What do you personally think of the Qalipu and the band’s identity?
Hi! Hope everyone is having a great weekend
I am from newfoundland. I grew up with the knowledge that my grandparent had/has qalipu first nation status. I got to participate in some cultural events when I was younger but we moved across the country and that slowly faded. I didn’t look into my ancestry further until I saw the controversy of the Qalipu nation and the enrollment process. If you’re unfamiliar, they exploded in membership size, and don’t follow the rules of the Indian Act. The membership size has since decreased and I think enrollment is closed. I didn’t know the enrollment process was any different until recently as an adult! It disheartens me to think my grandparent could be apart of something so problematic, even if they’re unaware of its harm, as I grew up with them teaching me about their mi’kmaq heritage.
That being said, I took an ancestry test and decided to research my genealogy line. I talked to my grandparent and they showed me church records. According to blood quantum I am around 5 percent. My grandparent is around 20 percent. I know that blood quantum is deeply problematic and colonial, but it confuses me as people think Qalipus are 100 percent white and all the records were fabricated. Don’t get me wrong, I know that Qalipus are majority mixed, but I think that cultural blend should be recognized (but not as exclusively Mi’kmaq)
I have never called myself indigenous as I am not claimed by any mi’kmaq group and have benefited greatly in life by looking and being white. I know I haven’t lived an indigenous life and am not apart of a community. However, I don’t know if saying I have distant indigenous ancestory is okay? My grandparents have told me stories of their family hiding they were partly indigenous, and I don’t want to forget my ancestors existed however I never want to promote a problematic and possibly fraudulent nation.
The division on Qalipu is quite massive. Some people strongly believe that the newfoundlander mi’kmaq hid their identity when newfoundland joined Canada because the premier at the time said there was no mikmaq population (to prevent NL from being unable to join). Some people i’ve spoken to are very anti-Qalipu. Some people i’ve spoken to think some Qalipu individuals are real but still are complicit in a problematic nation. Some mikmaq people and bands seem supportive and say it’s recognition is overdue, like Mi’sel Joe of Conne River. I’ve seen the letter the Grand Council sent the UN and I think it is shameful the canadian government did any of this without contacting the Grand Council. I understand the caution and frustration felt by other Mi’kmaq bands towards the Qalipu. I also saw that the Grand Council and Qalipu have been making steps to improve their relationship and relations as of 2023-2024. A lot of the Qalipus problems seem to be caused by the Canadian government, as Qalipu was originally (6) bands that formed in the 70s but was merged into one landless group to put a bandage over a complicated history.
I am posting this not for people to validate me or my grandparent at all, definitely not what i’m searching for, but because I am genuinely curious about different people’s thoughts and perspectives on this whole nation and issue. The more I read about it the more I see differing sources and opinions, and I want to hear from indigenous people specifically. I’m sorry if this is taboo or obvious what the answer is! I am coming from a learning place. Thank you for reading!