Miawpukek First Nation (MFN) is located 224 km south of Gander and has an on-reserve population of approximately 800 and an off-reserve population of approximately 1,500. MFN is a Mi'kmaq community with an established history of providing the community with a sound and accountable governing structure, innovative community programming and solid administrative practices.

The comprehensive self-government negotiations are stand-alone (without a land claims component) governance and jurisdictional negotiations, which is the next logical step in ensuring that MFN has the tools and flexibility it needs to fully engage in a government-to-government relationship with Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador, to develop the social and economic potential of the community, and to make a significant contribution to the future of Newfoundland and Labrador.

MFN has shown leadership in community consultation. The community is engaged in all aspects of the self-government process, and has mandated its leadership to be fully involved in the upcoming negotiations and to act as a liaison between MFN membership and the negotiators. The consultation process will be as broad and as inclusive as possible with members of MFN living on and off reserve being given every opportunity to participate in the consultation process as negotiations proceed.

Consultation sessions will be organized both in and outside of Conne River to explain the process, the various stages of negotiations, and to receive input from Miawpukek members. A MFN Self-Government Steering Committee representing various components of the community has been established, and will provide the main interface for community members to input into negotiations. A negotiation team has been selected which will report to the Self-Government Steering Committee which will in turn report to the MFN membership at large.

December 2004

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