Qalipu Mi'kmaw identity debate leaves those impacted looking for self-determined solutions

The author of a new book on Mi'kmaq in Newfoundland says the ambiguity of some Mi'kmaw identity claims in the province are casting doubt on those with legitimate claims.

"What is happening is that we're all tarred with the same brush," said White, 80, from Flat Bay/No'kmaq Village.

"We have to do something about it. We can't let this continue."

His book, One Man's Journey: The Mi'kmaw Revival in Ktaqmkuk, chronicles his involvement in the fight to have Mi'kmaq recognized in Newfoundland. White said he travelled the province and spoke to many Mi'kmaw families, documenting their stories.

The book spans from 1949, when the province joined Confederation without recognizing the Mi'kmaw communities under the Indian Act, to the formation of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) in 1972 and its accomplishments beyond.

FNI launched legal action and it took about 20 years of negotiations between Canada and FNI to find a resolution. Qalipu First Nation gained formal recognition in 2011, and an enrolment process was established. It was estimated that 10,000 people would apply for membership but nearly 104,000 people applied from across the country.

A Supplemental Agreement between Canada and FNI followed to give the committee responsible for managing enrolment "greater precision on the nature of the evidence that applicants shall provide."

It developed a points system for applicants who did not reside within the approved Mi'kmaq communities. Points were awarded based on things like membership in a Mi'kmaw organization and maintenance of Mi'kmaw culture. 

White says the registration process was flawed.

"I'm not in any position to be able to point fingers and say who's Indian and who's not Indian, but I'm very, very concerned over what I consider to be a fiasco with regard to the registration process," he said.

"It was far from due diligence."

White said initially through the point registry process, three of his six children were denied status, while the others got it. He said similar situations caused a lot of confusion for families in Newfoundland. Brendan Mitchell, chief of Qalipu First Nation, could not be reached for comment about White's role or criticisms of the points system for this story.

The supplementary agreement has been challenged in court and last month Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Justice Valerie Marshall ruled the federal government likely pressured the FNI to change its enrolment process after the larger-than-expected number of applications for membership to Qalipu First Nation.

White said he would like to see the Mi'kmaq Grand Council, the traditional government of Mi'kma'ki (Mi'kmaw territory), empowered to handle citizenship because the point system is so different from what he was taught about who belongs in Mi'kmaw culture, which is tied to connection to family and community.