APTN News
Elder Ken “Mutchie” Bennett fears his Mi’kmaq culture will disappear with his generation, as thousands of fellow band members are expected to have their Indian status revoked this spring.
Bennett, along with about 40 members and supporters of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation in Newfoundland, were in Ottawa Saturday protesting a controversial federal government agreement.
A total of 10,512 founding band members are expected to lose status this spring, after an Order in Council determines the final list of members.
Bennett was one of the lucky 13,365 founding members who will keep his status. His wife, children and grandchildren were rejected from band.
“It hits home when my daughter calls me up from New Brunswick and says, ‘Dad, our bloodline or our recognition … ends with your generation. It ends with you.’ It was very hurtful,” he said.
When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, the province’s Indigenous people weren’t recognized under the Indian Act. It wasn’t until 2008 when the Canadian government signed an agreement with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), allowing First Nations to apply for founding membership of the Qalipu band.
A total of 27,000 applications were received and 23,877 were deemed eligible as founding members. Then, a flood of applications rolled in. By 2012, the government had 104,000 applications to sift through.
In 2013, the government and FNI announced a supplemental agreement, clarifying the band enrolment rules. They decided to review all applications, including those already received and accepted. Apart from the original 10,512 founding band members, a further 68,134 applicants were rejected from the pool.
It’s a process that has divided families and left many feeling displaced.
Those who applied for status had to meet a set of criteria, including whether they lived in Newfoundland, participated in Mi’kmaq cultural events or ceremonies or, if they moved away from province, whether they came home for visits or stayed in touch with band members.
Those who moved away from home may no longer qualify for band membership. Bennett said it’s confusing why he, a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who spent 28 years moving around the country, would be eligible.
“How I retained mine, I’m really not sure,” he said. “I’m grateful, but I’m unhappy that any of our brothers and sisters lost their recognition. They didn’t lose their identity. They still are who they were born to be. But they lost their identity as a status Indigenous person in Canada.”
Jim DuHart, who organized the Ottawa protest, held up his status card before the crowd. Originally from Corner Brook, he’s one of 13 people in his family.
“Three in, everybody out including me,” he said.
Chief Brendan Mitchell said it’s unfair for Qalipu identity to be tied to geography. Newfoundland’s high unemployment rate forces many band members to move out of province for work, he said.
“Our people all over the country are being impacted by what’s happening,” he said. “They’re upset. They’re hurting. They feel that they’ve been displaced. They feel sadness in their hearts over what happened.”
The supplemental agreement was signed pre-Trudeau, but Mitchell said it’s time for the current government to step in. Otherwise, he said, there could be lawsuits following the finalized spring band list.
“We talk about truth and reconciliation and the main topics for us include residential schools, for example, missing and murdered women, 60s scoop, sterilization,” he said. “Well, this country’s going to have to add Qalipu First Nation to that situation regarding truth and reconciliation.”
A spokesperson from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada said the government has no plans to amend Bill C-25, the act respecting the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Order.
“To date, more than 18,000 individuals have been accepted as Founding Members of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation – making it the second largest First Nation by population in Canada.”
Qalipu membership by the numbers (from the Government of Canada website):
– 13,365 applicants who are on the current Founding Members list will remain eligible for founding membership
– 10,512 applicants who are on the current Founding Members list were found by the joint Enrolment Committee to not meet the criteria under the 2013 Supplemental Agreement for Founding Membership (These individuals will retain their membership until the amendment of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Order, expected in the spring of 2018. They are entitled to appeal their decision, the results of which may increase the Founding Members List. Some of those who are no longer eligible for founding membership may still be able to register for membership as a descendant of a Founding Member.)
– 4,679 applicants who were not Founding Members will now be eligible for founding membership (They will gain membership once the amendment of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band Order is confirmed through an Order in Council in the spring of 2018.)
– 68,134 applicants were not Founding Members and will not be eligible for founding membership
– 3,984 applicants have invalid applications and are therefore not eligible for founding membership
I have had my Status Card for five years, and am now told it will be withdrawn. My
siblings still have possession of theirs, which I pray every day they will be able to
maintain status. We all applied as a family, and I feel I am being discrimated
against due to Geographics, since I left Newfoundland to gain sustenance in the
work force due to a high rate of employment at home. The Supplemental Agree-
ment should be struck down because it affects so many families, and is against the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I live in Ontario, my Status Card was mailed to
me in Ontario, that has not changed, and neither have I. I will always remain Mi’kmaq, and connected to my indigenous roots as that is my dear Mother’s legacy
and bloodline that she left behind for my siblings and I to follow in her footsteps.
I have had my Status Card for five years, and am now told it will be withdrawn. My
siblings still have possession of theirs, which I pray every day they will be able to
maintain status. We all applied as a family, and I feel I am being discrimated
against due to Geographics, since I left Newfoundland to gain sustenance in the
work force due to a high rate of employment at home. The Supplemental Agree-
ment should be struck down because it affects so many families, and is against the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I live in Ontario, my Status Card was mailed to
me in Ontario, that has not changed, and neither have I. I will always remain Mi’kmaq, and connected to my indigenous roots as that is my dear Mother’s legacy
and bloodline that she left behind for my siblings and I to follow in her footsteps.
TRUDEAU COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS CORRUPTION BUT CHOSE NOT TO.
LET US NOT FORGET HIM.
TRUDEAU COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS CORRUPTION BUT CHOSE NOT TO.
LET US NOT FORGET HIM.
System was designed to do this! For years I searched for my Gr grandmother’s birth registration. I found it, finally! Wanted to get my Mom recognition, she is 85!
She knows who she is, we my family are proud to be First Nations! Why must we still be disrespect ! Corruption in Canada and USA is a disgrace! Stay Strong Relatives!
System was designed to do this! For years I searched for my Gr grandmother’s birth registration. I found it, finally! Wanted to get my Mom recognition, she is 85!
She knows who she is, we my family are proud to be First Nations! Why must we still be disrespect ! Corruption in Canada and USA is a disgrace! Stay Strong Relatives!
had it before 2007 lost by 1 point
sister got hers
Hi Lucy
Thank you for reporting on this . I am one of the grassroots of qalipu First Nations and I flew Down for this ratification vote in March 2008. I am told I will no longer be a member of Qalipu First Nation because I no longer live in the mi’kmaw community. I am told I need to live there to remain s founding member . I was at the protest yesterday .
had it before 2007 lost by 1 point
sister got hers
Wish I could have been there to support the folks who came out to the rally in Ottawa!! This whole enrollment process has taken it’s toll on many Mi’kmaq families in Newfoundland. It’s been an emotional roller coaster ride for many applicants and has served to divide many families.
Hi Lucy
Thank you for reporting on this . I am one of the grassroots of qalipu First Nations and I flew Down for this ratification vote in March 2008. I am told I will no longer be a member of Qalipu First Nation because I no longer live in the mi’kmaw community. I am told I need to live there to remain s founding member . I was at the protest yesterday .
Wish I could have been there to support the folks who came out to the rally in Ottawa!! This whole enrollment process has taken it’s toll on many Mi’kmaq families in Newfoundland. It’s been an emotional roller coaster ride for many applicants and has served to divide many families.
I am sure that with all the terrible treatment of Indigenous people across Canada this may seem to be something that is far away and not as important but Indigenous people across Canada should realize that once they remove status cards from people over location, it is not impossible to believe that this will be tried on others. Urban people and others living off reserve need to look at what is happening. Can they now remove anyone from the Indian Register, because they are no longer living on reserve? If they can remove 10,000 Indigenous people from the Indian register, who will be next. These are people who have had their cards for several years. Read everything you can and don’t fall for the tricks they used on our people
Thank you so much for your coverage of our story.
I am sure that with all the terrible treatment of Indigenous people across Canada this may seem to be something that is far away and not as important but Indigenous people across Canada should realize that once they remove status cards from people over location, it is not impossible to believe that this will be tried on others. Urban people and others living off reserve need to look at what is happening. Can they now remove anyone from the Indian Register, because they are no longer living on reserve? If they can remove 10,000 Indigenous people from the Indian register, who will be next. These are people who have had their cards for several years. Read everything you can and don’t fall for the tricks they used on our people
Thank you so much for your coverage of our story.