Episode 120: The Fight Against Alton Gas

Lawyer Michael McDonald speaks about the land, the treaty and the river at the heart of the struggle to protect the waters of the Shubenacadie that are part of traditional Mi'kmaq life in central Nova Scotia.

Episode 119: A Decision in the Jerry Brake Case

A decision by the Federal Court of Appeal in the Brake case means more judicial scrutiny of the controversial side deal between Canada and Federation of Newfoundland Indians. The class action offers another chance to nix the supplemental agreement.

We interview plaintiffs' lawyer David Rosenfeld of the law firm Koskie Minsky.

Episode 108: Taking Aquaculture to Court

Lawsuit challenges have permitted Stephenville's controversial Indian Head Hatchery to expand without environmental assessments of the risks of introducing farmed salmon into marine waters. 

In other news, we're happy to be adding Miawpukek First Nations Radio to our list of radio partners. You can now listen to new episodes of Mi'kmaq Matters every Thursday at 1 p.m. on MFN Radio.

Episode 107: What It Means to Be Mi'kmaq

Some reflections after the Miawpukek Powwow in Conne River.

While the climate is in crisis, band councils are cozying up to resource companies. Now, ordinary Mi'kmaq are left to protect the lands and water that connect us to our ancestors.

Episode 106: On the Beothuk Trail with Don Pelley

For 40 years, researcher Don Pelley has been uncovering evidence of Beothuk life along the shores of the Exploits River and Red Indian Lake.

Episode 104: Is Qalipu too Soft on Liberals?

After a splashy photo-op last fall with Liberal MPs, the Qalipu/Federation of Newfoundland Indians has not sealed a deal with the feds on getting back status for any of the 10,000 kicked out a year ago.

Time to turn up the political heat, says Greg Janes, one of the organizers of ABLE: Anyone But Liberals Elected. But is it realistic to think anyone or anything can unseat MP Gudie Hutchings in a riding as red as the Long Range Mountains?

Episode 101: A Podcast About Mi'kmaq People, Politics, Land, and Water

A reflection on the past 100 episodes, and a discussion of our plan going forward.

Over the past three years, our small, two-person team has been covering the issues of concern to Mi’kmaq people in so-called Newfoundland and beyond. Time after time, we’ve been the first—and, too often, the only—to report on Mi’kmaq-focused stories.

Mi’kmaq Matters promises to be there for you in the future just as we have been in the past. We’ve reached 100 episodes without any financial help, but we now need your support in order to expand our coverage and to continue to improve our content, both technically and journalistically.

We now have a Mi’kmaq Matters Patreon page to allow listeners to make a small, monthly contribution to independent Mi’kmaq journalism (https://www.patreon.com/mikmaqmatters). We’ll use the money to invest in better equipment, to sustain a website that will host all of our multimedia output, and to fund reporting trips to the areas of our territory that are most at risk.

We commit to remaining accountable to you, the listener, as we, in turn, endeavour to hold those in power accountable to the land, water, and to the Mi’kmaq people.

Episode 98: An Interview with Humber-Bay of Islands Candidates

We interview three of the four candidates for Humber-Bay of Islands about their campaigns, resource development and environmental protection.

We hear from  Liberal candidate Brian Dicks (Liberal), NDP candidate Shawn Hodder, and Progressive Conservative candidate Michael Holden. The independent candidate, Eddie Joyce, did not accept our interview invitation.

Episode 97: Peace and the Atlantic Policy Congress

The vote to admit Qalipu into Atlantic Policy Congress (APC) passed by a vote of fourteen in favour and two opposed.

As other chiefs in the region begin to regain confidence at end of the enrolment process, does joining the APC mean a chance for Qalipu to make peace with other Mi'kmaq communities? We hear about the vote and the next chapter in the Qalipu-Mi'kmaq relationship from the congress's executive director, John Paul.

Episode 96: Are Enrolment Talks Dead in the Water?

Talks between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI) and the federal government are bogged down, which means no results in sight for those who lost their status.

Burgeo Band of Indians Chief Greg Janes (who is also a spokesperson for one of the veterans who lost their status while serving overseas) has been asking for updates on where veterans stand in the enrolment process. His requests seem to have fallen on deaf ears, and, as Liberals trail in the looming federal election, hopes for any resolution on the matter have begun to fade.

Episode 94: Does MFNAN Have What it Takes to Get Into CAP?

This week, Robert Bertrand, national Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP), tells us about the search for the next Newfoundland affiliate.

And later, Jerry Brake's lawyer, David Rosenfeld, gives us a debrief on the Brake case.

Episode 93: Can a Band Alliance Fill Qalipu Void? Plus: Brake Case Back in Court

Jerry Brake's lawyer, David Rosenfeld, tells us about the latest move to launch a class action lawsuit against the enrolment process.

And later, we hear from Greg Janes, chief of the Burgeo Band of Indians, on a new alliance between Mi'kmaq bands that's trying to reach deeper into communities than Qalipu.

Episode 92: Bringing Mi'kmaq Bands Back to Life

This week, a preview of a newly formed alliance of Newfoundland bands which have been mostly dormant since Qalipu's creation.

And later, a debrief with Mi'kmaq First Nations Assembly of Newfoundland Chief Dave Wells on the Abbott case and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.

Episode 91: The Points System and Yellow Vests Canada

The fate of 10,000 people who lost their status rests on the Abbott case decision. Jaimie Lickers, lawyer for the Mi'kmaq First Nations Assembly of Newfoundland, tells us what to expect in federal court this week.

Later in the show, we take a look at Yellow Vests Canada, a group that includes Indigenous people while promoting anti-Indigenous racism.

Episode 90: Wilson-Raybould Affair Puts AFN National Chief in a Tough Spot

This week, Russ Diabo, policy analyst and publisher of the First Nations Strategic Bulletin, joins us to discuss the Jody Wilson-Raybould affair. He says that the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), Perry Bellgarde, seems to have a different opinion than most Indigenous communities regarding the Wilson-Raybould resignation.

And later, Dave Wells discusses how the Mi'kmaq First Nations Assembly of Newfoundland (MFNAN) could become a non-status band.

Episode 85: The New Chief of Flat Bay

When Joanne Miles takes over from Liz Lasaga at the end of the month, she will be in charge of managing a difficult relationship with the Qalipu First Nation and preparing for a long-awaited summit of the two bands.

Episode 84: Year-End Round Up with Chief Brendan Mitchell

Enrolment was the Qalipu story of 2018, and Chief Brendan Mitchell gives us his take on the process which began last week in a meeting with the feds to resolve some of the outstanding issues.

Episode 81: Turning Enrolment Talks into Action

The federal government of Canada and the Federation of Newfoundland Indians are set to meet on December 11 and 12, signalling the beginning of the next stages of the enrolment process. Qalipu councillor Frank Skeard tells us what to expect.

Episode 80: The Points System on Trial

During the Abbott case, expected to be heard early next year, the federal court will determine whether the points system used to decide Qalipu membership was legal.

Episode 77: Mitchell Re-elected Chief, Now What?

After a brutal three years, Brendan Mitchell has been re-elected chief of Qalipu First Nation. His new council will be dominated by allies, and the enrolment issue safely at a distance in the courts.