Click here to view the Fishing Designation Policy

Content TBA

Content TBA

Work Force Qalipu provides access to skills training and employment assistance through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSP) and the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS).

The purpose of the PSSP is to assist QMFNB members in their efforts to gain access to post-secondary education as a means to meet long term career goals in an ever changing labour market.

The PSSP provides financial assistance (within specific limits) to eligible students so that they may attend post-secondary institutions that offer certificate, diploma or degree programs.

Each year Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) allocate funding on a national level for Post-Secondary student support programs (PSSSP) and University and College entrance preparation programs (UCEP). The objective of PSSSP is to improve the employability of students and provide them with access to education and skill development opportunities at the post-secondary level. The objective of the UCEP is to provide support to enable students to attain the academic level required for entrance to degree, certificate and diploma programs.

To be eligible for funding applicants must be able to demonstrate that they:

• Are recognized as a Registered Indian; and
• Are a member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band; and
• Are enrolled or accepted by an eligible Post-Secondary Institution into an eligible program; and
• Are enrolled or accepted by an eligible Post-Secondary Institution into an eligible program; and
• Have been resident in Canada for twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the date of their application, or otherwise meet the residency requirements set out below:

1. Applicants who are normally resident in Canada but for reasons of education or student exchange programs have been living outside of Canada for all or part of the previous year prior to the application.
2. Applicants who are serving outside Canada as part of Canada’s Armed Services.
3. Applicants who are employees of the Federal, Provincial or Band Government appointed to foreign posts.
4. Individuals, who under the authority of provincial or territorial child welfare legislation were placed outside Canada in an alternative care arrangement and have returned to Canada.

Applicants will be prioritized in the following order:

Priority 1:     Returning Students

Clients who are currently being funded through the PSSP.

Priority 2:     Deferred Applicants

Students who are reapplying for support having had their previous Application deferred for lack of funds.

Note: At the end of the fiscal year any surplus may be used at the discretion of Work Force Qalipu, to fund applicants whose name appears on the deferred list, and are enrolled in classes. This support may include tuition, living allowance, and/or books paid for by the students themselves. Those students who receive this surplus funding are not considered returning students and will remain on the deferred list.

Priority 3:     New Applicants – Current Post-Secondary Students and Recent High School Graduates

Students currently enrolled in high school, a post-secondary or graduate level program in the previous year and continuing in a post-secondary or graduate level program.

A student who is completing the last two semesters of an undergraduate degree and continues on to an advanced degree program of studies without a break in studies or a student who completes a community college or CEGEP program and continues on to an undergraduate degree program without a break in studies, is considered a New Applicant.

High School graduates remain continuing student for up to two years following graduation.

Priority 4:     New Applicants (PSSP)

Other post-secondary students accepted or enrolled in a post-secondary institution.

Priority 5:     New Applicants (UCEP)

Other post-secondary students and students accepted and enrolled in university and college entrance preparation programs. Within this priority category a region may rank particular programs of study based on regional demand. The regional priorities must be based on consultation with Indian education leaders in the regions and be publicly available. Also, regions will report these priorities to education branch, headquarters for information purposes.

Priority 6:     PSSP Graduates

This category includes those students who have completed an undergraduate degree or college diploma previously and have been funded by Work Force Qalipu in the last five (5) years and do not satisfy the requirements set aside for special consideration under Priority three (3).

Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process

When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, Mi’kmaq communities were not recognized as First Nations under the Indian Act and their legal status, as well as the status of their members, was uncertain.

Discussions between the Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) led, in 2008, to the Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band, and, in September 2011, an Order in Council established the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation as a “band” under the Indian Act.

The Agreement provides for an enrolment process to assess applications for Founding Membership in the new band. Applications for Founding Membership in the First Nation are assessed by an Enrolment Committee, composed of an equal number of representatives from Canada and FNI, and a jointly appointed independent chair. The Enrolment Committee’s role is to assess each application for membership in a fair and consistent manner.

Approximately 27,000 applications were received in the first stage of the enrolment process, which concluded on November 30, 2009. Of these, 23,877 applicants were found eligible and registered as Founding Members of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. From November 30, 2009 to September 22, 2011 (when the band was created) approximately 4,000 additional applications were received. The number of applications rose sharply following band creation. In the14 months before the application deadline of November 30, 2012, more than 70,000 applications were received, bringing the total number of applications to over 104,000.

On July 4, 2013, the Government of Canada and the FNI announced a Supplemental Agreement that addressed the surge in applications, clarified the process for enrolment, and resolved issues that emerged in the implementation of the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation.

Under the Agreement, it was determined that all applications, except for the approximately 3,000 already assessed and rejected, would be reviewed by August 31, 2015, followed by an appeal process which would end on March 31, 2016. The review would include the applications of all the individuals registered as Founding Members of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, to ensure that all applicants meet the criteria for eligibility set out in the 2008 Agreement and the 2013 Supplemental Agreement.

On April 2, 2015, Canada and FNI announced that the enrolment process deadline was extended to June 30, 2016, and the appeal process deadline was extended to January 31, 2017. As well, the Enrolment Committee was expanded from four members to twelve.

Canada and FNI agreed that the enrolment decisions of approximately 101,000 applications would be communicated at the same time. The Enrolment Committee conducted an initial review of the applications based on the validity criteria outlined in the 2008 Agreement and, in November 2013, sent letters to advise applicants of the status of their applications. Approximately 94,000 applicants were notified that their applications were deemed valid and roughly 6,500 applicants were notified that their applications were deemed invalid.

Two applicants for enrolment in Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, Mr. Sterling Clyde Foster and Mr. Alex Howse, initiated proceedings against Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians  in the Federal Court of Canada over the Enrolment Committee’s determination that their applications were invalid. One application was deemed invalid because of a missing signature; the other because it did not include a long-form birth certificate. The Federal Court agreed with the applicants, and found that they were not given notice of the missing information or an opportunity to correct their applications. For that reason, the court set aside the Enrolment Committee’s decisions and ordered that both applications be evaluated for Founding Membership.

Canada and FNI decided to apply the same reasoning to all applications that were deemed invalid consistent with the court decisions. As a result, approximately 6,500 individuals were given an opportunity to correct their applications, and submit additional material in support of their applications, for review by the Enrolment Committee.

The Enrolment Committee has completed a diligent and consistent review of all 101,000 applications for Founding Membership in the band, as assessed against the 2008 Agreement and the 2013 Supplemental Agreement. The work of the Enrolment Committee has been supported by INAC officials responsible for pre-analyzing the files in order to expedite the assessment and decision making process. The enrolment process included the review of the applications of individuals who were granted Founding Membership and Indian Status in 2011.

As a result, the Enrolment Committee will be sending letters of decision, on January 31, 2107, to each applicant with the  results of its review. In some cases, these letters will confirm eligibility as Founding Members of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and Indian Status, while in other cases applicants will be informed that they  do not qualify as a Founding Member (this will be completed in accordance with Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nations Act). Some individuals who are deemed to no longer meet the Founding Membership requirements may be eligible for registration under the Indian Act as being a child of a remaining Founding Members. The Department is currently determining volume and options for a seamless transition for those eligible individuals.

To ensure fairness, the Government of Canada and the FNI jointly decided to allow for an appeal period following the application review process. Applicants who are eligible to appeal the Enrolment Committee’s rejection f their applications will have 45 days to initiate an appeal of the decision of their application. All appeals will be concluded on the fall of 2017. The tabling of the Founding Members List to the First Nation will be issued no later than February 28, 2018 and changes to the Indian Registry will be made shortly afterwards. Changes to access to program benefits and services will only occur at this time. This is expected to commence in spring 2018.

Throughout the process, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians have been and continue to be committed to the integrity of the process for enrolment of Founding Members in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, in accordance with the 2008 Agreement and the 2013 Supplemental Agreement. As such, the creation of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band is an important step forward for the Mi’kmaq people of Newfoundland. As we continue to move ahead, we look forward to maintaining a meaningful Nation-to-Nation relationship and ongoing dialogue.

Click Here to view Agreement In Principle
Click Here to view Amendment to Agreement
Click Here to view Accelerated Process Enrolment
Click Here to view Exclusion of Sop’s Arm

Click Here to view the Supplemental Agreement

Click Here to view the Indemnity Agreement

Click Here to view the Directive to the Enrolment Committee and the Appeal Master(s)

Canada to reassess nearly 58,000 applicants for Founding Membership in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and commits to exploratory discussions on membership for veterans, military members, RCMP and FNI members

 

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Public Notices

*Added May 22 2018

A recent Federal Court ruling that is relevant to some 50,000+ applicants who were denied Founding Membership to the Qalipu First Nation after failing to meet the self-identification requirement was recently handed down by Justice Russell W. Zinn.  The case was between Sandra and Dave Wells, Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) and related to the Self-Identification criterion of the Qalipu enrolment process, the right to appeal for applications denied on this criterion, and the validity of the Supplemental Agreement.

In summary, Justice Zinn ruled that:

• The FNI and Canada acted within their legal rights to amend the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band through the introduction of the Supplemental Agreement. Amendments that corrected errors in the Agreement, or extended timelines, for instance, required only that the parties agree on the amendment and did not require ratification.
• The FNI and Canada did not introduce the Supplemental Agreement for “the improper purpose of pre-emptively limiting the number of potential band members who would be entitled to registration.”
• There were parts of the Supplemental Agreement that did not fit within the parties right to amend without ratification and thus the judge deemed unreasonable:
  • Removal of the right of appeal for applicants denied on the Self-Identification criterion
  • Evidentiary documentation supporting an applicant’s self-identification should have been based on the date of Qalipu’s formation, rather than the date that the Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq band was signed by Canada and the FNI.
• The types of evidence required to show self-identification, and the requirement for this type of evidence on an applicants file, was reasonable and fair.
• The timeline to respond to the Supplemental Agreement was fair and applicants were not denied procedural fairness.
• Charter rights were not breached in the introduction of the Supplemental Agreement.

The next steps Canada and the FNI will take following receipt of the Federal Court decision have yet to be determined.   Once the parties have had the chance to meet, and discuss next steps, more information will be communicated on the path forward.

For a better understanding of this case, please click here to read additional information in Outcomes from the Recent Court Ruling Involving Dave Wells, Sandra Wells, Canada and the FNI.

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*Update March 27, 2017 – Deadline for applicants/members to file an appeal has been extended to April 13, 2017

“Although the ‘Instructions for Submitting and Appeal’ indicates that your Appeal Notice must be witnessed, all appeal notices completed by applicants eligible to appeal (witnessed or not witnessed) and submitted on or before April 13, 2017, will be considered by the Appeal Master.”

Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) Appealing on Behalf of Some Applicants, Notifications Arriving in the Mail *April 7, 2017
Important Notice: Eligibility to Appeal *March 15, 2017
Public Notice Changes to Appeal Deadline *Feb 20, 2017
Information on Criteria of Group Acceptance through Residency *Feb 14, 2017
Public Notice Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process Applicants Found Ineligible Based on Self-ID *Feb 10, 2017

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Membership Search Service – Were You Already a Member of an Existing Band?

If you were a documented band member in one of Newfoundland’s Mi’kmaq bands prior to the signing of the Agreement in Principle (AIP) on June 23, 2008, then your name should be on the master list of band members that was compiled at that time.  The Mi’kmaq bands of Newfoundland that were recognized for inclusion at the time of the AIP included the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), Ktaqamkuk Mi’kmaq Alliance, Benoit First Nation and Sip’kop Mi’kmaq Band.

Click here for more information

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End of Enrollment Support Team

At Qalipu First Nation, we are doing everything we can to offer support for our members and applicants. We have put in place an End of Enrolment Support Team including Enrolment Assistants that will be available to take your call or meet with you in one of our four office locations –  St. George’s, Corner Brook, Glenwood and Grand Falls-Windsor.

To contact our End of Enrolment Support Team:

St. Georges:  709 647 3514
Glenwood:  855 263 6440 (toll free) or 709 679 2338
Grand Falls-Windsor:  709 489 2898
Corner Brook:  844 368 7160 (toll free) or 709 634 4010
*Toll Free (in Newfoundland only)

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Are you looking for more information about Enrolment? Find it here:

End of Enrolment Q & A: Appeals Process
Updated Q & A: Appeals Process
End of Enrolment Q & A: General Information

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Are you interested in the history leading up to the creation of our First Nation, including where we are today? Click the link below for a summary:

Backgrounder
Road to Recognition of the Newfoundland Mi’kmaq-History

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Would you like to review all the details of the Agreement and related documents? Find these documents here:

• Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band
• Amendment to the Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band in relation to Conne River
• Accelerated Process of Enrolment
• Exclusion of Sop’s Arm

How about the Supplemental Agreement?

• Supplemental Agreement
• Directive to the Enrolment Committee and the Appeal Master(s)

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What has Chief Mitchell been saying about the end of Enrolment? Click on the links below to hear from our Chief in news items posted by the Qalipu First Nation.

Message from the Chief – March 31 2017
Statement Regarding Ottawa Meeting
Qalipu First Nation Disappointed by Enrolment Outcome
Christmas Greetings from the Chief
Chief to Demonstrators: I have an obligation to act in the best interest of our First Nation
Video: Chief Mitchell talks Enrolment at Corner Brook Café

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Update on the Review of Applications Previously Determined to be Invalid in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process

April 13, 2016 – Ottawa, ON – Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and Brendan Mitchell, Chief of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, provided an update on the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process.

In March, Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) announced they will give individuals the opportunity to correct and provide additional documentation in support of their application for review by the Enrolment Committee.

This decision is a result of collaborative efforts between Canada and the FNI to give a broad application to the Foster and Howse court decisions and provide applicants a fair opportunity to demonstrate they should be founding members of the First Nation.

Click here to read the full release

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Update on the Review of all Invalid Applicants in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process

March 18, 2016 Ottawa, ON Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and Brendan Mitchell, Chief of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, today provided an update on the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation enrolment process.

Get the full story here

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The Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians Announce Appointment of Geoffrey Brown as Chief Appeal Master to the Qalipu Enrolment Process (Published June 18, 2015)

OTTAWA, July 31, 2015 /CNW/ – The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Brendan Sheppard, President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), today welcomed the joint appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Brown as Chief Appeal Master to the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment process.

Click here to read more

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Government of Canada and Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) bolster Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Process  (Published April 20, 2015)

April 2, 2015              Ottawa, ON                Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Brendan Sheppard, Chief of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, today announced the Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) have doubled the number of members to the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Enrolment committee.

The new Enrolment Committee members will apply the same approach to reviewing the files in accordance the 2008 Agreement and the 2013 Supplemental Agreement. The additional four members continue to offer equal representation from the Mi’kmaq and the Government of Canada.

Read the full story here

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Message from the Chief (Published January 16, 2014)

Happy New Year to all, it’s my hope that everybody will have a year filled with good health and that good health will be with each of you for many years to come.

There have been many calls and emails from concerned applicants regarding the January 31, 2014 deadline date to provide additional supporting documentation to their file for enrolment into the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band.  The date for submitting additional documentation has now been extended until February 10, 2014, I realize this is not a huge extension and I sympathize with those who feel more time is required… Read

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Frequently Asked Questions on Enrolment Process – Sworn Declarations and Affidavits (Published January 2, 2014)

Click here to read FAQs on Sworn Declarations and Affidavits.

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Chief’s Message (Published December 19, 2013)

For individuals who are providing additional documents to Winnipeg for the Enrolment process of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band, outlined below is a check list to ensure you do not miss submitting any critical information… Read

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Message from Chief Sheppard (Published December 9, 2013)

First of all, I extend a sincere thank you to so many people who have called/ emailed to say thank you for my message that contained a number of scenarios.  I am very pleased that the scenarios have helped some people to clarify the letter they have received from Ronald Penney(Enrolment Committee Chair).  Unfortunately, there are many who are not certain of what they should provide and I realize that the scenarios do not take away the stress of how you will meet the requirements.  It has come to my attention that there are people who were members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (member of one of the FNI local affiliate bands) prior to 2008 who thought they were still on the 2008 membership list and have discovered for some reason they are not on the list when they call for verification at the 1-800-567-9604.  This piece of information is extremely important for individuals that need to meet the requirement of Self Identification and or substantial connection.  For that reason Qalipu has hired two individuals until January 31, 2014 to search old FNI membership lists.  Individuals who were a member of one of the FNI local bands or FNI General membership list prior to 2008 can call 709-634-0996, then press #(pound), Extension Numbers, 209 or 214 or email fni-info@qalipu.ca to have a search conducted.  If your name appears on either of the lists a letter can be provided.  However; letters will only be given out if we have a band list that can be referenced containing your name.  I cannot promise that we have all of the lists from all of the FNI local bands since the organization began.  Letters issued after June 23, 2008 from a local band council will not be accepted.  It is important to note that not everyone will require a letter verifying their membership.  Please review the scenarios of my previous message to determine if you need to meet self-identification and or substantial connection prior to requesting a search.

Download the FNI Band list inquiry form Here

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Chief’s Message (Published November 18, 2013)

It is now evident that the letters, which members and applicants were advised through the Qalipu website in July 2013 would be coming, are now being received.  As anticipated, these letters are causing concern among many individuals.  We have posted as much helpful information that we could anticipate would respond to various questions under the Enrolment tab of Qalipu’s website site under the Latest News section.

I sympathize with the difficulties and frustrations that you are experiencing; this process is complicated, as legal processes tend to be.  In an effort to provide a level of comfort to members and applicants, I will provide a few scenarios that I hope will help explain the process and your next steps.  It is important to note that these scenarios are of a general nature; differing circumstances may significantly change the approach required. In these scenarios, ‘Mi’kmaq community’ refers to one of the geographic locations of the Mi’kmaq Group of Indians of Newfoundland listed in Annex ‘B’ to the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band.  Read

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PUBLIC NOTICE
ATTENTION APPLICANTS AND MEMBERS OF THE QALIPU MI’KMAQ FIRST NATION (November 9, 2013)

This notice is an update to the public notice of July 31, 2013.

More information is now available on www.aandc.gc.ca/qalipu and www.qalipu.ca concerning the process for enrolment in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and the implementation of the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band and the 2013 Supplemental Agreement.

All applicants, except those whose applications were previously rejected, have been sent one of two letters regarding their applications.  Read

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UPDATED INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE QALIPU MI’KMAQ FIRST NATION
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (November 9, 2013)

This document updates the July 31, 2013 bulletin entitled, Important Information for Applicants, and includes general guidelines for applicants who wish to provide documents related to self-identification and/or group acceptance to support their application for enrolment in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. Please read it carefully prior to providing additional documentation in support of your application.  Read

Click here for Sworn Declaration Form

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Important Information for Applicants (July 31, 2013)

Applicants are advised that this document is not a substitute for the June 2013 Supplemental Agreement, the June 2013 Directive to the Enrolment Committee, or the 2008 Agreement. This Information Update is intended to provide general guidelines on what information applicants can start to gather to support their application for enrol­ment in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation.  Read

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Public Notice

CORRECTION NOTICE (August 8, 2013)

An earlier version of a Public Notice for applicants and members the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, which appeared in several Newfoundland newspapers in August 2013, incorrectly stated that individuals are required to submit their original long form birth certificate.  Read

For more information the public notice can be viewed Here.

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FOR ALL APPLICANTS AND MEMBERS OF THE
QALIPU MI’KMAQ FIRST NATION (July 4, 2013)

On July 4, 2013, Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI)
announced a Supplemental Agreement that clarifies the process for enrolment in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and resolves issues that emerged in
the implementation of the 2008 Agreement for the Recognition of the
Qalipu Mi’kmaq Band.  Read

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News Release

Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians Announce Appointment of Ronald G. Penney as Chair of the Qalipu Enrolment Committee
OTTAWA, ONTARIO (September 10, 2013) –

The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Brendan Sheppard, President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), today welcomed the appointment of Mr. Ronald G. Penney as Chair of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Enrolment Committee.  Read

Biographical Note on Ronald G. Penney
Frequently Asked Questions on this announcement

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Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians Reach Agreement on Resolution of Issues Related to Enrolment in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (July 4, 2013) – The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and Brendan Sheppard, President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), today announced a Supplemental Agreement that will address shared concerns about the integrity of the enrolment process for membership in the Qalipu Mi`kmaq First Nation.  Read