Qalipu First Nation
So, you know how we live in a certain place and consider ourselves part of a certain group of people, like your school or your family, right?
Well, way back in history, some people who lived on a big island called Newfoundland and part of Canada were part of a group called Mi’kmaq. They had their own culture and traditions.
But, some people of Mi'kmaq started moving away, and government policies changes so that they couldn't prove their connection to Mi'kmaq. Over time, they became more distant from each other and from their culture.
In the 1980s, when people remembered what happened, they came together to ask for their Mi'kmaq culture and identity back. They were known as the Qalipu First Nation.
Qalipu is the word that means "caribou" in the Mi'kmaq language. The Qalipu First Nation wanted the government to recognize them as Mi'kmaq people again and to have their rights protected.
After many years of talking and negotiating, the government finally recognized the Qalipu First Nation as Mi'kmaq people in 2011. This meant they could start to rebuild their culture and traditions.
Now, the Qalipu First Nation has over 20,000 members and they work together to keep their cultural traditions alive and to protect their rights. They have their own government and leaders just like the other groups of people we belong to.
Well, way back in history, some people who lived on a big island called Newfoundland and part of Canada were part of a group called Mi’kmaq. They had their own culture and traditions.
But, some people of Mi'kmaq started moving away, and government policies changes so that they couldn't prove their connection to Mi'kmaq. Over time, they became more distant from each other and from their culture.
In the 1980s, when people remembered what happened, they came together to ask for their Mi'kmaq culture and identity back. They were known as the Qalipu First Nation.
Qalipu is the word that means "caribou" in the Mi'kmaq language. The Qalipu First Nation wanted the government to recognize them as Mi'kmaq people again and to have their rights protected.
After many years of talking and negotiating, the government finally recognized the Qalipu First Nation as Mi'kmaq people in 2011. This meant they could start to rebuild their culture and traditions.
Now, the Qalipu First Nation has over 20,000 members and they work together to keep their cultural traditions alive and to protect their rights. They have their own government and leaders just like the other groups of people we belong to.