m really looking forward to the future and the opportunities that will come with this!”

Welcome aboard, Jessica!

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Warm Welcome for Grand Council in Newfoundland

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Representatives of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council, the traditional governing body of the Mi’kmaq people, recently visited Newfoundland to meet with the Qalipu Chief and Council, and community members.  Grand Chief Norman Sylliboy, Grand Keptin Antle Denny,  Keptin Stephen Augustine spent the weekend on the west coast including a meet and greet in Corner Brook, attendance at a Council meeting, a visit to the community of Flat Bay and a potluck feast and community gathering at the People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre in St. Georges, the oldest recorded Mi’kmaq settlement on the island. Grand Council Keptin Mi’sel Joe, Chief of Miawpukek First Nation was also on hand during the visit.

Grand Keptin Antle Denny, spokesperson for the Grand Council, noted that the visit to Newfoundland was an acknowledgement of the extended Mi’kmaq family in Newfoundland, the eastern edge of the traditional Mi’kmaq territory, Mi’kma’ki.  He said, “We were happy to visit and meet some of our relations, visit communities and acknowledge our extended Mi’kmaq family.  Unity is the Mi’kmaq way.”

Building relationships with Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia and throughout the broader Indigenous community has been an important priority for Chief Mitchell and Council.  In 2018, the Band was formally recognized and accepted as a member of the Assembly of First Nations and in April of 2019, Qalipu was brought into the group known as the Atlantic Policy Congress.  Relationship building with the Mi’kmaq Grand Council is another important step for the Band and the communities it represents.

Qalipu Chief Brendan Mitchell was pleased to welcome the Grand Council delegation, the first visit of its kind in the province.  He said, “I’m extremely honoured and pleased that the Grand Council made this inaugural visit to Newfoundland to meet our Council and membership and visit our communities.  It was an opportunity for us to share with them who we are and hear about the history of the Grand Council.”

Many community members came out to meet the special guests including Michelle Bennett who presented a special gift for Chief Stephen Augustine.  She said, “I loved watching his creation story on YouTube, so I decided to paint what I was hearing.  It doesn’t matter how many times I hear him tell the story, it’s powerful every single time.”

Chief Mitchell added that the Qalipu First Nation looks forward to a long-lasting and positive relationship going forward with the Grand Council.

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That’s a Wrap! Kildevil Outdoor Education Finishes Fall Season

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The Outdoor Education came to an end On October 18th after welcoming 362 students from 11 schools from the Bay of Islands, Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Central and the Northern Peninsula.

This Program is the only curriculum-based, immersive outdoor education experience offered to grade five students in Newfoundland and Labrador. Thousands of students have gone through this outdoor classroom since the program’s inception, shaping the educational landscape and the hearts and minds of children, teachers and chaperones alike.

Qalipu First Nation is a proud partner in the delivery of this program which has grown to represent a successful model for experiential education rooted in the natural and cultural history that shapes this land and its people.

We wish to express our gratitude and well wishes to Indigenous Interpreter Kevin Barnes who played a key role in the delivery of the camp. Kevin retired from Parks Canada this year and his presence in the program will be missed.

Participants make tea over the open fire following a medicine walk with Elder Terry Muise

Unique Community Experience Focuses on Talents of Local People

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November 7, 2019 Corner Brook—On Sunday November 3, the small community of St. George’s welcomed visitors for a special tourism experience that can’t be found anywhere else; a rich sensory event featuring medicine identification and collection, hands-on preparation of tea and traditional foods, cooking on an open fire, cultural sharing, and ceremonial teachings.

St. George’s Indian Band Chief Marlene Farrell partnered with Experience Qalipu to deliver the event, one of a larger series of events aimed at building upon the talent of community people, empowering them to share their gifts with visitors from around the world. The St. George’s Band, owner and operator of the Ktaqmkuk Mi’kmaq Museum, hopes to attract more visitors into the historic building that has been converted into a museum and cultural centre.

Chief Farrell noted, “Visiting the museum is one thing, but we want to offer more to our visitors. This community is the oldest recorded Mi’kmaq settlement on the island, and we have talented people who can offer workshops, guided tours, experiences and so much more. The fire circle and medicine walk on Sunday is an example of that and we’ve got more in the works.”

At Sunday’s event, visitors helped to prepare locally procured moose, potatoes, carrots and berries alongside Chef D’Arcy Butler, an active member of the Bay St. George Indigenous community and culinary instructor at College of the North Atlantic.

“These ingredients are timely; many community people have just got their moose, and this is what we are eating.  The root vegetable harvest is ongoing; carrots for the event were picked sweet and fresh that morning. We wanted to offer visitors a true taste of our town, to share the story of the hunt and to know exactly where our ingredients were hunted and gathered. In the winter, for our next event, we are looking at making use of rabbit as the main ingredient, along with some of the preserves that Newfoundlanders have long relied on to get through the winter.”

The fall rain did not dampen the spirit of the participants, who were advised to come dressed for the weather and, they came prepared in their raincoats and boots. Elder Terry Muise lead them on a short walk through a nearby forest to identify medicines and collect ingredients used in their meal. Rose hips were collected for addition to the Labrador tea and fir needles were collected to be ground in with sea salt to season the meat and vegetables.

Local photographer Jonathan Meyers and filmmaker Matt Garnier used their talents to capture the event in detail and provide the St. George’s Indian Band colourful media content that will help promote these types of events in the future.

Tara Saunders Acting Director of the Community Development Department and Experience Qalipu noted, “this is exactly where we want to be; helping our communities to thrive and prosper. This event put off by the community is a terrific tourism product, and we will be there every step of the way to help them develop and promote their local experiences.”