Chief Jenny Brake of Qalipu First Nation

06/08/2026

Chief's Message - June 5, 2026

Message from Chief Jenny – June 5, 2026

As a member of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Fisheries Committee, I had the honour to welcome Chiefs, technicians, and AFN staff from across Canada to Corner Brook last week. For many, it was their first visit to the island, and I was proud to host them and show them around our beautiful territory.
Over our three days together, we reviewed the committee’s strategic plan and reaffirmed our commitment to proactive stewardship. At the heart of that work is the integration of traditional knowledge and science to support informed decision-making.

Our work strives to maintain our right to access traditional foods, which means sustaining our stocks through responsible harvesting so that our children and grandchildren can continue to benefit from what our ancestors passed down.
Our discussion extended to the future of our economies and how environmentally responsible, community-led wealth creation can support our people without compromising who we are.

These priorities are reflected across the full range of our water ecosystems, from offshore to inland and from eels to seals.

Our committee works with AFN staff to bring issues to the Chiefs in Assembly. When these issues are supported, we enable the AFN Executive to raise our concerns with all levels of government and advocate for the protection of our resources for generations to come.

I am proud to serve as a member of the National Fisheries Committee. Each time we meet, whether virtually or in person, we learn from one another and deepen our understanding of our respective communities. I am grateful to everyone who travelled here and contributed to these important conversations. Together, we are helping build a future in which our fisheries remain strong, our rights are upheld, and our communities continue to thrive.

05/27/2026

Chief's Message - May 22, 2026

Message from Chief Jenny – May 22, 2026

Art has a way of bringing people together and reminding us not only of the past, but who we are today. This week, I’d like to give a shout-out to the Mi’kmaq artists that continue to make important contributions to our communities through many forms of artistic expression. From music and literature, skin marking and beadwork to visual and performance arts, we are honoured to celebrate and elevate the artists in our community.

If you have been by our Corner Brook offices lately, you have likely seen the beautiful new murals that were recently installed. Local Mi’kmaq artists, Kelsey Street and Nelson White, were selected through a proposal process, and we are so proud to display their beautiful work.

It has been almost 15 years since Qalipu First Nation was federally recognized, and even though most of today’s council was not there at the start, we carry the same oath; to protect our culture, our lands, and waters, and to keep our Nation moving forward.

Our beginning was complicated, and the challenges have not disappeared, but our people have always found a way through. First Nations across this county we now call Canada, were never expected to endure, yet we are still here. Still rising. Still holding on to who we are. We continue to make meaningful progress, even when the road isn’t easy.

If you have the opportunity to visit the murals on Church Street or see other public artworks or gallery pieces our many talented artists here in Ktaqmkuk, take a moment to notice the skill and the stories they carry. In the coming weeks we will share information about the official mural unveiling on June 21 for National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Relevant Links:
Artist Nelson White: https://www.nelsonwhiteart.com/
Artist Kelsey Street: https://www.instagram.com/mossandneedle/
Writers at Woody Point: https://www.writersatwoodypoint.com/
The Rooms: https://therooms.ca/
Business and Arts NL: https://businessandartsnl.com/
Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: https://artsnl.ca/

05/21/2026

Head over to the Waspu Oil page to be entered to win!

It’s 🦭​

​Today we’re celebrating the deep connection between seal, the land, and the coastal traditions of Newfoundland & Labrador. For generations, Indigenous and coastal communities have respected seal as an important source of nourishment, wellness, and cultural knowledge.​

​To celebrate, we’re giving away a 6-bottle pack of Waspu Oil — a traditional, natural seal oil product rooted in that heritage.​

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The winner will be announced next Wednesday.

05/11/2026

Chief's Message from Friday, May 8, 2026.

Message from Chief Jenny – May 8, 2026

This week, I joined a delegation representing Newdock, Qalipu First Nation, Membertou First Nation, Horizon Naval Engineering, and Genoa Design International in Ottawa to advance discussions with federal departments, agencies, ministers, and Members of Parliament regarding Project Oqwatn (Ohk-wah-den), meaning ‘North’, our expansion plan for Newdock.

This visit strengthened national awareness of our dockyard’s importance to both Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. Federal departments clearly recognize the growing pressure on east coast marine infrastructure as both naval and Coast Guard fleets grow. Project Oqwatn positions our province to meet those demands while creating long-term economic benefit here at home.

Canada’s Coast Guard and Navy are expanding their fleets to support Arctic sovereignty. These larger, longer vessels require places to berth for emergency repairs, maintenance, and vessel life extension. With a recognized shortage of ship repair facilities across the country, Newdock stands ready to help meet that national need.

Newdock is 95% Indigenous-owned, making it a key asset in fulfilling Canada’s commitment to Indigenous economic reconciliation. It demonstrates how Newfoundland and Labrador can lead the country in building strong, future-focused Indigenous partnerships in the marine and defence sectors.

For our province, the expansion of Newdock means high value jobs that align with Canada’s apprenticeship targets and the expanded capacity to support major provincial initiatives such as Bull Arm and Churchill Falls, among others.

We look forward to further discussions with both the Provincial and Federal governments so that we can collectively meet the needs of a nation that looks increasingly to its oceans for security, prosperity, and sovereignty. Project Oqwatn is more than an expansion: It is a statement of confidence in Newfoundland and Labrador, in Indigenous economic leadership, and in Canada's ability to invest in and strengthen its marine capacity.

05/04/2026

Chief's Message - May 1, 2026

Message from Chief Jenny – May 1, 2026

This week, I want to share an update on the MSC Baltic III, which remains grounded in Cedar Cove.

Over the winter, our region experienced challenging weather and heavy ice, creating difficult conditions in the area. As we move into spring and the fishing season begins, we recognize that the waters around Little Port and Cedar Cove will become increasingly active.

Our leadership team has been in ongoing discussions with MSC to ensure that the priorities of our communities and members remain central as planning continues, with a focus on safety, environmental responsibility, and meaningful local involvement. Companies undertaking work in our communities must go beyond consultation and genuinely engage with our Nation—understanding community priorities, creating opportunities for our involvement, and ensuring that local knowledge and participation guide how work is planned and carried out. We will hold every company to this standard on our territory.

As has been reported in the media, the next steps of the wreck removal process are now moving forward. Our shared goal is a safe and successful operation, where all parties work together respectfully to ensure the vessel is removed safely and efficiently.

For over a year, our communities have lived with this situation, and we have heard your concerns every step of the way. Your Nation has constantly brought those forward at every meeting and opportunity. Through our persistence and with your support, recent discussions have led to clearer progress and movement into the next phase of work.

We are encouraged by the constructive working relationship taking shape and remain hopeful that this collaboration will continue to support timely progress and deliver direct benefits to our communities, both through this work and into the future.

We also encourage cooperation throughout this process and are optimistic that opportunities will arise for our members to participate and gain employment as part of the work.

As always, we will remain engaged and continue to advocate for the interests of our communities as this work moves forward.

04/27/2026

Chief’s Message from April 24, 2026. 🌿

Message from Chief Jenny – April 24, 2026

Earth Week offers an important moment to reflect on our shared responsibility to honour and protect Mother Earth, our home. It felt especially meaningful that this week, members of our team and I had the opportunity to attend the 58th National Congress on Housing and Homelessness in St. John’s.

I was invited to participate by Regional Chief Mitchell as he is the Assembly of First Nations portfolio holder for Housing, Homelessness, and Infrastructure. Chief Mitchell continues to be deeply engaged in addressing housing challenges facing First Nations communities across the country.

These national conversations give us the space to share the realities and priorities of our communities while learning from innovative approaches emerging in other regions. We also connected with our provincial partners to reaffirm our shared commitment to increasing housing across the island. We are stronger when we build together.

Housing is connected to everything, health, language, ceremony, family, and community identity. This gathering brought together housing leaders and community partners from across Canada, all united in ensuring safe, affordable, and sustainable housing for the people we serve.

The focus on sustainability felt especially significant during Earth Week, reminding us that housing solutions must not only meet the needs of our people but also respect and protect the lands and waters that sustain us.

Our team is committed to advocating for affordable, accessible housing solutions that reflect the needs of our people, and to advancing approaches that honour our responsibility to care for Mother Earth for generations to come.

https://afn.ca/community-services/housing-and-homelessness/

04/03/2026

03/23/2026

My weekly message for March 20, 2026 is now available on the Qalipu First Nation page.

This page shares the Chief’s weekly messages. For any official inquiries, please visit the Qalipu First Nation website at www.qalipu.ca.

Message from Chief Jenny – March 20, 2026

Strong partnerships are essential to the work we do for our Nation. They allow us to expand opportunities, share knowledge, and deliver programs and events that directly benefit our members.

This week our team met with the College of the North Atlantic (CNA), a valued partner in education. Collectively, we reviewed our Memorandum of Understanding, which was established in 2018 and renewed in January 2024. This agreement between our Nation and CNA supports members pursuing post‑secondary education and empowers faculty and staff as they develop programs and services. It also establishes a clear pathway for a respectful relationship, one that honours our values and fosters a prosperous future.

Our partnership with CNA continues to demonstrate how education systems can come together to reshape learning experiences for Indigenous people. CNA collaborates closely with our team to explore opportunities across our departments, strengthening programs for both staff and students. Their commitment extends beyond the classroom, ensuring learners have every possible pathway toward success.

Together, we also work to remove barriers to education by offering direct billing for students, ensuring everyone has equitable access to advance their learning journey, contribute to a stronger Nation, and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Our collaboration has grown to include areas such as research, early childhood education, and economic development. Together, we also host the annual Business Forum, a valuable space for learning, sharing, and forging connections, while highlighting local businesses and celebrating successes and shared experiences. Planning for this year’s event is already underway.

We appreciate the time and effort that has gone into building our relationship with the College of the North Atlantic. True partnerships like these are more than agreements; they are grounded in respect and grown through genuine commitments to community and shared goals. In the wise words of Justice Murray Sinclair, "Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out." By working together, we can ensure that the educational experiences of today are meaningful steps toward a stronger, more hopeful tomorrow.

03/15/2026

My weekly message for March 13, 2026 is now available on the Qalipu First Nation page.

This page shares the Chief’s weekly messages. For any official inquiries, please visit the Qalipu First Nation website at www.qalipu.ca.

Message from Chief Jenny – March 13, 2026

As we marked International Women’s Day, I have been thinking a lot about the strong women in my family and community, the women who shaped me, guided me, and helped me become the person I am today.

My own mother is not Mi’kmaq, she is of English descent. In her life, she has faced her share of challenges, but she has always met them with optimism and grace. She never speaks poorly of others, and she taught me early on that if you have nothing good to say, it is better to say nothing at all. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to honour her and extend that gratitude to all women who turn harsh conditions into loving spaces, women who hold families together, who lead with compassion, and who carry strength quietly and powerfully.

I am a mother of three, a daughter, a sister, and your Chief. These roles are among the greatest honours of my life. Like other women serving as Chiefs across the country, I work every day to balance family life with leadership. I believe many of us do this well because of the maternal instincts we carry, the ability to multitask, to nurture, to protect, and to build.

This week, I had the honour to gather with some other female leaders as we participated in three days of training for First Nations Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership and attend a Fireside Chat with National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak and Minister Mandy Gull Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada.

One of the most meaningful moments of the gathering was bearing witness to a variety of First Nations artifacts returned from the Vatican Museums being uncrated. Seeing these items being carefully opened and prepared for their return to Indigenous communities was a powerful experience.

Across the country, Indigenous women are taking their rightful place at leadership tables. National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Regional Chief Andrea Paul in Nova Scotia, Regional Chief Joanna Bernard in New Brunswick, and so many others are showing what strong, grounded leadership looks like. Here at home, our own Nation reflects that balance: seven members of Council, including myself and Vice Chief Colleen, are female, working alongside our male councillors for the good of our people. Gender does not define our ability to do our work, but having varied perspectives and experiences is essential to informed decision making.

We know a balanced and gender diverse approach has not always been possible. The Indian Act once prohibited women from leadership entirely. It was not until 1951 that First Nations women regained the right to vote and run for office. Even today, women make up approximately 30% of Chiefs at the Assembly, just this week the total was counted at 166. We have come a long way, but there is still work to do.

This year’s theme, Give to Gain, speaks to something our communities have always understood. When we give our time, our knowledge, our support, we gain stronger families, stronger Nations, and stronger futures. Reciprocity is at the heart of who we are. When we lift women up, we lift entire communities. Today, and every day, we celebrate our matriarchs, past, present and future.

Press Release from AFN: https://afn.ca/all-news/press-releases/assembly-of-first-nations-national-chief-unveils-first-nations-items-returned-from-vatican-museum-archives/

03/08/2026

I’m so proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with these women. Supported by our males councillors, we work hard to get things done.
Wela’lin Waspu Oil for this kind post.
We love our Nation far more than anyone could hate and disrespect it ❤️

🌸 On , March 8, we recognize a historic majority in leadership for Qalipu First Nation (QFN).​

​For the first time in the Nation’s history, women represent the majority of elected leadership within the 2024–2028 QFN Council. ​

​Seven of the twelve elected members — the Chief, Vice-Chief (Central Region), and five Ward Councilors — are women serving the Nation.​

​This milestone in leadership and representation is acknowledged and celebrated, recognizing women’s ongoing commitment and dedication to community, the Nation, and future generations.​