Chief says there's no agreement

PATRICIA

- March 22, 2013 at 22:19:27

This is in answer to NEWSREADER. There should only be one request for money, plain and simple. Legal representation cannot be had without money, nor can out-of-pocket expenses, and insurance for proper incorporation of the group. The reason Elder Calvin White's name is part of the donations page is because many members of the Mi'kmaq community believe that Elder White was instrumental in making sure that all 21,000 odd members were included on the first founding members list, rather than 10,000 or 11,000. Elder white paid and is stilling paying for that legal bill that everyone benefited from to the tune of 10s of thousands of dollars per family if it's all added up. He is on the Watchdogs donations page so that people may make a contribution if they wish. I don't see where anything says the money is going to be used for a class action suit; nobody knows what changes are going to be proposed so how could there be a class action suit? The problem is that many people are posting whatever they think is happening on Facebook and this is not representative of the Qalipu Watchdogs initiatives or committee. Probably the amount collected so far is too embarrassing to publish. Sad, but predictable ... everyone waits for someone else to pay the bill, but are the first at the table to reap the benefits. Same old, same old ...

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Rose

- March 22, 2013 at 12:22:38

You have spoken the words alot of other people are thinking and feeling. We here who belong to Bras D'or Indian Village in Cape Breton will also be in the legal process of acquiring our status. We have ancestors who signed the treaty in 1882. Some of those in our line left and went to NFLD to escape persecution from the English. My GGG Grandfather was a land grant owner and was a Mi K'maq & Maliseet Aboriginal. I carry the bloodline on both my mother & father's side. Both my Great grandparents were aboriginal......INAC has recognized our lineage but yet we still have to acquire a lawyer. Another way for the gov't to discriminate and slow the process to discourage us to gain back our ancestor's rights. My ancestors were victim to being disenfranchised natives, it's time we ensure the gov't realizes that we are allowing then to live on our land.

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  Reality

  - March 22, 2013 at 15:11:53

  "Our land" Sad that the "our" in this statement isn't defined as Canadians or Newfoundland and Labradorians. Instead, discriminating against another group of people based on their culture. It's 2013 not 1913, time for equal rights for all involved.

Pat

- March 22, 2013 at 09:20:48

If it were possible to apply for membership to Qalipu for the purpose of obtaining official status only, and not requesting benefits, many of us would have done just that. However, it was not possible to do so. Applying at all meant the regular process. I believe it is very thoughless and selfish for people who are listed members to criticize those who have applications waiting to be processed. Many of the people who were later applying have as much or more native ancestry than current members of Qalipu, but certificates were the problem. It will be interesting to see what would happen of all the currently approved applications were reviewed for documents and affidavits according to the criteria expected from the later applications. Just because there are many more people with native ancestry that have "come out of the woodwork" if I may quote certain critics, does not mean only a certain percentage of those people should actually get their offical native status. The date you applied should not be the factor which determines this. Applying later was not always a choice. Just because we have a high number of members that could be in the Qalipu band does not mean we are not entitled, and we are being discriminated against by our Canadian government. Another question I have is this. Why was there a deadline set for applying to this band if the applications received by the deadline of November 30, 2012 were not all going to be even looked at. The cost of proving native ancestry was substantial for a greater percentage of applicants, and now we are being criticized for applying at all, let alone have wasted our money in trying to attain something we are just as entitled to as the current Qalipu members. I want to state this in no uncertain terms. Having a status card and official membership to the Qalipu band does not make one any more Mi'qmaw than me, and many of the applicants in waiting. And, it is certainly not the way of our ancestors beliefs and traditions for members with official status on paper to be treating the rest of us this way.

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newsreader

- March 22, 2013 at 08:34:54

If you go on the watchdogs facebook site all you see is requests for money and more requests for money. There are no updates on how much money has been collected so far other than posts from people stating that they have made a deposit to the watchdog bank acct. Who is going to make the decisions on how the money is spent? Who has signing authority on the bank acct? All the requests made say the money is supposed to used for a class action suit by the people whose applications for status haven't been approved, then some posts suggest any money left over will go towards paying some guys legal bill incurred a few years ago. What happens if the government decides to go ahead and process all the applications? Shouldn't people get their money back if the money is not needed for the reason the donations are being collected? Who is in charge of the watchdogs? Is there an elected executive or is the group nothing more than a facebook group with many chiefs? Too many signs of poor organization if you ask me.

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Bullwinkle

- March 22, 2013 at 07:24:00

I'm sure there would be no problem aproving all aplicants if this were in Quebec

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joe

- March 22, 2013 at 00:12:12

Thanks chief Sheppard your doing a wonderful job as band chief.keep up the good work.Most of the people critizing are not registered indians anyway.The people doing all the squaking probably have applications in and not read therefore they have no right to complain .since they have not been approved and they are not listed on the Qalipu voters list

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  Pat

  - March 22, 2013 at 10:15:20

  Just because a person is not a registered member of Qalipu does not mean they do not have as much native ancestry as you do Joe, and are still Mi'gmaw. The fact that you were able to apply earlier and get registered before the deadline does not mean that those who still met the deadline to apply, and may never get the same opportunity as you did because of a delay in obtaining proper documentation, have less rights than a registered member. I find this attitude offensive and certainly not condusive to the teachings and beliefs I was taught, and although I may not have a 'status card', I am still Mi'gmaw.

Qalipu Member

- March 21, 2013 at 17:40:29

A trouble maker starts a rumour on facebook, yet Chief Sheppard takes the blame. Quite funny to watch this all play out. Just wish I had known Harper was going to be taking the red eye into Stephenville for those secret meetings. Would have gladly bought him a Domino sub at 3am after the meetings.

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Mary

- March 21, 2013 at 17:01:59

Chief Sheppard is part of the communication problem. Chief its not rocket science all you have to do is talk and often. You would be surprised how the comments will be more positive.

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Paul Pike

- March 21, 2013 at 15:42:00

More of the same....

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john

- March 21, 2013 at 15:32:19

Just too many idians came out of the closet. Thare were no problems before there was money involved. List should have been made with the people who fought foryeas to be recognised. I just wonder how many would still be interested if there were no benefits.

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  Sam Perrier

  - March 21, 2013 at 16:09:16

  I am not interested in the benefts only in my status. I have paid my way all of my life and will continue to do so, likewise most of our people.

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  Brian

  - March 22, 2013 at 15:14:52

  If it isn't about the money, why do you need the governments approval to say you are a member of the Qualipu? Does a piece of paper really change who you are?

FRed

- March 21, 2013 at 15:28:06

Another example that Brendan Sheppard has got to go! The communication with the people has to be improved.

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ron

- March 21, 2013 at 15:21:54

O my god, Brendan Sheppard is still alive.Now that you have spoken, once in the last 100 days,please kept the membership updated.There may not much,you can say, but at the end of the week,iam sure you can touch base with us through some way, and let us know what if anything is happening.

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Paul Pike

- March 21, 2013 at 15:14:43

More of the same....

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Elaine

- March 21, 2013 at 13:55:57

I'm sure that Chief Sheppard has nothing to hide as the media will be the first to know if there was an agreement reached. People shouldn't take heed to gossip, but only the truth. Chief Sheppard is committed to speaking on behalf of the band as he was elected to do and I for one have faith in him.

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