Windfarm Groundbreaking

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The official groundbreaking ceremony at the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Farm was on June 22. Nearby Chiefs and councils were in attendance, along with members of Innergex Renewable Energy, nearby mayors and MLAs, the Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Ghislain Picard, elders, and the Quebec Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Geoffrey Kelley.

“We did it in an aboriginal way,” said Troy Jerome, the Executive Director of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat. “We wanted to make sure the Mi’gmaq were incorporated into it. We had a group of young drummers sing the honor song.”

Jerome reported between 150 and 200 people in attendance, with shuttles bringing people from Listuguj, Gesgapegiag, and Gespeg to the site in the Avignon Regional County Municipality.

There were lots of reasons to celebrate.

Technically, it’s the symbolic start of construction. The land has already been cleared, and 28 Mi’gmaq workers are already there daily. But construction of the actual towers are just about to begin.

By the end of the season, 47 bases will be constructed.

“We have to put about 40-50 cement trucks in each of those bases, full of cement,” said Jerome.

The plan is to also burying cables this year. Next year the towers will be erected, and turbines will be installed.

This year also marks the completion of training – a major priority for the team.

“Our guys are recognized to work in Quebec now,” said Jerome.

The Commission de la Construction du Québec prevented many Mi’gmaq works from working in the province, even if they were experienced.

“By the partnership with them, we’ve managed to get people to take the exams, and when they go and write the exams, they’re passing,” said Jerome. “They’re already experienced, they just didn’t have the certification in Quebec. Now they’re certified.”

Jerome said the lists have already been made for the different trades during the construction phase, and more people will be hired as time goes on. However, there is still some training for young people who wish to be involved with the maintenance of the windmills for the next 20 years.

Jerome is careful not to credit luck – because a lot of hard work has been put in – but a lot of elements of the project are lining up nicely.

“Things are coming along – the right time at the right place, good relationship with the region, with the government on this particular project,” said Jerome.

The next major milestone for the project will be September 2016, when the blades start spinning, and the two-month testing period begins. By December 2016, everything should be operational and feeding electricity to the main grid – enough to power 27,000 homes.

In the meantime however, there is a big job – finding consensus on how the profits will be distributed.

“The first thing we want to do is put a time line on the table,” said Jerome.

A consensus building team is being put together to work with the communities. The goal is to come up with a plan, spend three months making sure all the community members are aware, and then sign off – all before any profits are generated.

The process will begin right after the summer elections in Gesgapegiag, and Gespeg – both of which will result in governments serving four year terms.

Welfare Suspension Resolved

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Chief Scott Martin sent an open letter to the Department of Social Development of N.B over potential suspension of “welfare” payments to registered band members who receive Per Capita Distribution payments from the Settlement Agreement.

The matter is expected to be resolved.

In his letter, Martin clearly that withholding benefits is illegal.

Specifically citing Article 2 (2.4 and 2.5) of the Settlement Agreement, which states that no funds paid to Listuguj members “shall be factored into or considered in any negative manner in the determination of any amount of funding for any programs  or services of Canada.”

Martin said that any attempts to withhold “welfare” payments due to PCD payments will be challenged legally.

Valerie Kilfoil, the Communications Director with the New Brunswick Department of Social Development said on July 8 that the department was in touch, and the matter would be resolved. A letter confirming this was still in transit at that time.

It is unclear if similar actions will be required with other provinces.

Graduation – Honors and Awards

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Nadia Wysote – 2015 Role Model of the Year

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Chief’s Message (July 9)

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Things are finally starting to slow down a little around the LMG.

“I’m happy with the process which was done with the settlement agreement,” said Chief Scott Martin.

The bulk oif PCD payments have been processed so far, and LMG staff are able to start focusing on other matters.

Martin also said he’s happy to see some of the decisions being made within the community.

“The community spent the money wisely by investing some and buying things they needed,” he said.

Martin also wanted to congratulate all the recent grads once again.

Next up – the Wellness Fair, St. Annes Day, and the Pow Wow.

Chief’s Message (June 24)

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“At this time of year – with all the activities, and all the money that will be going around – please party responsibly,” said Chief Scott Martin.

“It’s a busy time of year.”

With all the graduations, the first round of the Settlement Agreement Funds going out, and good weather – there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Like always, the Chief and the staff at the LMG have a lot on their plate.

Aside from arrangements for all the holidays, and special events, Martin is looking forward to decisions for some major projects.

“I’m hoping that our financial statements are good,” said Martin. “So they can release the freeze on the ministerial guarantee, so that we can build houses.”

That will only be known until July 31st.

Arrested in 1981

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There are still some in Listuguj who were arrested when the Quebec Provincial Police raided the community in 1981.  Rene Martin was one. You can see the police pulling his hair in the opening of Alanis Obomsawin’s film, “Incident at Restigouche.”

Rene Martin and his partner Joyce Metallic — now of 43 years – were living the in the same house they live in today. Except now it’s bigger, and has electricity and running water.

They were in Campbelltown with their two children, doing laundry, when the bridge was blocked.

Determined to get home, they drove to Matapédia and made it back to Riverside Drive, where they encountered their first police officer.

“I had my second one in my arms,” said Metallic. “I remember him pointing a gun at us.”

“He pointed the gun and he said, ‘turn around, or I’ll shoot.’”

Of course, they went back, and took another way into Listuguj.

Metallic asked Martin not to go, but he wanted to see what was going on. He had no idea what to expect – he even brought along their eight year-old son.

He tried to get to the bridge, but there was a blockade near the church. He took another route and finally made it, where there were “bus loads of cops.”

“People were just standing around doing nothing,” Martin said. “These cops were marching back and forth. Then, once and a while they’d point a finger … and they’d go after somebody.”

The police were protecting game wardens as they seized and destroyed fishing nets.

The entire incident  was over how 72 hours of fishing was to be distributed each week. The Quebec government insisted on three 24-hour periods. First Nation’s leadership wanted to keep six 12-hour periods at night. So police officers and helicopters were sent to destroy fishing equipment.

In the end, 12 people were arrested, including two minors.

Martin was one of the unlucky ones.

He brought his son to his sister in-law’s, then headed back to the bridge, where joined the group.

Then, a cop pointed at him.

“We took off running.”

The police followed.

Martin kept running, and jumped down the bank. The police kept following.

He jumped in the river, and swam.

As he moved further away from shore, a helicopter circled overhead. Police officers followed from dry land. He eventually went back. Where they arrested him.

You can see photos of Martin soaking wet, with an officer leading him by the back of the head, with a handful of his hair.

He was put on a bus and brought to New Carlisle, where everyone was held in a big cage.

“They did it like how they treated the blacks in the states – just free for all, beat them up,” Martin said. “But over here, touch one, you might as well touch the whole reserve.”

Word spread, and support came from all over. Neighbours, and people from all over the east coast came, including Chiefs from Nova Scotia. There were even reports of people from as far as Alaska.

Martin and the others were let out the very next day, and all the charges were eventually dropped, even though it did take a small legal battle.

But the arrest didn’t deter Martin, or the others. He was out again two weeks later, when a blockade was set up on the Campbellton side of the bridge, for the same reason.

But It didn’t even slow Martin down the days immediately following the raid.

“I had a bingo a couple days after,” he said. “I won my money, and bough a new net.”

He went fishing.

Migwite’tm’nej 2015

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Even though weather prevented people from marching this year, Migwite’tm’nej still brought people together to remember the 1981 raids.

“Today is a very sad and special day for our community,” said Madelien Germain, from the stage in the Bingo Hall. “Some of the men that were brutally abused, beaten … Some women were also abused, children were abused. And we’re remembering all of this today.”

Typically, there is a march from the wharf to the bingo hall, where a salmon meal is prepared. However, with threats of a large lightning storm, the decision was made to just gather at the hall.

Councillor, Derek Barnaby spoke.

“History has shown that Quebec and Canada have done everything in their power to eliminate us, to stop us from traditional harvesting of our food,” he said.

“They made it illegal for us to fish Salmon, they made it illegal for us to hunt and to provide for our families.”

The raid on June 11, 1981 was over an attempt to limit Listuguj salmon fishermen.

“At the end of the day, when people were going to jail, when people were abused, when people were hurt, our people here in Listuguj got together, and we said ‘enough is enough.’”

People gathered around the bridge in 1981, where the Quebec Provincial Police had set up a blockade, and were protecting game wardens as they destroyed fishing nets.

“From the process we learned that we need to stay together. Division does not help us in any way,” Barnaby said. “We’ve come to the understand that we are very strong, we’re very powerful. And we recognize our power in our existence today.”

Barnaby concluded by calling on everyone to “never forget 1981, and to be proud of who we are as Mi’gmaq people.”

Click here to see video of Barnaby’s speech.

First PCD Payments

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The first Per Capita Distribution (PCD) funds for the settlement agreement went out on Friday, June 19. Approximately 1,100 people received $14,951.41.

Registered band members as of May 29,2015 have five years to apply. Minors have five years to apply following their 18th birthday. Payments are expected to be going out for the next 23 years

Anyone who submits a successful application can expect to receive their payment within approximately two weeks.

So far, over 2,000 applications have been processed.

“We’re about two thirds there,” said Mike Isaac, the Communications Officer for the LMG.

Registered band members over the age of 18 – with two valid government-issue IDs – can fill out an application form at the LMG office. Applications will be processed in person at the LMG office from now on.

Click for the “ Per Capita Distribution of Settlement Funds Application Instructions,” the “Community Bulletin #1 regarding PCD,” and the application form. Visit listuguj.ca for more updates.

VIDEO: Migwite’tm’nej 2015

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