1000+ Donors Contribute to Legal Fight
It was determined by the Friends of Qalipu Advocacy Association (“FOQ”) today that the fundraising goal of $125,000 to support their legal fight against the Federal Government and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (“FNI”) has been reached. It comes as a result of months of efforts by the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation applicant-led group to raise the funds primarily from rejected Indian Status applicants.
About a thousand donors showed up in full force with a strict deadline for fundraising being set for tomorrow, April 22, 2022, the date of a case management meeting issued by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. Counsel for the Friends of Qalipu as well as for the opposing parties, the Federal Government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (the precursor to Qalipu), will be there to discuss the status of each side, and to confirm the trial dates for this upcoming June.
A Different Approach
In the midst of several court cases against the Federal Government and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians by other groups and individuals, six Indian Status-applicants who felt they were wronged by the loss of their status (namely Shawn Benoit, Matthew Anderson, Marie Tapp Melanson, Bobbie Tapp Goosney, Paul Bennett, and Jennifer Sue Le Roux; collectively known as Benoit et al.) were chosen by the Friends of Qalipu to represent their case against the parties involved in constructing the controversial Supplemental Agreement with its Point System. Over 70,000 people have been rejected in the wake of the agreement with thousands having their Indian Status revoked. The Friends of Qalipu advocacy group who act as administrators for the funding of this case, has a large following instate Qalipu circles and has a very loyal base that is focused on fighting injustices imposed upon them.
Their Statement of Claim stipulates that as members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians, the precursor to Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation, they were not afforded the possibility of voting on the Supplemental Agreement which tightened rules and some would say changed the criteria of membership within the band. That they say, was a direct violation of their rights as members of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians since the Supplemental Agreement was not ratified by its members. While the case primarily is concerned with the NL Corporations Act, it has many other facets and is taking a different approach than previous and ongoing cases by groups such as the ‘Mi’kmaq First Nations Assembly of Newfoundland’ and the class action filed by the law firm ‘Koskie Minsky’.
Canada Pauses Talks with the Qalipu Band in Wake of Pending Court Cases
On January 21, 2022, representatives of the Qalipu First Nation/Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) met with Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Patty Hajdu, current Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, where they were told that all exploratory talks regarding getting rejected former FNI members and RCMP/Veterans back into the Qalipu Band are currently indefinitely paused citing ongoing legal challenges.
The plaintiffs representing the ‘Friends of Qalipu Advocacy Association’ are set to head to trial against the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the Government of Canada in June 2022 pending the outcome of the case management meeting on April 22, 2022. They are represented by Browne Fitzgerald Morgan and Avis of St. John’s, NL.
I have waited along time to go to court too see the wrong that was bestowed on my band and to get justice like my mom says honesty is the best policy and justice prevails this is the best gift I could every get it is like winning the lottery I thank everyone who made this possible and our ancestors would be so proud of all of usGod Bless Everyone♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I do hope that we the founding members of this band will be given our status back as we deserve. We were dropped from the band without having any say in such changes to an agreement to do so. Please don’t wait another hundred years to correct your wrong doings.
Loyola Gallant
I was rejected but many sister and brothers were given their status.I have the same parents and grandparents.Rejected because I was not living in nl.
My father, sister, and l received our rightful status along with our children. How do you reject and boot people out of a band you belong to for 7 yrs and tell them that you moved away from Newfoundland so your no longer native. What a slap in the face. Then on the same day they put my oldest brother back into the band our Chief remove me and my children. Hello ..we both have the same Mikmaw father and Mikmaw mother…something so very wrong here. The Chief had the nerve to reply to my letter and stated unfortunately you got booted because of a geographical location not in NF.
We all came together as a people to fight for our right, culture, identity, and inclusion. We will stomp out this political genocide of our people. We will right this injustice and continue fighting for all affect by the SA. 6-22 could not come fast enough. Congratulations to one and all who in one way or another contribute to our success todate. Wela’lin.
Some of our relatives have their card. But because we moved away to work. We were never given ours. Sad even the goverment knew i was a native child.said so in my welfare file and they told my foster family. But yet me and my sibling are not even getting our card.and they have my application for years now
The Canadian charter of Rights and Freedoms gave us the right to move to different provinces – how can qalipu take away our rights? Blood is blood, regardless of geography.
I was denied four times me and my son we had our we had our cards for years I am a twin she didn’t lose hers I lost mine we had all the same information same bloodline same parents . Until this point System came in .Me and my son Lost ours by 1 point . I move back to my home town here now 4 years and still can’t get back no one can help us I call every were .Try to get hold of mr. Mitchell left lots of messages no answer back.But I did get hold of someone in Quebec still didn’t get no we’re with it no one can help all I get is answer you have to wait it’s gone to court. It’s the same old BS no one knows nothing so sad. and you can’t even renew it because you have to wait for court . it’s been so long now I’m really doubting that we’ll ever get it back it should never been taken away.
whites with a 2 percent Mikmaq ancestry are not Indigenous you are white- like most of your ancestors were white colonizers
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