Listuguj Community Garden

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Garden coordinator Sue Ann Clement began working in the community garden in 2019. At that time, the garden was on a small plot measuring roughly one acre, but today the space has increased to 13 acres. Currently, one acre is used for food for the community.

Clement said, “I’d love to be able to keep the one acre for the community and the other 12 acres we developed, to start selling for CSA (Community Support Agriculture) baskets.”  For this to happen, the garden staff require more equipment and machinery.

The garden is run by nine employees in total, and all the labour is done manually. “Everything we do is by hand. We pick by hand; we make the beds and rows by hand. When it comes to bugs – everything is by hand, we don’t spray any chemicals. Everything is all-natural,” Clement said.

The need for the community garden really escalated when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. There were few grocery and fresh food options for community members and travelling across the J. C. Van Horne Bridge came with challenges. Clement knew that this was the time for Listuguj to be self-sufficient and provide the community with locally grown vegetables. After its success during COVID-19, the garden staff continued to work hard and provide food for the community.

There is a wide variety of vegetables available in the garden. Various types of tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, onions, lettuce, kale, and much more.

The garden staff works in critical weather conditions to ensure Listuguj has access to freshly harvested produce. Clement said, “The crew goes above and beyond. I did the planning and numbers, but it’s them who created the garden. They made it come to life.”  The staff each bring something different to the table and offer different skills and techniques when it comes to the art of gardening.

The Listuguj Community Garden is run seasonally from May to October, and it is located on Bordeaux Road just past the Etlinpisulti’gw Healing Grounds. The staff’s hard work and hospitality do not go unnoticed, and the community thrives on their services.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Deven Condo-Mitchell and Amanda Larocque Compete on The Amazing Race Canada

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People from all over Gespe’gewa’gi were excited to hear that The Amazing Race Canada will have its very first Mi’gmaq competitors.  Deven Condo-Mitchell and Amanda Larocque are competing in Season 9 of the fast-paced reality show.

Condo-Mitchell is from right here in Listuguj. He is a Conservation Officer with the Listuguj Rangers and has a passion for adventure and athletics.
Larocque is from Gesgapegiag. She is the Director of Health and Social Services for the community, is a mother of two daughters, is a dancer, and like Condo-Mitchell, she shares a passion for adventure.

The couple found out about the show after a mutual friend passed along information about the application process and were thankful for the opportunity. “We’re actively making history right now. We’re the first team from the East Coast, being Mi’gmaq. Representing Gespe’gewa’gi, Mi’gma’gi,” said Condo-Mitchell. The two hope that being featured on the show will push other Mi’gmaw people to set and achieve goals. Larocque said, “It’s an absolute honour to be the first Mi’gmaq team, and I know we’re not going to be the last. We hope to inspire other youth across all Mi’gma’gi.”

Both Condo-Mitchell and Larocque are excited to share their journey with their communities.

 “We want to thank both of our communities for all the love and support we’ve received,” said Condo-Mitchell.

The community of Listuguj is thrilled to see Condo-Mitchell and Larocque make history and compete on The Amazing Race Canada.

By Ann Marie Jacques

A LETTER FROM CHASTITY MITCHELL
THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MMS

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As I address you today as the Interim Executive Director of the Mi’gmawei Mawio’mi Secretariat (MMS), I am humbled to continue my journey with the MMS organization during this period of transition and growth. Having been part of the MMS for over 20 years, I am aware of the incredible talent, dedication, and achievements that define our team. It is an honour to work alongside such motivating individuals, and I am excited to continue our collective efforts to drive success and make a lasting impact.

For nearly two decades, the Secretariat has been entrusted with the vital task of carrying out the directions of the Leadership from our three communities: Gesgapegiag, Gespeg, and Listuguj. Our overarching goal has remained throughout the years—to work tirelessly for the betterment of the citizens of Gespe’gewa’gi.

We work hand in hand with the Leadership and our fellow citizens to ensure transparency, accountability, and most importantly, to fulfill the will of the people.

As we move forward, our organization will be guided by the priorities set by our Leadership. We recognize that if it is not a priority for them, it is not a priority for us. This principle will shape our strategies and actions, as we remain dedicated to serving the needs and aspirations of Gespe’gewa’gi.

I encourage and embrace an open, transparent relationship between the Secretariat, the Leadership, and our citizens. We are all united in our common purpose—to protect and promote the Mi’gmaq values and principles on our territory. Together, we can ensure that the voice of Gespe’gewa’gi is heard and respected.

I invite you to join us on this important journey. Your participation, support, and feedback will be invaluable as we work towards a future that upholds the rights, and recognition of Gespe’gewa’gi.

Stay tuned for monthly updates as our team will continue to bring you all the highlights. Visit our  website www.migmawei.ca or send us your comments to stayconnected@migmawei.ca

Thank you for your trust in the Mi’gmawei Mawio’mi Secretariat. I am excited to embark on this shared mission.

Ap Namultes

NAIG Recap

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The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government would like to acknowledge our 10 Listuguj athletes who competed in the North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia last week.

Based on all the videos and photos, NAIG will be a memorable time in their lives they will not forget. Our athletes celebrated their culture, trained hard, and showed incredible determination and sportsmanship.

The community is very proud of their accomplishments, and it was an honor to have them represent the community of Listuguj.

Thank you to the coaches and volunteers from Listuguj who assisted our athletes and attended NAIG.

• Ala’suinu Barnaby – GOLD –  19U Men’s Beach Volleyball

• Hannah Mills – GOLD – 19U Female  200M, 1000M, 3000M, 6000M Canoe/Kayak
• Harmony Isaac – BRONZE – 16U Female Swimming 100M Backstroke

• Erika Metallic – BRONZE  – 14U Female Swimming 200M Butterfly

• Davery Condo-Mitchell – BRONZE – 16U Men’s Basketball

• Jack Limoges – BRONZE – 16U Men’s Basketball

• Nash Molley – 19U Men’s Basketball

• Amelia Rioux – 19U Female Basketball

• Tamika Gideon – 16U Women’s Volleyball

• Ayden Barnaby – 16U Men’s 3D Archery

• Joe Barnaby – 16U Men’s Golf

CHIEF’S CORNER WITH CHIEF SCOTT MARTIN – JULY 2023

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Summer is in full swing, and we’ve had many great events and celebrations in the community! Indigenous People’s Day, the Listuguj Graduation Banquet, the Bike Rodeo, the NAIG athlete parade, and more! On behalf of the administration, we are incredibly proud of our local athletes and their accomplishments at the North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia. Up next, we are looking forward to the annual Listuguj Pow Wow! Thank you to the Listuguj Pow Wow committee for all their hard work and dedication to ensure we have a safe and successful Pow Wow season!

Reintroducing Listuguj’s Comprehensive Community Plan

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The comprehensive community plan (CCP) was developed in 2012 by Chief Dean Vicaire, his administration at the time, and was coordinated by Tracey Metallic in collaboration with Dalhousie University. The plan was put into motion to collect feedback from community members and to use this data as a tool for long-term community development. The plan was put on hold, picked up again in 2016/2017 by Economic Development, and coordinated by Alicia Simon (Isaac).  “Coming together and making a community-led plan was something that really spoke to me,” Isaac said.

Germain-Metallic joined the coordinating team in 2017. Simon and Germain-Metallic engaged with over 400 people, they held several events, feasts, and more. The plan was updated in 2017 and was given the title: Listuguj Mi’gmaq Community Plan (LMCP), it was adopted in March 2018 and has been in implementation since then.

It has been five years since the LMCP was revised and Germain-Metallic and Simon have returned to meet with community members and re-evaluate the plan. This time around, Germain-Metallic is taking on the role of Comprehensive Community Planning Coordinator, and Simon is the Assistant Coordinator. Germain-Metallic said, “To see it at the very beginning stage, to have it officially adopted, to go through five years of watching the community work on it, and grow with it, and then to be able to come back and do the revision, I’m excited about that.”

Back in 2012 and 2017, the data received helped identify four major action areas for Listuguj:

Action Area 1 – Healthy Community
Action Area 2 – Environmental and Resource Stewardship
Action Area 3 – Entrepreneurship and Employment
Action Area 4 – Mi’gmaq Laws and Governance

The CCP team will touch base with community members to see how they feel about these areas, if they still consider them a priority, and how Listuguj has been working to achieve these important aspects. They are expecting to receive similar results to the ones from previous years, with an emphasis on these four action areas.

This time around the team will be engaging with all community members but are really interested in the feedback from the youth in Listuguj. Since they are the future generation, it is important to hear their thoughts and concerns when it comes to the existing LMCP, and what they feel would be beneficial to adjust. They have met with various youths and Simon said, “We ask them, ‘What do you envision 25 years from now?’ It might seem like a long time, but it goes by so fast. The kids pick up on so much in the community.”


The team stressed that the community plan is so much more than a list of project ideas for Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government directors to take on. Germain-Metallic said, “It’s an overview of your entire community all at once, projected itnto the future.” Not only is the plan important for the constant growth and well-being in Listuguj, but if there is no plan in place, there is a chance the community will not be considered for funding opportunities.

The CCP team, which includes an advisory committee, is very eager to engage with various groups of people of all demographics.  Their goal is to collect data over the summer and craft a new plan with the updated information in the fall months. The plan will then be presented to the general community, and once it has been validated, it will be presented to Chief and Council for formal adoption. Once the plan has been adopted, the team can work with the entire Listuguj organization to put plans into motion to achieve some of these goals.

You can find Listuguj’s current community plan on Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government’s official website. If you would like to meet with the CCP team and share your opinions on the plan, or what you feel could benefit the community of Listuguj as a whole, you can contact Dawn Germain-Metallic at dawn.germain@listuguj.ca, or Alicia Simon (Isaac) at alicia.isaac@listuguj.ca. The team will also be hosting various workshops over the summer months open to all community members.

Be on the lookout for future Wi’gatign issues for updates on the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Community Plan!

By Ann Marie Jacques

Canada’s First Indigenous Miss World Canada – Emma Morrison

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Emma Morrison is a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation, outside of Timmins, Ontario.  She grew up very connected to her culture and spent most of her time outdoors: hunting, fishing, and playing sports. In 2017, Morrison received a message via Facebook from a local pageant representative asking if she’d be willing to give pageantry a try and represent her town of Chapleau. She was skeptical but agreed and ultimately went on to be the first-ever Indigenous woman to win Miss World Canada in 2022.

Before competing in the Miss World Canada pageant, she competed in other pageants. and claimed the titles of Miss Northern Ontario and Miss Teenage Canada. There is a lot of hard work that comes with competing in pageants. They require a lot of training and dedication and are physically and mentally demanding on competitors. Even during vigorous training, Morrison always stays humble and grounded.  

In November 2022, Miss World Canada was held in Toronto, Ontario. When Morrison was crowned, she said it was a surreal experience. “I had a little piece of sage on me, I was having a little prayer backstage by myself amongst all the chaos. I remember thinking, ‘Okay creator, whatever you have in store for me, I surrender to that 100%,” she said.  When she got on stage, she was given an Indigenous issue question from the panel, and at that point, she felt it was truly meant to be. Morrison will never forget what it felt like to win and have her family cheering her on from the front row.

Morrison now has the privilege of visiting multiple Indigenous communities throughout Canada. She does motivational speeches and meets with community members promoting self-acceptance and gaining confidence. She joked that in every community she visits she always ends up with a “new cousin.” Even though she comes from a small town, she has worked hard for her accomplishments and is a good example for young people that anything can happen if you set your mind to it.

Morrison will be going on to compete in the 72nd Miss World Festival in December 2024. She said, “I’m really looking forward to this because, in 72 years, there has never been an Indigenous Canadian woman representing Canada.” One thing she is looking forward to about Miss World is that the festival holds a “Dancing of the World” category, where delegates can showcase a dance from their culture. Morrison plans on dancing in Fancy Shawl Regalia. There is a “Beauty with a Purpose” portion of the festival as well where delegates have a project developed in their communities that provides change and hope. Her project is “Reconnecting through Ribbon Skirts” where she creates ribbon skirts for Indigenous women and two-spirit people, so they can feel connected to their culture.

During her trip to Listuguj, she visited several places and met with many community members. She spent a lot of time with our youth visiting Alaqsite’w Gitpu School, the Outdoor Kindergarten class, and Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton. She attended Eel River Bar’s Annual Pride Celebration. She went salmon fishing, attended a belt-making workshop with Jamie Metallic, and was taken around the community to see the beautiful sights. Morrison stated she thoroughly enjoyed her time in the community. She also experienced salmon fishing using a net for the first time, as opposed to using a fishing rod that she is normally used to. “The people have been so welcoming. Everyone has been so kind, and they have gone out of their way to make me feel so welcome in the community. The kindness is beaming from Listuguj. I’ll be back!” she said.

You can find Emma Morrison on Facebook or Instagram, where she posts regular updates about her travels, her pageantry, and her positive outlook on life.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Donna Metallic – Helping Individuals Navigate the Criminal Justice System

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“The Native Courtworkers” program is a part of The Native Para-Judicial Services of Quebec that offers support services to help Indigenous people involved in the criminal justice system. These could be victims, witnesses, and accused in both the Adult and Juvenile courts. This program is to ensure Indigenous clientele receive equal, fair, and culturally appropriate treatment in all legal processes. 

In the Mi’gmaq communities in Quebec, there are two Courtworkers and Gladue Writers: Donna Metallic in Listuguj, and Tina Condo-Martin in Gesgapegiag.

Metallic started this role in October 2016.  She meets with community members and assists them in navigating the justice system. This could be several things, such as helping to obtain a lawyer, assisting them in the courtroom, helping clients undergo the Youth Protection process, or writing a Gladue report.

Gradue reports were developed in 1999 and are used only for Indigenous people. They were created to review historical, systemic, and individual factors that may have been contributors to an individual’s legal situation. It could include personal and/or family history, intergenerational traumas, criminal histories, and more. They are confidential, and not meant to be disclosed in a courtroom setting. They must be ordered by the court and may be requested for offenses in particular under the Criminal Code that lead to a prison sentence. “The courts want to see the whole dynamic of this individual. Where they’ve been, what they’ve suffered, any traumas or factors related to the crimes they’re being sentenced for,” said Metallic.

Courtworkers do not give legal advice, but they are available to help to understand legal processes. A lot of individuals do not know their rights or what resources are available. Metallic said, “We’re like a mentor for individuals and help them understand the Criminal Justice System and any other legal court system.” The nearest courthouse in our area is in New Carlisle, and for young offenders, Carleton Court is closest. Metallic will accompany individuals to their court dates and will offer them emotional support and guidance.

To get in contact with Donna Metallic, call 418-788-5455, or visit her office at 21 Riverside West, 2nd floor.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Chief’s Corner with Chief Scott Martin – June 2023

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On June 11th, we honored and acknowledged the events that took place in 1981 that strengthened our community. It was great to see so many people out for our Migwite’tm 81 Commemoration event. Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers who made this meaningful event possible.

On behalf of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, congratulations to our Listuguj graduates. Whether you graduated high school, grade 8, or Nursery, we are very proud of your accomplishments, and can’t wait to see what is in store for the future.

I look forward to all upcoming events in the community this Summer.

2nd Dan Black Belt – Joey Caplin

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Listuguj’s Joey Caplin is currently in grade 10 at Sugarloaf Senior High School, and will be going into Grade 11 in the Fall. His grandmother put him in Taekwondo when he was six years old because he was getting bullied. “It wasn’t for the sake of just being able to go fight someone, it was for inner confidence and discipline,” said Caplin.

Caplin earned his black belt in Taekwondo when he was 12 years old. Earlier this year with focus and persistence, he achieved his Second Dan black belt. He will be able to earn his Third Dan black belt in two years’ time when he is in Grade 12. In Taekwondo, the highest level of belt you can achieve is the 9th Dan black belt, which takes roughly a lifetime of years to attain.

Caplin’s favourite thing about Taekwondo is the traveling that comes along with competing. He loves the environment and meeting new people. In traveling through Canada, he has also had the opportunity to meet famous athletes.

He trains in Atholville, NB at Patrick Soucy Taekwondo. He would like to add that his grandfather, Frank Caplin has been driving him to Taekwondo since day one. Caplin said, “That’s a lot of dedication that he’s done my whole life really. He’s getting old, but he still always drives me, he cares about me a lot.”

The Taekwondo competition season has come to an end, but he will continue training during the summer months and will work to achieve his Third Dan black belt.

By Ann Marie Jacques