Odelle Pike is calling on people to attend a rally on Feb. 24 to coincide with the protest taking place in Ottawa around the enrolment process for the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nations Band.
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She said the rally will take place at the Stephenville Dome at 11:15 a.m. and all applicants to the enrolment process, whether they received their status or not, are welcome to attend.
“We all know that the government is in charge of this process and they are certainly not listening to us. We need to show them we are just as important as other indigenous persons in Canada. We need our voices heard,” Pike said.
She said Canada stated it is committed to ensuring all applicants for membership in the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation are treated fairly and equitably.
“Yet we know many applicants were declined because they are living elsewhere in Canada,” Pike said.
The Supplemental Agreement was designed to eliminate members. The agreement in principle was supposed to be for band members with the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and those that connected to a Mi’Kmaq community in Newfoundland.
She said it didn’t say that you had to be living in Newfoundland. However, through this process many of members have their status taken away from them because they chose to go away to provide for their families.
“Is this really fair and equitable?” Pike asked.
She wants applicants to show support by attending this rally and demonstrate to government that Mi’kmaq people are not going anywhere and want justice for all.
This will be a peaceful rally and everyone who attends is asked to be respectful.
