Amelia Rioux – Athlete of the Year

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LISTUGUJ, QC – Amelia Rioux wins SSHS Athlete of the Year

Sports have always been a big part of Amelia Rioux’s life. She started her athletic career at the early age of three years old, beginning with soccer and dance. In grade three, she started swimming; and a year after that, she began playing basketball. When she entered high school, she added volleyball to the list of sports.

For Amelia, playing and committing to these five sports was all just for fun. It was a perfect way to keep busy and get rid of any stress.

“Playing sports is an escape from all the stress of life and everything,” said Amelia.

This year at the SSHS Sports Banquet, Amelia won ‘Most Improved’ for volleyball, ‘Best Defense’ for basketball, and the ‘Henderson Award’ for volunteering with the school. She also got her name on the gymnasium wall for winning the biggest award of the night, ‘Athlete of the Year’.

This isn’t Amelia’s first time getting her name on the wall. Her involvement in basketball during her middle school years at AGS scored her ‘Rookie of the Year’ in grade five, ‘MVP’ three years in a row afterward, and was able to get her name on the wall in grade seven for winning ‘Athlete of the Year’.

Though she accomplished so much throughout her journey, her high school experience was far from normal due to the pandemic.

“I only had like one normal year of high school, which was grade nine,” she said. “I lost out on half of it all.”

Attending high school during the pandemic is unimaginably rough, but Amelia got by. She graduated from SSHS this year and already has her plans set out for what is next.

“I’m going to Holland College for kinesiology in the fall. I’ll get my diploma in two years and then I want to finish my degree at a university,” she said. “Once I’m done that, I want to go to my bachelor of education and teach at AGS.”

For her upcoming journey, you can expect Amelia to be trying out for the basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams. There is no doubt that she will become a huge asset to any team she plays for.

The community of Listuguj is proud of Amelia and her accomplishments and can’t wait to see her continue thriving.

By Tanner Isaac

“You Have to Find Humor in Painful Things”

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What better way to kick off Listuguj’s first Pow-Wow in two years than kicking it off with a live performance from the hilarious, Don Burnstick?

The last time Burnstick was in Listuguj was in 2017 for National Addictions Awareness week where he talked about sobriety, violence, and well-being, this time around, he came to the community to lighten things up after the pandemic. “COVID was horrible across the board,” says Burnstick, “You’re healing when you can make fun of an experience. You have to find humor in painful things.”

Burnstick is forever grateful for the impact he has on people, and how his show affects the lives of his multi-generational fans: youth, adults, and elders.  He is touched by the laughter that erupts from the crowd at each show, and by the stories from individuals saying he played a major part in their lives. Burnstick recalls one powerful fan encounter where the fan stated he and his father often laughed and bonded together listening to Burnstick, and since the fan’s father passed away, he continues to watch and listen to Burnstick in memory of his father and feels his father laughing alongside him.

Burnstick believes it’s his mission to make people forget their problems while he is performing. He says, “Somebody in the audience could be thinking about suicide, or someone is depressed, or someone got beat up the night before, there’s stuff that’s going on, so if I can help those people, I’ll do it. I’ll pour my guts out.”

Touring North America and performing for Indigenous communities is what Burnstick craves. He acknowledges that he could travel the world and perform, but says he wants to specifically share his humor and visit with the Indigenous communities who have supported him since day one.  Burnstick says it is truly humbling to see fans lined up outside venues to listen to him speak. “I used to get in trouble for my words, now I get paid for them.”

Burnstick has developed a major following on various social media platforms.  Be sure to follow him for news, upcoming show dates, and of course the humor we all love him for.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Senator Brian Francis Visits Listuguj

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Listuguj was very fortunate to have welcomed Mi’gmaq Senator Brian Francis and his wife, Georgina to our community in early August. Senator Francis was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2018 as the first person of Mi’gmaq descent in Prince Edward Island.  Senator Francis has had many roles under his belt including former Chief in the Abegweit Mi’gmaq Nation and serving as the Aboriginal Coordinator with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

“As the Senator, my role is to advocate for those who are less advantaged in my province and region in Canada,” said Senator Francis.  He also stated that his former role as Chief helped him prepare for the duties that come with being the Senator. He stated, “Politics are everywhere. There are politics in the Senate, and there are politics in First Nation communities.”

The visit included a tour held by Chief Darcy Gray and Council members, touring Listuguj facilities – including buildings and departments currently under construction, and meeting with several community members.

The tour began at the Natural Resources building, meeting with the Capital and Infrastructure team. The team provided Senator Francis with in-depth details regarding new developments, funding, and upcoming projects – such as the park on Glitaw Road, Turtle Lodge, and the new Social Services Building. With the Senator’s expertise in the fishing industry, a very impressive discussion with the Director of Natural Resources, Dr. Fred Metallic, and Fisheries Manager, Denny Isaac was had.

The next stop on the tour was Alaqsite’w Gitpu School. Many of the school’s staff were working on projects for the upcoming Pow-Wow, one item, in particular, was intricately crafted cooked curly Birdseye maple boxes designed by students. The Senator was also given a tour of the new Mi’gmaq immersion wing.

A thorough tour of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Development Centre was given by Associate Director, Jennifer LaBillois-Metallic, highlighting all the courses and services offered in the building.

Senator Francis then visited the Listuguj Training & Education building, with a tour from Post-Secondary Program Officer In-Community, Melissa Drapeau.

Other stops on the tour included the highly anticipated Waqatasg Elder’s Home, the beautiful new Social Services building that is currently under construction, Caplin Road, the Listuguj Community Centre, the Public Works Compost Building, and more.

In conclusion, Senator Francis was impressed by Listuguj, and all current and upcoming projects and developments. He recognized the hard work this community does daily.  Senator Francis’s advice to young Mi’gmaq or Indigenous people is, “You can be, or do what you want to do in life if you put your mind to it.”

By Ann Marie Jacques