'Friends of Qalipu' set to represent 80,000 applicants to the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation this week
Represented by St. John’s-based law firm Browne Fitzgerald Morgan and Avis, the ‘Friends of Qalipu Advocacy Association’, a Newfoundland and Labrador Mi’kmaq group that are representing rejected applicants to the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation are set to fight against the Federal Government and the precursor to Qalipu, the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), in a massive 3-week court trial in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland from January 16 – February 3, 2023.
Removal as ‘Status Indians’ a Sore Point
In the midst of several court cases against the Federal Government and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians by other groups and individuals, six determined 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.) filed their own court case with Browne Fitzgerald Morgan and Avis of St. John’s, NL on February 2, 2018. This was tabled against the parties involved in constructing the controversial Supplemental Agreement with its Point System. The very same agreement that removed over 10,000 people as Status Indians. 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.
For background on their initial filing, a court injunction was part of the Statement of Claim and was heard in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland in June 2018. While an injunction could not be issued against the Federal Government to halt the loss of Indian Status cards in August 2018, a strong declaratory order was issued in its place.
Trial Funded by the Rejected Applicants to the First Nation
It was determined last year by the Friends of Qalipu Advocacy Association (“FOQ”) that their fundraising goal to support their legal fight against the Federal Government and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (“FNI”) had been reached. It came 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. Many of these donors are set to attend court starting on Monday, January 16th where the largest court room has been made available to the public for viewing.
The upcoming trial is preceded by several court wins by the ‘Friends of Qalipu’ group in recent years including a 2019/2020 case that sought to have two very significant documents included in the trial as evidence. This case was particularly fought hard by the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and their legal representatives. The court would eventually rule with the ‘Friends of Qalipu’ group and the documents are undoubtedly set to appear in the upcoming trial.
Trial Provides New Hope
The trial will feature witnesses (including the plaintiffs) and arguments by all three parties involved. As rejected members of the Qalipu First Nation Band gather inside the St. John’s courtroom for the next three weeks, the hope that is on their minds is that they will be given another chance at what they feel is their birthright as First Nations people.
The work you done is on believable
is there a Facebook group or anywhere I could be added for updates on this case?
I have been effected this and would love to be involved more.
This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post.
Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Hi! I simply wish to give you a big thumbs up for the excellent info youve got right here on this post. I will be returning to your blog for more soon.
Greetings! I’ve been reading your website foor a longg time now and finally goot the bravery
too ggo ahead andd give yoou a shout out from Dallazs Texas!
Just waanted to saay kedp upp thhe great work!
I know thiks site provjdes quality based content and extra data, iis thewre aany other site which
gives such stuf iin quality?
Excellent article. I crrtainly love this website.
Continue the good work!
Yoou really make iit seem rally easy with your presentatgion however I to find this mqtter to
bee actually onee thkng that I feel I mighut
nevesr understand. It kind of feels too complicated and
extremely huge for me. I am taking a look orward inn yohr susequent submit, I’ll
try to geet the grasp of it!
Thhat iss ery attention-grabbing, Youu are
a vsry skilleed blogger. I have joined your rsss feed and sit up ffor llooking ffor extra off your excellsnt post.
Additionally, I’ve shared your webb sute in myy social networks
What’s up, I woould like to subscribe for this weboog tto get mst up-to-date updates,
thus where ccan i do itt please assist.
We stuhmbled ovesr hsre byy a different web page andd thought I mighyt
ass wesll check things out. I like what I ssee so now
i am following you. Look forward to finding out about youjr web page repeatedly.
I’m really lovikng tthe theme/design off your site. Do you ever rrun into any internet browsser compatibiolity issues?
A cohple oof my bllg audiewnce have complkained aboujt my log noot operating correctly iin Explorer butt looks great in Opera.
Do yyou have any tips to help fix this issue?
Liink exchange iss nothhing else but iit iss simply placing
thhe otther person’s website link onn ypur page aat appropriate place and othher person will alsoo
do similar iin fawvor of you.
Link exchange iss nothing else but iit is ohly placin the other person’s blog link onn your page att suitable
ppace andd other perfson wilol also doo ssame foor you.
Wonderful site. A lot of helpful information here. I aam sending iit too several friends ans also sharing in delicious.
Andd of course, thanks to your effort!
Magnijficent website. Lots of hekpful info here.
I amm sendinng it tto some pals anss additionally sharingg iin delicious.
And certainly, thanks in yor sweat!
What’s up, jst wantrd to say, I liked this article. It wwas
practical. Keepp on posting!
Excellent pieces. Keep writing such kind oof infoormation onn your page.
Im resally impressed by your site.
Hi there, Yoou ave done a grwat job. I’lldefinitely dgg it
and in myy opinion suggest to my friends. I aam suee they’ll bee benefited ffrom this site.
Youu couod certsinly ssee your enthhsiasm inn the work yyou write.
The world hope foor mlre passionat wrfiters lkke yyou wwho are nnot afrdaid to saay howw they
believe. At alll times ollow yoour heart.
Awersome site you have here but I wwas wantiing
tto know iif you kjew off anny commuunity forumns that coover the
samee tpics talked abvout here? I’d realky love to bee a
art off greoup whre I can gett feedbacfk from otyher experienced insividuals thaqt share thhe samje interest.
If youu have aany suggestions, pplease let me know.
Kudos!
I do agre with all thhe ideas you’ve prdsented foor your post.
They are very convinxing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, thee posts arre very short forr newbies.
Could yoou please lengthsn them a little frrom subsequent time?Thaqnk
youu foor tthe post.
Generally I don’t read aricle on blogs, bbut I wish
too saay that tyis write-upvery pressured me to chechk out
and do it! Your writing styyle hhas een amazed me. Thank you,
quuite nice post.
Aw, thhis waas aan exceptionslly nice post. Takjng the timme annd actual
effort too produce a veryy good article… bbut whaqt
ccan I say… I hesitate a whole llot andd don’tmanage to
get nearly anything done.
Pretty component of content. I simply stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to say that I
get actually enjoyed account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing on your feeds and
even I success you get admission to persistently
fast.
I got this web page from my buddy who told me regarding this web page and now this time I am visiting this website and reading very informative articles here.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew
of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly
enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
using? I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a
tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
constantly i used to rread smaller poosts which aas well cloear ttheir motive, and that iss alseo happeninng with
this article whih I am redading att thgis place.
Thanks very nice blog!