The head of Qalipu First Nation says he’s ready to take on a bigger role in advancing the causes for First Nations people across the island of Newfoundland.

Brendan Mitchell was selected as the island’s first regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations earlier this week, a decision made by the four Mi’kmaq bands in Newfoundland.

Mitchell has been doing the work on an interim basis since January. 

“I’m pretty excited about the work,” he told CBC News. “And to be able to sit at the national table on behalf of this province, I think, is key and something we needed to do.”

Before January, the island had shared representation at the national level with Nova Scotia. A movement for independence began after Prince Edward Island was given its own seat in 2021. 

It was a move that stirred some controversy among other members of the AFN, after Mitchell and Miawpukek First Nation Chief Mi’sel Joe introduced their motion at a chief’s assembly last December.

Some felt the decision to define regions by provincial boundaries was adhering to colonial borders. Others were concerned that Newfoundland would have its own regional chief for four Mi’kmaq bands, when areas like B.C. have one chief for more than 200 First Nations.

Mitchell said he understands the arguments but felt Newfoundland deserved its own voice.

“Whether considered colonial in its approach or otherwise, the boundaries that we have established here with provinces and territories have been in place for a long time,” Mitchell said.

“One regional chief is covering 204 First Nations in B.C., and for me now in my new role, I’m looking at four First Nations communities.… So the question could be asked, where’s the balance and where’s the equity in that? So I understand comments [from] people regarding that but in this country we’ve used these boundaries now for decades, maybe centuries.”

Expanding reserves among priorities

Mitchell said his biggest goals will be to advance the interests of Newfoundland’s First Nations people on issues like health care and education.

The Qalipu First Nation, for example, spent $300,000 on mental health initiatives two years ago, and saw it skyrocket to $1.4 million last year. Mitchell hopes having a voice at the national table can get more attention paid to those issues in his communities.

A smaller priority — but a priority nonetheless, he said — is getting the Qalipu First Nation an urban reserve and expanding the Miawpukek First Nation reserve.

Mitchell sits on a federal subcommittee dedicated to additions to reserves — an issue he said is too tightly controlled by the federal government.

“When it comes to addition to reserve, that should be something the AFN should be handling itself. Not having the federal government entirely, and yes, unilaterally, take control of,” Mitchell said.

“I was hoping at the time when I got involved there to do something about creating possibly an urban reserve for Qalipu First Nation and supporting Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River in trying to create an addition to reserve on the Trans-Canada Highway at the Bay d’Espoir Highway.”

The Miawpukek First Nation owns land on the highway where it operates a motel. Qalipu First Nation has proposed an idea to operate a business park in Corner Brook as an urban reserve similar to Millbrook First Nation near Truro, N.S.

Mitchell said he’ll use his position to try to “encourage government to move forward quickly.”

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