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Sabrina Muise is so well known in the youth community that she was nominated to be featured as a community leader by someone who has never actually met her.  Cassie Stead lives in Ontario and noted that it is through Sabrina’s strong online presence that she has found a connection to her First Nation back home in Newfoundland.

“I actually don’t know her personally,” noted Cassie, “but she has been a leader, and a powerful voice to the youth. She has inspired me to be more vocal about my heritage and in learning all I can. Through her social media presence, she has allowed youth to reconnect with their Indigenous roots from afar. I left Newfoundland to pursue studies in Ontario and following her, and being a part of the Qalipu Youth Network, has allowed me to maintain connectedness. She does such a great job through social media.”

Qalipu Youth Network

Qalipu Council Youth Representative Salome Barker works with Sabrina on the Youth Network and has nothing but praise for her friend and colleague.  She said, “I’ve known Sabrina now for a few years and each year that goes on she continues to amaze me with her creativeness and her passion for empowering youth.  She is multitalented, a fancy shawl dancer, drummer and singer.  Sabrina is so humble when it comes to all the work that she does.  She’s so wise for her age and is continuously working in favour of all Indigenous youth in Ktaqmkuk.  She really is a shining light whenever she walks into a room, her kindness and patience are woven into all her work.  I’m so lucky to have a nitap like Sabrina in my life, she’s a community leader in so many forms and I cannot wait to see all the wonderful things she’s going to do in the future.”

Hard at Work

Sabrina works with the People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Centre as a Project Coordinator.  Executive Director Patrick Park-Tighe said that Sabrina is an amazing addition to the team and has a lot to offer.

“Sabrina’s hard work has been transformative both in her youth participants and the community groups that they have partnered with. Youth working with Sabrina have gained a deeper understanding of social media, its benefits, and its dangers while local non-profits have created stronger connections to youth while co-creating media content that is informative, engaging, and timely.”

Patrick also commented on Sabrina’s ability to lead youth in contributing to the success of local non-profits.  “Her insights and creativity have paved the way for local youth to contribute directly to the success of local non-profits,” he said, “Additionally, Sabrina has balanced the focus on content creation with thoughtful explorations of individuals’ strengths and talents, and the Indigenous identity.”

Join the Ka’qawej Community Media Project here: https://www.facebook.com/kaqawejyouth/

Family, Friends, and the Mi’kmaq Way

Sabrina was humbled to learn that she had been nominated for the Community Leaders feature.

Sabrina said, “I am so appreciative for the nomination, and confidence in me as a helper to our people. I’m honored to be considered amongst such other amazing people from our Qalipu community!”

Sabrina talked about her upbringing, and a strong need to pass on the care that she received in the Indigenous community.  “Having been raised in the system with just my mother, I’ve always felt the love, support, and guidance by my Indigenous kin. I feel a huge responsibility to pass that down. Love, kindness, demonstrating that everyone has something valuable to share and a safe space to go to. It’s such an essential concept of our Mi’kmaq culture that I want all youth to feel.

Regarding her hopes for the future of young people in the Indigenous community, Sabrina had this to say, “It’s my second year working with youth (15-30 years) at the People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to redesign my project during quarantine.

Having worked with youth the previous year and been to the Qalipu Youth Gathering in 2019, I realized that youth are hungry for culture, and self care opportunities. So, I created a whole workshop and sharing circle series connecting youth with Mi’kmaq leaders of Nujio’qonik, providing opportunities for them to meet our people, gain insights on how to navigate the fast life, learn about our culture, and my favourite: to be a part of a province-wide kinship. When we create programming that serves youth and meets them where they’re at, that’s when we see youth come together, collaborate, and inspire each other. It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness, and it’s honestly been a dream come true!”

Congratulations to Sabrina, and keep up the good work!

 

Join the Qalipu Youth Network

 

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Story by Alison White (awhite@qalipu.ca), on behalf of Qalipu First Nation.

The Qalipu Cultural Foundation, along with a multitude of Indigenous community partners, is happy to report that the first-ever “virtual celebration” of National Indigenous Peoples Day was a huge success.  Thousands of people tuned into the online content from throughout the country and participants were happy to have the chance to connect to their culture and their community from anywhere with internet access.  The event was so well received in fact that even when face-to-face celebrations can resume, the planning team commits to offering a digital connection for years to come!

Qalipu Band Chief Brendan Mitchell commented on the positive aspect of the community working together during difficult times.  He said, “Witnessing our Nation finding a way to come together to celebrate and share was such a positive light during this unprecedented and unpredictable time.  This event demonstrates the strength of our community when we work together, and I hope to see many more virtual celebrations in the future.”

Content that was shared included a medicine bag teaching and tutorial, stories, messages from community members, song sharing and a bed-time story for the little ones.  If you missed the day, you can access all uploaded videos on the Qalipu First Nation Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/QalipuFirstNation/videos/

The Qalipu Cultural Foundation and Band would like to thank the following groups and individuals for taking part and sharing in the event:

St. John’s Mi’kmaq Women’s Circle
Michelle Bennett
Mi’kmaq Drumming and Cultural Circle, Inc.
Colleen Paul
Aspen Woodworks Demonstration
St. George’s Indian Band
Burgeo Band of Indians
Indian Cove Women’s Circle
Qalipu First Nation
Qalipu Youth Network
North Shore Aboriginal Group Inc
Dean Simon
Exploits Aboriginal Community Group
Tyrone Mulrooney
Benoit First Nation
Kikmanaq Indigenous Cultural Revival Association
People of the Dawn Indigenous Friendship Center
Newfoundland Aboriginal Women’s Network
Parks Canada

The Newfoundland Pine Maren (Martes Americana atrata) is a subspecies of the American Marten which is found only on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland Marten was identified as endangered in 2001 and has been a protected species since 1934, It is currently listed as a threatened species, however, the population is still in decline.  The Newfoundland Marten can be found in areas surrounding Little Grand lake, Red Indian Lake, and Main river on the west coast, on the east coast of the province there is a small population within Terra Nova National Park.

This year Qalipu Natural Resources began monitoring the presence of Newfoundland Marten through the Recovery Action for Species at Risk in Western Newfoundland project in partnership with Intervale Associates. Lewis Hills and North Arm Hills areas were selected to conduct marten hair snag surveys with 12 traps at each site. Traps were set up in February 2020 and checked periodically for one month. All hair samples collected will be submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources for testing. This project will help to document Newfoundland Marten distribution and relative abundance of the species.

For more information on this program, contact Alyssa Hunter at ahunter@qalipu.ca or 709-634-1500.  For more information about the Newfoundland Pine Marten or to make a report please contact CWS at 1-800-668-6767,  Fish and wildlife enforcement at 1-877-820-0999 or visit  https://www.flr.gov.nl.ca/wildlife/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mammals/marten.html

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.