Mi'kmaq Matters

John Risley's latest bad idea Data centres drain water and electricity, create intense heat and make a constant hum. Citizens across the U.S. are rising up against them. Are they coming to a NL community near you?

This week, we look at the implications from a pivotal decision by the Court of Appeal, and speak with David Rosenfeld, lawyer for plaintiffs in the Collins class action lawsuit, who contrary to Qalipu chief Jenny Brake says the FNI's absence from that matter hasn't been that big a deal.

Chief Jenny Brake says Finance Director cleaned out FNI account prior to handing it over and he did so without her or Qalipu council authorization.

UN Declaration is part of federal statute and now the AFN wants to incorporate it into provincial law, which might be a big deal in NL, where the government says Mi'kmaq arrived with Europeans and don't have same status as our people in Nova Scotia. We speak with Keith Cormier, who's coordinating AFN outreach on the island.

Several candidates raised the issue of "cumulative affects" in the recent band election -- development projects are not one-offs but things that affect everyone and everything present and future. We learn more from Camille Ouellet Dallaire, Program Chair, Environment and Sustainability at Grenfell Campus, and talk about the need to replace to 20-year old NL environment act.

Don't blame us, says third-party contractor. Meanwhile, at least one band member plans to lodge appeal to get election overturned.

Re-elected chief Jenny Brake will have more friendlies, but there might be a way to marshal some land-and-water consciousness even on this council, especially with Charlie White in the pivotal role of Western Vice-Chief. Plus: what happened to Byron Alexander?

Face to face with Byron Alexander, whose campaign platform of land and water defence and assertion of rights stands in sharp contrast to chiefs of Qalipu First Nation who have gone before.

Charlie White and Jeffrey Young are both from the Bay St. George area, a welcome antidote to the Corner Brook domination of the Qalipu First Nation leadership.