Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women Awareness Walk

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Fishing Quota Allocation

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A portion of Listuguj’s fishing quota has been allocated to Kildare Fisheries in Prince Edward Island. Chief and Council made this decision early May.

“The last few years we could only fish 75 per cent of the quota with our boats,” said Chief Scott Martin.

This year the quota is also higher than it was last year.

The remaining 25 per cent has been sold “on the water,” which is essentially leasing a portion of the license. This year, plans for the 25 per cent are being done ahead of time. And for more money.

The decision has been described as entirely financially driven. A quarter of Listuguj’s 2 million pounds will go to Kildare Fisheries.

The price for snowcrab was        approximately 10 cents more per pound in PEI last years. The higher quality crab typically sell for higher prices, and it is expected to do the same this year.

There are other small benefits  as well.

Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia all fish snow crab out of zone 12. This is the biggest zone in the region, with a quota of 20,000 more tons than the next largest area, says Steve Hachey, the Communications Advisor with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 

This deal allows four of the Listuguj fishermen to bring their catch to PEI instead of Quebec, which means a larger portion of the zone can be fished throughout the season.

Increasing the range – and the odds of catching quality crab – is especially beneficial this year. This season started May 11, but it usually begins April 15.

“We figured that if PEI is offering us a little bit more money, why not explore that area,” said Martin.

Settlement Deadline

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The Governement of Canada signed the Settlement Agreement on April 29, 205. This is the “effective date.” The cutoff date to confirm Listuguj membership is now May 29, 2015.

Delays from the Canadian Government pushed this date back further than expected, but the LMG has always stated that the final day to be registered on the band list would be 30 days following the “effective date” of the agreement.

This will determine how many people are eligible for the $60 million that will be distributed to community members. Exact Per Capita Distribution (PCD) amounts will only be known once all the registered members are confirmed. All members will have to apply for the PCD.

For new members to be eligible, they must be confirmed, or have an application that is considered active by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) or the LMG.

Canada has said it will release the Settlement Funds after the “Effective Date,” and within one month following the necessary appropriation vote by Parliament. So the money could be released as late as August, 2015.

Payment will be made to a restricted Listuguj bank account fully verifiable by community members.

Contact Gino Clement at the LMG immediately if you are in the process, or will be applying for Listuguj membership.

Chief’s Message

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“The newsletter is another form of being transparent and accountable to the community,” said Chief Scott Martin. “Not everybody has Facebook, so a newsletter going out to the community keeps them in touch with what is actually happening in the community.”

There are a lot of things happening. Look forward to more information on the Settlement Agreement, the Beautification Project, and the official groundbreaking of the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm

On top of the many projects undertaken by the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, increasing transparency has always been a concern.

That’s all we’re trying to do – keep as many people informed as we can.

Martin said there’s a lot of exciting things coming up to share. Aside from the Settlement Agreement, the LMG is also waiting for the Canadian Government to unfreeze funds so the “Beautification Project” can get up and running.

Once Listuguj has the ministerial guarantee, the LMG can obtain loans to build houses, which will be “leased to own” to community members. Apartments will also be built with these loans.

Also in the near future is the official groundbreaking of the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm. It will be on June 22.

What’s in a name?

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Nujignua’tegeg comes from Nujignau’teget. The first refers to a thing, the second to person – or more accurately a function performed by a person. 

“Nujignua’teget is a person who’s recognized for their ability to inform and/or has been appointed to inform – either on behalf of the community or the leadership,” said Dr. Fred Metallic. “It’s a mechanism for communications between the leadership and its people.” 

The fact that it is in the language suggests that there has been a long traditional use and understanding of the importance of such a role. But it also applies to far broader functions. 

“There’s many people who could serve that purpose,” said Metallic. “Depending on the situation – because leadership was quite situational – then that would dictate who the Nujignua’teget would be.” 

Clearly the Chief often assumes this role, but even the head an extended family would be considered a nujignua’teget. 

A key component to the term is “nuji,” which recognizes there is some official capacity to the role.

“Everybody can be an informer, but not everybody is an official informant,” said Metallic. “Gnua’teget is what you’re doing – you’re informing. But ‘nuji’ makes it an official one.” 

This term sums up the function of this newsletter. It will provide a space for people and organizations to inform the community. But – like the term – it will be more than that. It will perform the more fundamental function of representing great parts of the community back to itself.

“(Nujignua’teget is) something that’s done within the community,” said Metallic. “But it’s also something that serves communities in general.”