Mi'kmaq alliance shuts down

The Ktaqamkuk Mi'kmaq Alliance, which began operations in 2002, is permanently closing.

Chief Bert Alexander said the band council made the decision after the province's Appeals Division of the Supreme Court refused to certify a class-action lawsuit launched against the federal and provincial governments by the Alliance and two other groups.

The plaintiffs sought equality with other First Nations groups and wanted provincial crown land upon which a federally registered Mi'kmaq reserve could be established for the Mi'kmaq people.

"We just don't have the financial resources to continue a legal fight for the next two, three, four years either in federal court or to re-write the claim as the [provincial] courts recommended," said Chief Alexander.

He said up to this point, the 7,800-member Alliance had two legal firms working on consignment and had secured funding from the now defunct non-profit Court Challenges Program of Canada.

To keep the court case going could have cost several hundred thousand dollars, said Chief Alexander.

"And the other is, we've been a volunteer council for the last six and a half years - and no staff - so we just don't have the resources to run an organization that large."

He said members of the Alliance have the option to apply for membership in the Qaulipu Mi'kmaq First Nations Band, a landless band formed after an agreement was reached between the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and the federal government in late 2007.

"The options now are really for our people to, I guess, the ones who want to enroll in the Qaulipu Band ... would be probably the best option," said Chief Alexander. "Unless somebody can come up with the financial resources to continue a political fight."

The Georgian tried contacting Brendan Sheppard, Federation of Newfoundland Indians president, for comment. However, calls were not returned as of press time.

The Alliance has set up a temporary office on Atlantic Avenue in Stephenville for members to pick up any documents they submitted when they joined the band. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The schedule is in effect until Dec. 13.