Canadaland

This is chapter 2 of a mini series. To listen to all episodes, become a supporter at https://canadaland.com/joinWhen Newfoundland joined Canada as the tenth province in 1949, both the new province and the federal government neglected to mention in their terms of union that any indigenous people lived there. That meant Canada had no legal obligations to Mi’kmaq or Innu under the Indian Act. So First Nations peoples there were left out.Over the decades, Mi’kmaq on the island fought for official recognition. Following the creation of Miawpukek First Nation (Conne River) in the early 1980s, the federal government finally agreed in the 2000s to recognize Mi’lkmaq in Central and Western Newfoundland, The Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation was formed. More than 100,000 people applied to join the new band, leading many to question the authenticity of those claims. Justin speaks with experts and Qalipu community leaders to figure out how the community defines who is or isn’t Mi’kmaq. He wants to know because he and his