(One story that didn't get published)
FIRST NATION TO SEEK APPROVAL OF MEMBERSHIP CODE THROUGH REFERENDUM
The First Nation Government of Miawpukek (Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi) has decided to hold a referendum to obtain it’s member’s approval for its membership code. Miawpukek is the name of that part of the Mi’kmaw homeland "between two rivers" that in recent memory came to refer only to that area occupied by the permanent settlement within that area and got changed to Conne River. Similar changes were made to other Mi’kmaw place names, because the "Mi’kmaw names were too hard to pronounce". Some Mi’kmaq regard those changes a direct result of the loss of control over their own affairs especially in regards to membership and thus residence in the First Nation. Others see the results of uncontrolled influx of non-aboriginals into the First Nation as a severe strain on the funding resources available which are already stretched to their limits. These and other concerns held troubling forebodings for many in the First Nation who sought to imagine the future prospects for their Nation in the new century. Although brought up on many occasions prior, it was only at last August’s Tribal Meeting that the Mi’kmaq of this First Nation finally were able to set the gears in motion to do something about the problem. In a letter to it’s membership last November, the Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi set January 31 as the date for the referendum. The decision to go to a referendum was made in light of the fact that Annual Tribal Meetings, where such major law making is normally done has on several occasions in recent years failed to achieve a quorum of it’s members. Members have had a copy of the proposed membership code in their hands for a year now. Additional information may be sent out "prior to the referendum date". As well, anyone needing further clarification or who want to discuss the matter further are encouraged to "drop by" the Mawi’omi offices.
FIRST NATION POLICING COMMISSION
Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi the governing body of the Miawpukek (Conne River) Mi’kmaq, have appointed a justice commission to work alongside their Tribal Police in the policing of their First Nation. The commission called the Miawpukek Tribal Police Commission, was only formed in the latter days of 1997 so no draft of its proposed mandate was available at this time. All that a spokesperson would say was that there are seven members at present appointed with a youth representative’s name forthcoming in this new year. The commission has only met a few times and will "take some time to decide on it’s mandate" which will then be released to First Nation members. Conne River Aquaculture Defers Decision to Purchase Support Craft for Operations Conne River Aquaculture recently "returned" a motor vessel it was testing as a support craft for it’s operations. The thirty five foot vessel was brought in to be tried out this past summer. In the First Nation’s most recent monthly report to it’s members, it was reported that the boat "...is not exactly what we are looking for." The vessel was tried out for a period of two weeks at a cost of approximately $2,000.00 and the manager of the aquaculture operations had prepared " a complete set of financial to prove the feasibility of the boat", but although "It does perform the way we expected" the vessel was returned and a report will be made "...on the performance of the boat to be placed on file." In other news from the First Nation Aquaculture enterprise, this reporter was told that they are looking into the possibility of having some sort of "floating" accommodations made available to it’s operations. The enterprise is hoping to get away from the cost of having to build permanent on shore accommodations whenever they set up a new site, temporary or otherwise.
CONSTRUCTION OF COMMUNITY BUS SHELTERS NEARLY COMPLETE
School children in the community of Miawpukek (Conne River) will soon have a more comfortable time waiting for their bus to school. Shelters for the five designated school bus stops in the community will soon be in place. Several carpenters have been hard at work the past two weeks, with three shelters nearly finished and work soon to start on the remaining two. The bus shelters have oft been discussed, but no action taken. At two of the stops, children have to walk from nearly a half a kilometer to get to their stop. And of course they have to be at the stop when the bus arrives, so there is no staying back waiting until the bus arrives. This has meant students from all grades kindergarten and up often times have to wait in cold, wet snow or a combination of all three weather extremes, for up to half an hour at times for the bus. A recent letter from a resident concerning the unsatisfactory situation seems to have started the ball rolling. The First Nation’s Capital Works Department made several quick cost estimates before finally deciding to build the shelters themselves using simple materials. The shelters are expected to be in place within the next couple of weeks.