National Aboriginal Day 2013 – Friday, June 21, 2013
National Aboriginal day is Friday, June 21, 2013. Events this year will be held in Grand Falls-Windsor. Click here for the Schedule of Events
Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, Grenfell Campus and the Corner Brook Aboriginal Women’s Association are partnering together to host activities in celebration of National Aboriginal Day on Friday June 21. Click here for the Schedule of Events.
Message from the Chief – June 3, 2013
I realize and understand that many people have questions about how and when the process of reviewing the remaining applications for membership in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band will be concluded by the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the Government of Canada. We are hoping that the negotiations about the review process will be concluded and approved soon. As the parties move forward I will post more information regarding next steps on our website. Again I can only ask for your patience to allow the time that is necessary to get these discussions concluded.
Chief Brendan Sheppard
AGNUTMAQAN
Welcome to your first edition of Agnutmaqan
Chief Brendan Sheppard and the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq Band Councillors are committed to transparency and communications on all matters discussed during regular Band Council meetings. Through Agnutmaqan, you receive a summary report of the latest proceedings of your Band Council with news presented on-line after each Council meeting. Click here to continue reading.
Legendary Newfoundlander, Mi’kmaq hero Mattie Mitchell comes to the big screen
STEPHENVILLE – The College of the North Atlantic Film and Video program is proud to announce the world premiere of a short film about famous Newfoundland frontiersman Mattie Mitchell.
The film stars Mattie’s own great-grandson, Alonzo Rumbolt, in the title role. The short film chronicles Mitchell’s expedition as a hunting guide to Worcester, a down-and-out American reverend. When disaster strikes in the heart of the forest, Worcester’s fate falls on Mattie’s shoulders.
The world premiere also features a performance by the aboriginal Female Singers and Drummers (“Reclaiming our Voices” CD) and readings by Mattie Mitchell’s biographer Gary Collins. The truly unique evening of stunning and diverse entertainment will be held June 12 at 8 p.m. at the Stephenville Arts & Culture Centre. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Arts & Culture Centre Stephenville. For more info, call box office 643-4553
Qalipu Band Completes Successful Labour Force Project
Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation is working with AES, Kiewit Kvaerner Contracting and Emera Newfoundland and Labrador to prepare Band members for upcoming employment opportunities. Qalipu has contacted over 14,000 Band members to update their profiles on Ginu, an interactive labour force database for Band members. Ginu will help Qalipu identify people interested in training and employment. Click Here for more information.
Aboriginal Awareness Week
The four days following Victoria Day Weekend marks Aboriginal Awareness Week across our great Nation. It was first conceived in 1992 to raise the level of awareness of Aboriginal peoples within Canada and has grown into a week to honour Aboriginal cultures in Canada, including the Métis, the Inuit and First Nations. While we celebrate and showcase our identities on National Aboriginal Day in June, this week affords us a broader opportunity to reflect on the contributions Aboriginal people have made to the Canadian Mosaic. Click Here to continue reading.
ASETS Youth Program – 2013
The Government of Canada is partnering with Aboriginal Communities to provide necessary resources for Aboriginal youth to succeed in the job market and build a bright future for themselves and their families. Under the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS), Aboriginal agreement holders determine the type of youth programs to deliver based on the needs of the Aboriginal youth who are being served.
Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation is an ASETS agreement holder and has an ASETS Youth Program that provides aboriginal youth an opportunity to gain employment during the summer months with local employers in their own communities.
For more information Click Here
Aboriginal Art Institute
The College of the North Atlantic’s Visual Arts Faculty at Bay St. George Campus are offering two (1) week Aboriginal Art Institutes. Both institutes will introduce the student to the form and function of traditional and contemporary aboriginal art practice through interaction with guest artists and specialized instructors.
Click here for more information.
Message from the Chief – March 22, 2013
Unfortunately I’m not able to give you an update that we, Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), have an agreement to continue the enrollment process as of today however; we are meeting regularly to address the issues that have arisen in the enrolment process, including the unexpectedly large number of applications received and the fact that the deadline for dealing with applications has expired.
The original intent of the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band was to recognize the Mi’kmaq group of Indians of Newfoundland. This Agreement brought resolution to a court case initiated in 1989 by the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, which represented approximately 7,800 members at the time, seeking eligibility for registration under the Indian Act. When the agreement was signed, both Canada and FNI estimated that the First Nation would be comprised of approximately 8,700 to 12,000 members. It was neither reasonable nor credible to expect more than 100,000 applications to be members of the Qalipu band, given the numbers of individuals who identified themselves as members of the Mi’kmaq group of Indians of Newfoundland when the agreement was signed. In fact, according to the 2006 Census, there were approximately 23,450 residents of Newfoundland and Labrador who identified themselves as Aboriginal. Furthermore, it has become clear that the majority of the more than 100,000 applicants appear to no longer reside in those communities. In fact, FNI and Canada estimate that almost 70 per cent of the applicants do not reside in any of the Mi’kmaq communities targeted for recognition in this initiative, but elsewhere in Canada.
The goal of the current discussions is to find a solution that will treat everyone fairly and equally. At the same time, it is necessary to arrive at a solution that ensures integrity and fairness in the enrollment process and reflects the original intention of the parties. We know that many people have applied in good faith, and wish to be advised of what is happening. The parties hope to be able to arrive at an agreement soon and provide further details. Please be assured that all applications received during the Enrolment Process are and will continue to be stored in access-controlled and secure location. The information provided is protected under, and will be treated in accordance with, the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.
