Message from the Chief – December 15, 2022

Posted by Qalipu on December 15, 2022

Kwe’,

It is my pleasure to bring Christmas greetings on behalf of Council and Staff at Qalipu First Nation. I pray that this season will be marked by many special moments of sharing and time together with family, friends and loved ones.

By now many of you will have heard the news regarding the Service Members Agreement which allows for reconsideration of the applications of members from the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and veterans of both.

Service members who applied for membership within the Qalipu Band were denied based on the group acceptance criterion. This essentially means they had a difficult time showing a connection to their Mi’kmaw community of origin. Since we know that these service members were required to leave home in service of their country, we are pleased to be able to have come to this Agreement with Canada that gives honour to the special place they hold in Mi’kmaw culture and allows for reconsideration of their applications.

After four years of engagement and negotiating with Canada since we first announced exploratory discussions in November 2018, I don’t want to waste any more time. We will bring this Agreement to our membership for a ratification vote without further delay. The decision to accept this Agreement is in your hands. Your majority yes vote will put the Agreement into action.

On December 16, the seven-day voting window will commence. Voting-age members of Qalipu First Nation will receive a voter information package either by email or in their mailboxes. We expect these packages to begin arriving around the 13^th of December. As with our last Qalipu Council election, voting will be done from the comfort of your home either on the phone or on your computer.

My heart continues to be with all those who were denied membership in our First Nation. Not only service members, but also those original members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians especially those who voted to create our Band in the first place. Know that the negotiating doesn’t stop here. We can celebrate together this small victory in honour of our service members and veterans and know that tomorrow is a new day to pursue unity for Qalipu First Nation.

Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year.

Wela’lin

Chief Brendan

Congratulations to Julianna Brinston, Winner of the 2022 Bernie Hanlon Memorial Scholarship!

Posted by Qalipu on December 7, 2022

This year’s recipient of the Bernie Hanlon Memorial Scholarship is Julianna Brinston. Julianna is a third-year Biochemistry Nutrition Student at Memorial University in St. John’s. She plans to study Medicine at Memorial once she completes her current program. Her desire to remove inequalities in the Healthcare system have been a driving force in her educational journey.

In Julianna’s application essay she wrote, “As an Indigenous woman in STEM, I hope to break boundaries and become an advocate for the Indigenous community, a group that is all-too often the victims of stereotyping and abuse in the Medical system.”

Julianna’s previous volunteer experience includes House Council Mental Health Representative, First Light Friendship Center, and Ronald McDonald House. She is currently volunteering at Planned Parenthood, is serving as Third-Year Representative of the Biochemistry Society and secretary of Women in Science and Engineering society (WISE).

Julianna says of receiving the award “The Bernie Hanlon Memorial Scholarship is one of the greatest honours I have received in my academic career. It demonstrates that I have achieved one of my lifelong goals to improve my community.”

Bernadette “Bernie” Hanlon dedicated her life to supporting and encouraging the Indigenous people of Newfoundland both culturally and in working with them to meet their educational dreams. Bernie always went above and beyond for her students and tried to help in any way possible through her many years with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and later with the Qalipu First Nation. Bernie worked tirelessly to help those around her develop personally as well by supporting and encouraging cultural and spiritual growth. The Bernie Hanlon Memorial Scholarship was created to help a client of The Education and Training Department attending college or completing an undergraduate degree to continue to pursue those dreams.

Service Members Agreement

November 24, 2023

This is an update to members following the positive support for the Agreement that the Government of Canada, Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians reached last year on December 22, 2022. The Agreement establishes criteria for accepting former and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as Qalipu Founding Members. Acceptance is based on the special place of honour these new members hold in the Mi’kmaq culture due to their service as protectors of Canada and their communities.

Applications Process

The Enrollment Committee has completed its initial review of all applications for Founding Membership with Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. An appeals process will follow for those who wish to exercise this option.

Founding Membership List

The review of applications under this exercise will result in over 580 additions to the Founding Membership list.
Decision letters to all applicants and requests for additional information in some instances will follow.
It is anticipated that this phase of enrolment will be completed in 2024 following the regulatory process by Canada to officially add new members to the Founding Members list of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. For more information on the Order in Council process, please visit Orders in Council – Canada.ca.
Individuals who are recognized as Founding Members will immediately be registered as Status Indians under the Indian Act, thus becoming eligible to receive benefits such as those from the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.

If you have any questions, please call the Government of Canada’s Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation toll-free line (1-800-561-2266; TTY: 1-800-465-7735).

Read on for all the details as shared on the Indigenous Services Canada website.

A letter called Incomplete Submission. was sent on May 15, 2023 to those applicants who provided their documentation with missing or incomplete information:

the Declaration form;
signature on the Declaration form;
signature on the Acknowledgement and Release;
witness signature on the Acknowledgement and Release;
proof of service;
a certified true copy stamp on the proof of service

The applicants receiving this letter will have 30 days to provide their documents and correct the missing or incomplete information, sent to this address:

Enrolment Committee
Indigenous Services Canada
Box 9100
Winnipeg MB R3C 0M9

Your response must be postmarked no later than June 15, 2023.

If you don’t respond by that date, the Enrolment Committee or the Appeal Master will not consider your application further. The existing decision of the Enrolment Committee to reject your application for founding membership will remain in effect.

Any new information regarding the Service Members Agreement and next steps will be added here as it becomes available. Please check back.

Questions & answers about the Service Members Agreement

Service Members Agreement - Questions and Answers

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New Scholarships Valued at $1000

Posted by Qalipu on November 23, 2022

Marathon Gold and Qalipu First Nation are pleased to share that they will be offering 5 scholarships valued at $1,000.00 annually over the next 5 years.

The Marathon Gold – Qalipu First Nation Scholarship is designed to encourage and support Qalipu band members with their career development and growth as they attend post-secondary education institutions.

Please click here for further details and to complete the application.

Applications are due by January 31, 2023.

RCMP/Qalipu First Nation Summer Student Program 2023

Posted by Qalipu on November 4, 2022

Job Description: The First Nation Band and the RCMP are working together to build a worthwhile work experience for aboriginal youth who are interested in a career in policing and/or justice. This exciting job opportunity will give you an insightful look at the RCMP and may help you decide if this is a career opportunity you wish to pursue. This job opportunity is nine (9) weeks in duration from June-August 2023. Successful applicants will attend a one-week training session at the RCMP Headquarters in St. John’s, (all expenses paid) prior to being placed at the RCMP detachment closest to their location. This program is a great stepping tone for individuals interested in pursuing a career with the RCMP.

Location of Position: For the Summer of 2023, successful applicants are placed in locations near their hometown within the RCMP jurisdictions of Grand Falls, Stephenville, Deer Lake, Corner Brook, Gander, Bay Roberts and Harbour Grace.

Eligibility Criteria: Interested applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Have completed high school
Be a member of the Qalipu First Nation Band or Self-Identified Person (students are asked to indicate on their cover letter their Indigenous Ancestry)
Be between the ages of 19-29 as of June 30, 2023
Not have a criminal record
Currently registered as a full-time student
Be planning to attend full-time studies in September
Valid drivers’ licence

Salary Scale: $ 16.00 per hour which includes 4% vacation pay @ 40 hours per week for 9 weeks.

Apply: Please apply with resume, covering letter, a completed RCMP/Qalipu First Nation Summer Student Program Employment Application, Confirmation of Enrollment into full-time studies and a current Certificate of Conduct by mail or email:

Education & Training RCMP Summer Student Program
Attention: Yvonne MacDonald
PO Box 460, St. George’s, NL A0N 1Z0

Or email to ymacdonald@qalipu.ca

Deadline: All applications must be received by 4:00 P.M. on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Thank you to all applicants who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please click here to view our application

Hunting and Trapping 2022 all locations-1 (1)

Hunting and Trapping Guide Training in Stephenville, Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor

Posted by Qalipu on September 26, 2022

Qalipu First Nation is pleased to announce we will be conducting a Hunting and Trapping Guide Training courses November 19-26 in Grand Falls-Windsor, November 20-24 in Stephenville and November 28 to December 3 in Corner Brook. This opportunity is designed for Qalipu Members or self-identifying Indigenous individuals who are interested in becoming Hunting and Trapping Guides in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Upon course completion, students will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Hunting and Trapping Guide training and ultimately be prepared to apply to become certified licensed Hunting and Trapping Guides in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Wildlife Division.

Applications can be submitted either via email to ymacdonald@qalipu.ca, or hand-delivered/mailed to the St. George’s Office.

Please see below for links to the application forms.

Application for Corner Brook / Stephenville

Application for Grand Falls-Windsor

I’tesnen: We Are Staying” Qalipu Emergency Housing Response Program Launch

Posted by Qalipu on September 1, 2022

Emergency Support Application
FAQ

Introduction:

“I’tesnen: We Are Staying” Qalipu Emergency Housing Response Program aims to help prevent and reduce homelessness among our members. Existing support(s) include:

Emergency Housing Repair – Provide financial assistance (maximum $5,000 per household) to existing homeowner(s) in need of emergency repair(s) that would cause the homeowner to leave their home immediately.
Housing Set Up – Provide housing/rental startup assistance such as first month’s rent and/or last month, damage deposit, and/or utilities assistance up to $2,000 per application.
Emergency Short Term Accommodations – Provide hotel placement for a maximum of ten (10) nights.

“Indigenous homelessness refers to Indigenous Peoples who are in the state of having no home due to colonization, trauma and/or whose social, cultural, economic, and political conditions place them in poverty. Having no home includes: those who alternate between shelter and unsheltered, living on the street, couch surfing, using emergency shelters, living in unaffordable, inadequate, substandard and unsafe accommodations or living without the security of tenure; anyone regardless of age, released from facilities (such as hospitals, mental health and addiction treatment centers, prisons, transition houses), fleeing unsafe homes as a result of abuse in all its definitions, and any youth transitioning from all forms of care”

– Reaching Home Indigenous NL

Program Eligibility:

Applicant/Co-Applicant must be a registered member of Qalipu First Nation
Applicant must identify as an individual who is currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Applicant/Co-Applicant are required to be a resident of Newfoundland & Labrador
Applicant must NOT be currently supported by the provincial, territorial, or municipal welfare and/or rent supplement program(s)
Based on submission of required documents. Funding is limited.

Please Note: *If housing ownership is in the name of a non-member spouse or partner (co-applicant), you may still submit your application with housing ownership supporting document; however, it will be necessary to provide further documentation to support that you are a resident of the same household.

**Emergency Short Term Accommodations may be provided to non Qalipu indigenous community members who are homeless and/or at risk of becoming homeless.

Application Process:

Qalipu application collection will be based on submission date and will be processed until funds have been exhausted. All applications will be reviewed and assessed as they are submitted, based on level of emergency, amount of funding available, and in reference to the definition of Indigenous Homelessness as outlined by Reaching Homes Indigenous NL
Limit of one application per household. Duplicate applications will not be reviewed. In the event duplicate applications are received, QFN will consider the first application as the valid submission
All applications require name, accurate mailing address/street address (if different from mailing address), Band registration #, phone number and/or email address, and supporting documentation including proof of homeownership/rental agreement, and proof of combined annual income
If you have any questions or require support regarding your application, please email jpark@qalipu.ca or thulan@qalipu.ca
FOR ASSISTANCE FILLING OUT YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT: JASON (709) 634-0411 OR TRAVIS (709) 634-3176

Emergency Support Application
FAQ

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The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Event Fund

Posted by Qalipu on August 15, 2022

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On September 30th, we wear orange to honor the children who survived residential schools and remember those that didn’t. Qalipu First Nation is committed to providing its members and non-members alike the opportunity to participate in these events to remember and honor the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, to celebrate resilience and to uphold the commitment that every child matters. To help support these events, QFN is inviting grassroots Indigenous organizations across the province to submit smalls proposals of up to $2000 per group for funding under the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Community Event Fund. This fund is meant to support events such as a group walk, drumming session, prayer session or all the above followed by refreshments if desired (BBQ or tea & coffee etc.).

For full details, click on the link below.
Community Event Fund Application

Education & Training Summer Camp 2022 For Kids (St. George’s)

Posted by Qalipu on June 27, 2022

Registration for the Education & Training Summer Camps is now open for Grand Falls-Windsor and St. George’s locations! Please note that space is very limited. Approvals will be made on a first come, first serve basis and preference will be given to Qalipu First Nation members. Those who are successful will be contacted in the coming weeks via email.

If interested, please complete the application in its entirety in order to be considered.

All slots for the Grand Falls-Windsor camps are filled and applicants will be waitlisted.

Application can be found here: Qalipu Summer Camp – Qalipu

Education & Training Summer Camp 2022 For Kids

Posted by Qalipu on June 6, 2022

Registration for the Education & Training Summer Camps is now open for the Corner Brook and St. George’s locations! Please note that space is very limited. Approvals will be made on a first come, first serve basis and preference will be given to Qalipu First Nation members. Those who are successful will be contacted in the coming weeks via email.

If interested, please complete the application in its entirety in order to be considered.

Application can be found here: Qalipu Summer Camp – Qalipu