Around 101,000 people had applied to become members of the indigenous group.
As of Monday, 18,044 applicants have been sent letters notifying them of their eligibility for founding membership in the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band. However, the final list of founding members will only be known at the conclusion of the appeal process and officially confirmed through an Order in Council, expected in the spring of 2018.
The preliminary results of the Enrolment Committee's review are as follows.
- 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.
Based on the revised numbers, Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band will continue to be the second largest First Nation by population in Canada.
It is anticipated that the membership will be comprised of around 95 per cent of people living in Newfoundland and Labrador and five per cent living elsewhere in Canada.
The department said this reflects the intent of the 2008 agreement to establish a band composed of individuals having a current and substantial connection to the Mi'kmaq community of Newfoundland.
