GRAYSON ISAAC TO TRY OUT FOR THE DETROIT JR. RED WINGS TEAM

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Even though Grayson Isaac is only nine years old, he has already had an impressive and extensive hockey career that began at a very young age. He said, “I was on skates at two, and I started playing hockey at four or five.” Isaac is the son of Michael and Sarah Isaac and is currently a grade four student at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School in the community.

Isaac is a goaltender and plays for two teams in the area. He plays for the Restigouche U11 Comp A Vikings, and for NB Ice in the Spring. Last year, he was selected to play for the Atlantic Apex team.

Last year, Isaac was asked to play in a tournament in Quebec City. The team he was on was coached by former NHL hockey player, Danny Cleary. Isaac’s goalie skills and love for the game were quickly noticed in Quebec City, and he was recommended to the Brick team, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings. Isaac was invited to Detroit, Michigan to try out for their Brick hockey team. He will be going during March Break.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Isaac. The team consists of hockey players born in 2015. The Detroit Jr. Red Wings were also last year’s winners at The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament.

Isaac will play two games and take part in an evaluation camp while he is in Detroit at the Little Caesars Arena. If he makes the team, he will play at The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament later this year at the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.

While he is in Detroit, he will get to attend two morning skates with NHL team, the Detroit Red Wings, and a locker room tour. He will also get to attend two NHL games.

This is an incredible opportunity for Isaac, who has so much talent when it comes to hockey. His goal is to one day play for the NHL, and his favourite hockey player is Carey Price.

Be sure to cheer on Isaac while he tries out for the Detroit Jr. Red Wings team in March!

By Ann Marie Jacques

Ella Vicaire– Inspiring Today’s Youth to Embrace their Language and Culture

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If you’ve attended any event in the community over the past few months, then you are probably familiar with Listuguj’s Ella Vicaire and her exceptional knowledge when it comes to the Mi’gmaw language. She is the daughter of Katerina Vicaire-Wysote and Perley Caplin and is a 17-year-old Sugarloaf Senior High School (SSHS) student.

Vicaire began learning Mi’gmaw when she attended Nursery at the Education Complex in the community. She was enrolled in Mi’gmaw Immersion until grade two at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School, where she was taught by a number of educators in the community. She said she remembers having fluent conversations in Mi’gmaw in these early years but unfortunately lost some of it later when she no longer was enrolled in the Immersion program.

When she began Sugarloaf Senior High School in grade nine, students were given the option if they would like to take a French or Mi’gmaw class. Vicaire opted for Mi’gmaw and her knowledge of the language naturally came back. During her time at SSHS, she has been taught by Betty Metallic, Joanne Vicaire and Carol Metallic. Two years ago, Carol Metallic posted a video of Vicaire reciting the poem, Maqamige’jg Flanders (In Flanders Fields), that quickly went viral online.

When it comes to the opportunities she was given since learning the language, she said, “It started off just speaking at school, and doing little things, and then recently a lot of opportunities came in.” Vicaire has recited prayers and opening remarks at several events such as the 2024 Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony, Chief and Council Inauguration, the grand opening of the Listuguj Police Department and more.

Although learning the language and culture can be intimidating, Vicaire says it has been a healing experience for her and is passionate about inspiring others to learn. Over the years, she has developed a very profound understanding of the language, that continues to impress the community. When she was a child, she remembers her Nan speaking Mi’gmaw at home. She said, “It was nice to do this for my Nan. She’s proud because we’re losing our language, and I wish a lot more students would take advantage and learn it.”

Vicaire will be graduating SSHS this year and will be attending Holland College in Prince Edward Island in the Fall to study Dental Assisting. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors!

By Ann Marie Jacques

Creating Over 140 Jobs with the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n 2 Wind Project

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Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation (MMBC) held three recruitment open houses in Listuguj, Gesgapegiag and Gespeg in January. Listuguj’s open house was held on January 15th at the Listuguj Community Development Center (Bingo Hall.)

MMBC’s Mi’gmaq Project Coordinator and Spokesperson, Terry Shaw – former Chief of Gespeg, gave a presentation on MMBC’s values, projects and upcoming opportunities with the the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n 2 (MU2) Wind Project in the MRC d’Avignon. Like MU1, MU2 will be done with an equal partnership between MMBC and Innergex Renewable Energy. This renewable energy initiative will generate over 140 jobs with the goal of maximizing Mi’gmaw employment and aims for commercial operation by December 2026.

MMBC’s Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Project Manager, Kirt Dedam spoke about the four pillars the organization focuses on when it comes to its projects: Employment, Education, Training and Communication.

If you are interested in a career in the renewable energy sector in Gespe’gewa’gi, there are a number of options available.

There are several employment opportunities with the upcoming MU2 Project:

  • Construction workers (heavy equipment operators, electricians, millwrights, ironworkers, labourers)
  • Site management (site managers, coordinators, health and safety officers)
  • Non-specialized trades (security, janitors, and more)
  • Administrative and logistics (site nurses, clerks, assistants)

For more information on these positions, or to submit your application visit: www.mmcorporation.ca/employment

MMBC offers a Scholarship and Bursary Program, which will be rolling out in May 2025. You can find more information on this at www.mmcorporation.ca.

A 14-week Entry-Level Wind Turbine Technician Program will be starting in April 2025. This program consists of online classes, in-community training and internship experience. It offers a weekly compensation, a meal allowance, and one of its main focuses is to encourage Indigenous women to apply. Spaces are limited.

MMBC offers a paid Traineeship Program at the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Farm, where individuals can take part in a two-day on-site program, and see what the day in the life of a wind turbine maintenance technician is like. The program includes a guided tour of the operational facilities and the wind farm site, learning essential safety protocols, hands-on workshops and more. Individuals will also get the opportunity to climb a 100-meter wind tower.

If you’d like to apply for the Entry-Level Wind Turbine Technician Training Program, or the Traineeship Program at the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Farm, please contact Kirt Dedam for an application at kdedam@mmcorporation.ca or 418-759-3070.

By Ann Marie Jacques

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Full Spectrum Doula Services Now Available in Listuguj!

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Maternal Child health program in partnership with the Mishwaashin Lodge Indigenous Women’s Support Centre hosted the Aunties on the Road: Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula Training in September 2024. We had a wonderful group who took part in this training.

We would like to present to you 4 community members who took part in the Indigenous Full spectrum Doula training in September 2024.

  • Allanah Dedam
  • Sarah Clement
  • Chantel Isaac
  • Brianna Caplin

What is an Indigenous full spectrum doula?

it is a non-medically trained care provider who offers support to Indigenous people throughout their reproductive and sexual health journeys. They can help with a variety of experiences, including:

  • pregnancy, birth, postpartum, abortion, family planning, menstruation, adoption, loss, and perimenopause and menopause.

Indigenous full spectrum doulas can provide culturally relevant care that builds on traditional Indigenous roles and teachings. They can help clients honor their traditional and spiritual practices and support their cultural and language needs.

If ever you are interested in Doula Services or have any questions, you can contact Avery or Katrina at the Health center at (418) 788-2155.

By Listuguj Community Health Services

Chief’s Corner with Chief Scott Martin – January 2025

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Pusu’l Puna’ne!

For 2025, I encourage you to look after one another, and yourselves. Be sure to check in on your family during these cold winter months, especially our Elders in the community.  Like every year, there are plenty of events to look forward to in 2025! Be sure to keep an eye on all Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government social media channels for information on upcoming events throughout the year! Chief and Council also strive to keep you informed of developments and projects throughout the year.

Listuguj Income Security

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The Listuguj Community Social Services Directorate (LCSSD) offers several programs and resources to the community, one of these resources is the First Nations of Quebec Income Security Program.  In the community, there are a number of employees working for LCSSD who specialize in the Income Security Program. Denise Jacques is the Manager, Brandey Barnaby and Macy Vicaire are Intake Workers, Sheila Brisk is the Receptionist and Sophie Delaney is the Community Support Worker.

This Income Security Program is used as a last resort for independent adults, married persons and common law partners only.

To be eligible you must:

  • Be an adult aged 18 years or older OR, if you are under the age of 18, be or have been married or be the parent of a dependent child.
  • Live in the community to which you have submitted your application.
  • Demonstrated that you have no other financial resource at your disposal. (Note that exclusions may apply with respect to your liquid assets, goods and income.)

This program is divided into two categories:

Unable to Work

Income assistance under the category of Unable to work is provided to people who have restrictions preventing them from holding employment or participating in training measures owing to their precarious state of health, a chronic impairment, their age, or any other reason recognized by the regulation.

Able to Work

Income assistance under the category Able to work is provided to people in a situation of financial insecurity or employment instability and who have not demonstrated an incapacity to participate in employment insertion and training measures. This category of income security is considered a transitional step.

For community members interested in applying for this program, they must submit an application and complete the income security program registration form.  

They will then be asked to provide supporting documents to determine eligibility and establish the amount to which they are entitled.

Supporting documentation that may be requested may include, but not limited to:

  • Proof of residence form
  • Birth certificate or picture ID
  • Bank statement

After you have filled out the appropriate paperwork and supplied the supporting documents, your application will be processed, and a decision will be made within the next 10 days.

If you are approved for the program, you must complete a Monthly Declaration form each month and return it. This form must be submitted no later than the 15th of every month.

Once per year, your files will be re-evaluated.

The Income Security program also offers special allowances to help cover needs that are not considered by your basic benefit. Some of the special needs include funeral expenses, pregnancy, childcare, diabetes, etc. It is an individual’s responsibility to inform the Income Security team of their special need no later than 30 days following the event. Supporting documentation must be supplied.

If you are interested in the Income Security Program in the community, or if you have any questions, please contact 418-788-2909 or email denise.jacques@listuguj.ca.

By Ann Marie Jacques and the Listuguj Community Social Services Directorate