Executive Council
November 27, 2012

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs:

Deadline Approaching for Application to Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable house today to remind the people of the province that the deadline to apply to become a “founding member” of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation is November 30.

The Government of Canada announced the creation of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation on September 26, 2011. The Qalipu Band has the distinction of being a landless band, that is, while members have First Nation status, the band itself does not have “reserve lands” and thus members live in various communities throughout the province.

The Qalipu Band was created with an initial list of close to 21,500 members and since that time, thousands of people in the province have made application to become a member of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation. It is anticipated that applications could reach upwards of over 60,000.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports members of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation in efforts to unite in sharing culture and heritage. Also, members will be able to access all federal programs and services available to status Indians, including the Post-Secondary Student Support Program and Non-Insured Health Benefits.

Mr. Speaker, November 30 is the deadline for receipt of applications to become a founding member. Further information is available at www.qalipu.ca.

2012 11 27                         1:45 p.m.