Waqatasg Elders Care Facility Holds Grand Opening Celebration

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The vision for an Elders Home in Listuguj has been in the works since 2001. In the summer of 2024, that vision became a reality as the Waqatasg Elders Home opened its doors to its first Listuguj Elders.

Although the Elders Home has been open and operational for the past year, on July 24, 2025, an official grand opening celebration was held.

The event consisted of guest speakers, Listuguj Community Health Services Director, Donna Vernon Metallic, the Chief of Listuguj, Scott Martin, and the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bassem Abdrabou. The drum group, Eastern Eagle came from Nova Scotia to perform for the guests and residents, accompanied by dancers, Laya Morrison, Alexa Metallic, Tayla Larocque, Vernon Metallic and Tanya Metallic.

A special monument was unveiled at the event, displaying a powerful message that touches on the strength and resilience of Mi’gmaw people, who continue to persevere despite the lasting effects and trauma of Indian Residential School, Indian Day Schools, Boarding Homes and Sanitoriums. While the unveiling of the monument occurred, Carol Metallic read the Mi’gmaw inscription engraved on the monument. The monument is situated in front of the Waqatasg Elders Home at 2 Isaac Street in the community and can be viewed any time.

Several special guests were in attendance:

  • Listuguj’s current Chief and members of Council
  • Former Listuguj Chiefs, Jerry Wysote, Brenda Gedeon Miller, Allison Metallic, and Darcy Gray
  • Tribal Chief Clarissa Sabattis, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
  • Chief Sheila McCormack, Mi’kmaq Nation, Presque Isle, Maine
  • Patty Martin, Mi’kmaq Nation, Presque Isle, Maine
  • Marjolaine Siouï, Executive Director, FNQLHSSC
  • Rosalee Siouï, Nation Wendat
  • Brad Mann, Business Development Manager, Port of Belledune
  • Chief Céline Cassivi, Gespeg First Nation
  • Connie Jacques, Executive Director, Gespeg First Nation
  • Dr. Luce Picard
  • Dr. Gilles Pelletier
  • Dr. Jean-Paul Dedam
  • Tina Hamel, Mi’kmaq Tribal Vice-Chief, Presque Isle, Maine

Tobacco offerings were given out to the guests, and they were asked to sign a guestbook to commemorate the grand opening. To conclude the event, refreshments were served, courtesy of the kitchen staff at the Elders Home.

From the beginning, the main goal of the Waqatasg Elders Home was to create a space where Elders truly feel at home within their own community. This goal was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Listuguj Community Health Services Directorate and staff at the Waqatasg Elders Home, Capital and Infrastructure, and past and present Chiefs and Councillors.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Introducing the Newly Formed Economic Development Team

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helping to grow the community and improve quality of life. The department aims to support local businesses, create jobs and infrastructure, boost tourism, and advance Mi’gmaw land and agricultural opportunities.

 At the end of May, Loni Vicaire became the new General Manager of Economic Development. She is joined by team members Tamara Jacques, Julianne Wysote, and summer student Wasueg Nicholas. Together, they bring valuable experience and knowledge, along with a strong connection to Listuguj’s goals and values.

 The department oversees the community garden and greenhouse, the Post Office, and the Chipper, while also managing files such as the Per Capita Distribution and other community programs.

 Looking ahead, the team is developing a strategic plan with clear budgets and timelines. Exciting projects are already underway, including new modular greenhouses to strengthen food sovereignty, a potential backyard gardening initiative, and exploring business opportunities in the new Listuguj Hills development for residential, commercial, and industrial growth. They are also seeking ways to expand tourism to showcase the beauty of Listuguj’s lands and waters.

 In addition, Economic Development is preparing to relaunch the LMG business grant program, which will provide funding and support to local entrepreneurs.

 Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming Economic Development events and initiatives! We can’t wait to see what they have in store for the future!

By Economic Development and Ann Marie Jacques

MMS Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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Greetings Listuguj! 

August 4th, 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Political Accord between the communities of Gesgapegiag, Gespeg and Listuguj which created the Mi’gmawei Mawio’mi Secretariat. And, wow, twenty five years has gone by in the blink of an eye. We hosted three simultaneous celebrations in the three communities to mark this special anniversary and each of them were filled with sun, fun, laughter and lots of citizens coming out to celebrate with us. Here in Listuguj, we even had an opportunity to splash some of our councillors with ice cold water in our Splash Zone. It was such a successful event and we were so happy to have so many Elders participate.  

Its impossible to sum up the work of the Secretariat in just a few short words. As someone who has been with this organization since the beginning, I can tell you that the last 25 years have been filled with hard work, dedication, frustrations, victories, losses, perseverance, struggles, learning, listening and above all, the focus to make Gespe’gewa’gi a greater place for its citizens.  

The team at MMS has worked tirelessly over the last 25 years to ensure our resources are harvested sustainably, that Mi’gmaq laws are respected and that third party interests know, understand and respect the Mi’gmaq worldview.  

I want to thank all of the Leadership who have worked with the Secretariat over the last 25 years. It is the Leadership that drives the determination of our work forward.  

When it comes to the work of the Secretariat, I have a quote that I tell my team often and it is that “change is generational” and we have to be that change in our territory to ensure that our rights and responsibilities are at the forefront of all of the work that we do. We love our Territory, our communities and the citizens that we serve! 

By MMS

Waqatasg Elders Stitch Their Story into Communal Quilt

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Last month the Elders at the Waqatasg Elders Home, were given the opportunity to create a quilt piece for the Commission de la santé et des services sociaux. This quilt will be combined with pieces from other communities and will eventually be on display at Waqatasg.

Listuguj’s Claire Metallic is a Summer Student currently working as an Activity Coordinator at Waqatasg. Here is what she said about this opportunity:


“With the guidance and wisdom of the elders here, we have created a section of the quilt that we believe best represents the heart of our community. Listuguj is especially known for our salmon, fiddleheads, and hazelnuts, each of which holds deep meaning for us.

At the top of our quilt piece, you’ll find hazelnuts. For generations, our families have gathered hazelnuts each autumn, a tradition that not only nourishes us but also brings our community together and connects us to our land. In the middle, we have depicted salmon, which has always been sacred to the Mi’kmaq people; salmon is central to our ceremonies and stories and has long served as a mainstay for our survival.

Our relationship with the salmon reflects respect, gratitude, and a responsibility to protect the natural world. At the bottom are fiddleheads, a delicacy that grows abundantly in our region. Harvesting fiddleheads is an annual event, weaving together practical sustenance and artistic inspiration—these coiled ferns not only feed our bodies but also appear in our art, symbolizing renewal and resilience.

Throughout this creative process, we have worked thoughtfully, gathering ideas and drawing upon our shared history. Now, it is a great honor to present to you our quilt piece, a tribute to the traditions and cherished resources that define Listuguj Mi’kmaq First Nation. We hope that by sharing our contribution, others will gain a deeper appreciation for our enduring connection to the land and the customs that unite our people.”

By Ann Marie Jacques

Chief’s Message with Chief Scott Martin – August 2025

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I hope you all had a wonderful summer, and you were able to spend time with your family and friends! If you were able to attend our 33nd annual Pow Wow earlier this month, I hope you enjoyed your time. Thank you to our Pow Wow committee for the hard work they do every year to ensure our Pow Wow is a great success! The 2025-2026 school year is about to kick off. I wish all our students a great start to the new school year!

Recognizing the Work of Listuguj’s Beautification Team!

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The Beautification team is responsible for a number of jobs in the community, such as lawn and yard maintenance for several residential and LMG buildings, fence painting, assisting our Elders with lawn care, and much more. They work hard to ensure the Pow Wow grounds, and healing arbour looks well-maintained and cared for.

Thank you to the team:

Alva Jacques, Jenny Isaac, Dillan Isaac, Elizabeth Dedam, Tara Barnaby, Miranda Barnaby, Johnathan Isaac, Shanitra Caplin, Talbert Isaac, Madison Vicaire, Ronna Isaac, Cynthia Gedeon (Cindy). Fisher Isaac, Celeste Barnaby and Lori Ann Martin.