Summer Camp Poster

Registration is now OPEN for Land-Based Learning Summer Camps!

 

Parents and Guardians, are you looking for something fun for your children to do this summer?

Qalipu First Nation in partnership with Parks Canada is holding land-based learning camps in Central and Western Newfoundland. We’d love to have your kids join us. Camps are open to status, non-status and youth allies! Please note that priority is given to QFN band members.

Children will be outside connecting with nature while also learning life skills, interacting with elders and knowledge keepers, traditional crafting, and much more!

Staff are trained in wilderness first aid, have all clearance checks and are super fun and friendly.

Youth between the ages of 6 and 11 are invited to register. Everything is FREE! Camp dates are as follows:

Western:
Corner Brook – July 8-11
Benoit’s Cove – July 15-18
Stephenville – July 22-25
Port Au Port – July 30-August 1
St. Georges – August 6-8

Central:
Grand-Falls Windsor – July 16-18
Gander- July 22-25
Botwood – July 8
Wings Point – July 9
Springdale – July 11
Lewisporte – July 30
Point Leamington – August 1
Badger – August 5
Glenwood – August 7-8
Norris Arm – August 19
Gambo – August 22
Robert’s Arm – August 26

To register, please fill out the following form:

Qalipu Summer Camp – 2024

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Monica Companion at mcompanion@qalipu.ca or Kimberly Butt at kbutt@qalipu.ca.

Please note that space is limited and only those accepted for the camp will be contacted.

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Message from the Chief – May 31st, 2024

Attending National Seal Products Day in Ottawa on behalf of the Canadian Seals and Sealers Network.  (L-R) Doug Chaisson, Executive Director of the Fur Institute of Canada – FIC, Brian Dicks, Treasurer on the Executive for the Fur Institute of Canada, Darren Halleran, Always in Vogue, Chief Jenny Brake, Qalipu First Nation, Taalrumiq, Artist from Inuvik, NWT, Kendall Flood, CEO Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd and president of Caboto Seafoods Ltd.
Attending National Seal Products Day in Ottawa on behalf of the Canadian Seals and Sealers Network.
(L-R) Doug Chaisson, Executive Director of the Fur Institute of Canada – FIC, Brian Dicks, Treasurer on the Executive for the Fur Institute of Canada, Darren Halleran, Always in Vogue, Chief Jenny Brake, Qalipu First Nation, Taalrumiq, Artist from Inuvik, NWT, Kendall Flood, CEO Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd and president of Caboto Seafoods Ltd.

As we commemorate National Seal Products Day this month, we are reminded of the profound significance that seals hold within our communities and Indigenous populations. This occasion allows us to not only celebrate our cultural heritage but also to recognize the vital role that the seal fishery plays in sustaining our way of life.

Recently, as your Canadian Seal Ambassador, I had the privilege of representing our Nation in Ottawa for discussions surrounding the sealing industry. Participating in the National Seal Products Day festivities was an opportunity to showcase our commitment to the sustainable harvesting of seals and the promotion of Canadian seal products with the Seals and Sealing Network.

We are particularly proud to highlight the endeavors of Qalipu Holdings Limited, our business investment arm, and its subsidiary, Mi’kmaq Commercial Fisheries. Through their efforts, we have introduced our very own WASPU seal oil product to markets worldwide. WASPU Oil, derived from seals blubber through humane and sustainable practices, not only benefits human consumption but also serves the pet market. Please follow them on Instagram and Facebook @waspuoil and the website is www.waspu.ca for more information.

During our many discussions with Ministers, Senators, and MP’s we emphasized our commitment to environmental stewardship and our dedication to maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem, essential for the well-being of our communities, both environmentally and economically.

As many of you are aware, the overpopulation of seals has significantly impacted various sectors, including fish harvesting, processing, marketing, and support services. In response, Qalipu First Nation took proactive steps by conducting our inaugural seal harvesting training program in 2023 and more then doubled our attendance for 2024.With our members becoming certified in Humane Harvesting, this marks a milestone in our efforts towards sustainable resource management.

Looking ahead, I am pleased to announce that planning is underway for our 2025 training program, reaffirming our commitment to equipping our members with the necessary skills to engage in seal harvesting responsibly and ethically. We will continue to promote our Waspu brand of products in Canada and on the global stage.

As we celebrate National Seal Products Day, let us continue to champion the cultural and economic significance of seals within our communities. Together, we can ensure a prosperous future for generations to come, rooted in respect for our traditions and the environment.

(L-R) – Brian Dicks, Treasurer on the Executive for the Fur Institute of Canda, Doug Chaisson, Executive Director for the Fur Institute of Canada, Chief Brake, Qalipu First Nation, Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Kendall Flood, CEO Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd and President of Caboto Seafoods Ltd.
(L-R) – Brian Dicks, Treasurer on the Executive for the Fur Institute of Canda, Doug Chaisson, Executive Director for the Fur Institute of Canada, Chief Brake, Qalipu First Nation, Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Kendall Flood, CEO Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd and President of Caboto Seafoods Ltd.
Council Meeting Report

Council Meeting Report – May 25, 2024

Meeting of Chief and Council

The Qalipu Chief and Council met on Saturday, March 25 for their regular meeting in Corner Brook. All members of the Council were in attendance except for Bobby White, Ward Councillor for Flat Bay and Hayward Young, Ward Councillor for Stephenville. Charlene Combden, Ward Councillor for Exploits joined the meeting virtually. A large contingency of members attended the meeting. Thank you to those members for attending and we appreciate the concerns that they brought forward.

Jordan’s Principle Service Positions

Council discussed a briefing note from the Health & Wellness department regarding the two Jordan’s Principle Service positions. The request from the department was to make the Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator and the Jordan’s Principle Service officer positions permanent in the organization chart. Comments were made in discussion that these positions are extremely important for the organization. These positions are currently filled and are in the Corner brook office, and it was discussed that due to the geographical location of members, it be considered that any additional positions be placed in QFN offices outside of Corner Brook. Increased communication to members regarding this service would raise awareness.

Motion to make the Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator and the Jordan’s Principle Service Officer permanent positions was moved by Calvin and seconded by Sherry.

All councillors were in favour of the motion.

Organizational Chart

Council reviewed an organizational chart that was updated to include the Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator and the Jordan’s Principle Service Offer under the Health & Wellness department. Another new change to this chart was the Project manager in the Executive Office. The Project Manager would assist with grant and proposal wiring, would look for new opportunities and ensure that reporting is competed, and all actions were carried out. A councillor commented that they were happy to see this position on the chart as they believe it would be a huge benefit to the organization and would assist all staff in completing tasks to better serve the membership.

Another addition to the organization chart is the administrative assistant in the finance department.

The updates to the organization chart motion was moved by Calvin and seconded by Terri. Motion was carried.

Amendments to council by-laws

Section 9.2 of the QFN Council procedures reads that councillors may add items to the agenda of regular or special meetings by submitting a notice to the band manager at least 7 calendar days before a regular scheduled council meeting.

A briefing note from the executive office would like to amend section 9.2(a) to state that councillors may add items to the agenda of regular or special meetings. Adding items to regular schedule council meetings would need to be submitted by a notice to the band manager in 13 days before the regular schedule meeting. This change would allow for sufficient time for the band manager and administrative staff to prepare the council agenda packages. This will ensure that council members receive their package 10 calendar days prior to a regular schedule council meeting.

After some discussion, council stated they would like to change the 13 days notice to 15 days.

This motion was moved by Ivan and seconded by Terri. Motion was carried.

Culture, tourism, and community development AOP Amendment

Two items were added back into the annual operational plan (AOP) for the Culture, Tourism, and Community Development department under section 2.6.8

The first item is to work with interested parties in Indian Point (Millertown) to develop a plan for Wigwam Point and area. This plan will preserve and protect the area around Indian Point.

The second item is to proceed with the development of Wigwam Point (Peterview) by working with the community to provide site enhancement.

These amendments were moved by Frank and seconded by Sherry. Motion was carried.

Standing Committee Reports

Councillors reviewed the standing committee reports prior to the council meeting. Comments were made regarding the Culture, Tourism and Community Development standing committee that the work of this department touches members in positive ways as it helps them heal from trauma and stay connected to their indigenous roots. Activities and events are available to members and communities and programs such as the Moon Time Program is being well perceived.

Q4 financial statements were also discussed, and a motion was made for approval of the statements, moved by Calvin and seconded by Ivan. Motion was carried.

Band Managers Update:

Band manager, Charles Pender reported that the By-Law review and HR review are ongoing, and meetings were happening weekly with the internal working committee. Notice of staff engagement survey has been sent to staff and more information will be circulated to them once survey launch approaches.

Two new guardian positions were advertised recently. These positions would place guardians in the Port au Port / St. George’s area. The funding for these positions is coming from a partnership with QFN and Ocean’s Collaborative.

Members are encouraged to go into the Kinu profile to verify that the information on file is correct. Having an email on file would be extremely beneficial to members to ensure that members receive their voting packages for the upcoming Fall 2024 election. If anyone requires assistance with updating the information on their membership profile, staff are available by contacting one of our offices.

Next Meeting of Council

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Chief and Council will be on July 20th, 2024.

 

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Message from the Chief – May 24th, 2024

Congratulations to all the high school and post-secondary graduates of 2024. Your dedication and hard work have not only paved the way for your future, but it also inspires those who will be following in your footsteps.

Access to quality education goes beyond boosting our local economy, it’s about empowering our future leaders with confidence and skills.

All information that you have learned will be valuable as you move forward in your life. There is no such thing as useless knowledge. All educational pathways allow us to find our place and value in society. Remember that knowledge is power and how you use that knowledge will shape the future.

Through the support of the education and training programs at Qalipu First Nation, there are 110 post-secondary graduates who will be receiving their diplomas this spring and there are an estimated 96 students due to graduate following completion of the Spring/Summer semesters. During the 2023-2024 academic year there have been approximately 954 students funded for post secondary studies. These students have experienced the transformative impacts of education and have had the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Your journey has not been without its challenges, but your perseverance and resilience have led you to this remarkable achievement. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, every mistake is a chance to learn something new and become a better version of ourselves. Our lived experiences are life’s greatest lessons.

To the graduates of 2024. We will wish you the best in your future endeavours, may it be filled with endless opportunities and the assurance that your community stands behind you as your move on to your next adventures.

We would like to offer special acknowledgement to Jerry Evans, who was honored with an Honorary degree at Memorial University’s spring convocation last week. Jerry’s incredible artwork and traditional knowledge continues to be an inspiration to us all. If you are not familiar with Jerry’s work, please visit: https://www.jerryevans.ca/

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Chief Brake with her son, Joni on his recent graduation. Joni graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Chief Brake with her son, Joni on his recent graduation. Joni graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
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Message from the Chief – May 17th, 2024

We have been closely monitoring news of the devastating wildfires in Fort MacMurray. Our hearts go out to all the residents, families, and workers who are affected by this disaster, and we hope and pray for them as evacuations occur. It is difficult and tragic for people to flee from the place they work and call home, not knowing when they will return, or what they will be returning to. We will pray for the safety of everyone involved, and hope for a quick resolution that sees everyone returning home soon.

For members that are seeking assistance, please remember that you have access to mental health counseling services through your non-insured health benefits. Please contact Susan Bryan, Mental Wellness Navigator by calling 709-679-2238. Members can also contact the housing division to navigate additional emergency relief support by calling Housing Development Officers, Jason Park 709-634-0411, or Paul Brake 709-634-5472.

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Message from the Chief – May 17th, 2024

Kwe’

It seems like every year, natural disasters and states of emergency are increasing. There are so many factors that contribute to natural disasters, but the most impactful is global warming. Our environment is fragile and mother earth has her ways of telling us when we are not taking care of her.

All over the world there is an urgency to move toward renewable energy to combat the effects of global warming. We have heard many opinions from community members, industry partners, other First Nations, as well as all levels of government. The common theme is that we all want a greener future for our next seven generations. As we continue to wade through the options, we should all consider how we voice our opinions. We cannot find pathways forward by disrespecting each other’s views. It is important to remember that not all information sources are reliable, and we must all do our best to find trustworthy information based in fact.

There can be no progress without impact. We need to make conscious decisions that are based on fact, not fear. We need to look at the broader pictures and weigh the impacts and outcomes. It is imperative that we do our part to reduce carbon emissions and create sustainable energy solutions.

As Indigenous people, we have an opportunity for economic reconciliation meaning we can participate in all aspects of developments as key stakeholders. We can invest in ourselves by building capacity through education and training, advocating for advancements in employment as well as planning community development for long term sustainable economic growth.

 

Wela’lin,
Chief Jenny Brake