The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Brendan Sheppard, President of the Federation of Newfoundland Indians (FNI), on Monday announced an accelerated process for updating the membership list for the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation Band to be established in early 2010 for the Mi'kmaq of Newfoundland. As of November 30, 2009, nearly 26,000 applications had been received and approximately 11,000 had been approved for the initial members list by the Enrolment Committee, chaired by Mr. Tom Rideout.