Here we announce developments and opportunities that are of interest to people who live inside and outside of the Flat Bay community. More information will soon be available on our website: http://flatbayband.ca, which is currently under construction. Who are we? Flat Bay is one of the oldest noted communities of Mi’kmaw settlement in Newfoundland. In 1797 Crofton noted Flat Bay’s appeal to Mi’kma
w settlement because of the quantity of eels. Flat Bay derives its name from a body of water, sheltered by a strip of land known as Sandy Point. This sheltered harbor provided refuge from storms in the Gulf of St. It also provided for ships to anchor in close proximity to land. For that reason Sandy Point eventually became the European settlement of the West Coast. Since 1971, the band governing community affairs and Mi’kmaq rights, is the Flat Bay Band Inc. In 2012, it adopted the known name No’kmaq Village and represents both residents and membership abroad. The Flat Bay Band Inc is mandated to protect the First Nation rights of the members by utilizing direct representation to government. The Band recognizes that the ancestral links of this Mi’kmaw are an authentic and vital constituent part of the Mi’kmaq Nations of Canada and pledges to work with other organizations to promote equality and fairness in the treatment of all members of the nations. Our Profile:
a) We are 99% Mi’kmaw community
b) We are all identified to 1945 census within four generations
c) We are not a legislative body and have used self-governance model since habitation
d) We do not have a federal core budget and are pursuing a special arrangement
Mission Statement:
We are a not-for-profit council developing the Mi’kmaw village consisting of the Flat Bay East, West & St. Teresa’s communities. Our mission is to maintain a self-governance structure and to provide employment, development, programs and services in the areas of Health & Wellness, Social Development, Community Development, and Creative Expressions; while preserving our Mi’kmaw Culture, identity and sense of pride. Expertise
No’kmaw Village (The Flat Bay Band Inc.) is 50 years old - the oldest band surviving in the province, outside of the Miawpukek Reserve, which we helped form. Mi’kmaw Individuals make up our membership, within 4 generations. They reside within the village of Flat Bay, and across the province and nation. Span of Service
With vast connections, we often outreach beyond our vicinity to mentor other organizations and Indigenous peoples. Over the decades we have successfully delivered thousands of initiatives, and infrastructure programs. As our members live all over the nation, we often span our services by virtual delivery, and because we are an active mentor, many of our activities span province wide. In the province, we are a major employer, one of the largest youth-serving organizations and often with shoe-string budget, we effectively operate more programs and service than any other band, including the Qalipu First Nations band. We host the only powwow to be held on the West Coast, which now sees upwards of 10,000 visitors from all over the globe and have founded/mentored numerous organizations/committees in the region and province. We hope you enjoy our posts and avail of opportunities that you may be interested in and eligible for!
