Laya Morrison – Sharing Her Love for Jingle Dress Dancing

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Listuguj’s Laya Morrison is a student at Sugarloaf Senior High School and began dancing when she was around five years old. She was initially interested in fancy shawl dancing but quickly discovered her love for jingle dress dancing. She was inspired by her family and said, “I’ve always looked up to all of my Aunties, and I knew I wanted to be able to dance and have those teachings, and be a role model to the younger ones, as they are to me.”

She taught herself the dance by watching others, paying attention to their foot work, body language and their steps. Morrison enjoys being around other dancers, the songs, and praying for those who need it. She said, “I’m very grateful for the opportunities and the memories I make along this journey of mine.”

Morrison recently announced she will be offering classes to youth who would like to learn how to dance and learn more about their culture. There are two different classes for different age groups – ages 8-10 and ages 4-7. These classes will be offered at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School on weekends. Morrison is a big advocate for encouraging youth to learn how to dance and hopes that her classes can create dancing opportunities for others. Her advice to youth who are looking to learn jingle dress dancing is to never give up, carry themselves with confidence, and embrace the importance of developing their own unique style.

Morrison continues to dance at all Pow Wows in the area. She was Jr. Head Dancer at this year’s powwow at St. Mary’s First Nation in Fredericton, NB.  She is also incredibly grateful to be able to go on the powwow trail with her family, and for all their love and encouragement.

If you would like more information on Laya Morrison’s jingle dance dress classes, you can contact her directly or find her Dance Class group advertised on Alaqsite’w Gitpu School’s Facebook page.

By Ann Marie Jacques

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

New Mural on Display at Waqatasg Elders Facility

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Over the past two months, Listuguj artist, Derek Condo has been working on a mural in the cultural room at the Waqatasg Elders Facility, and it is now complete. The piece is titled, “Ta’n Te’loltimg” and it means how we are living – either in the past, today or tomorrow.

Condo extends his gratitude for the positive feedback from the community during the progress of the mural. He says he put his heart and emotions into the piece, and expressed how special it is for him to know he has created a piece like this in a home for our Elders.

The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government recognizes the artistic talent and dedication from Condo. We are honoured to have this mural on display in our community.

The mural is open to the public for viewing. Please speak with the receptionist upon arrive at the Waqatasg Elders Facility.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Elawsimgewei Gina’muo’guom Wraps Up Its First Pet Grooming Course

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Listuguj’s Adult Education Center, Elawsimgewei Gina’muo’guom offers a variety of courses in the community, such as, Secondary V Diploma (High School Diploma), Mi’gmaw Language and Culture, French, and more. One of their newest courses that was offered in the Fall of 2024 was Pet Grooming, that came to an end in early May. This was the first time this program was offered at the Center, and overall, it was a success.

The course had two instructors: Julie Leblanc and Patrick Sears. Julie Leblanc is the French instructor at the Center and ran a pet grooming business for 20 years. Patrick Sears currently works for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government as the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Developer but worked as a Veterinarian Technologist for a number of years prior.

This 495-hour program offered a number of modules related to pet grooming and pet care, for both dogs and cats. It is the only course of its kind offered on the Gaspé coast, that offered hands-on learning with fully functioning tubs, grooming tools and equipment inside the Center. LeBlanc offered her expertise when it comes to grooming techniques, equipment and tools, styling, developing a business, and more. Sears offered his expertise regarding animal behaviour and body language, anatomy, and health and safety practices. The students visited veterinarian clinics in the area, the local animal shelter, and had guest speakers come in, giving the students networking opportunities in the pet care field. The course also included a Pet First Aid Course offered by St. John Ambulance.

Three students have graduated from this course obtaining a certificate recognized by the Certificate of Professional Studies (Attestation d’etudes profesionnelles – AEP).

Congratulations to Elawsimgewei Gina’muo’guom’s Pet Grooming course 2024/2025 graduates:

  • Margaret Caplin
  • Frédérique Fortin
  • Talyane Bujold

If you would like information on Elawsimgewei Gina’muo’guom and the courses they offer, call 418-788-9078, email bemoffat@lete.listuguj.ca or visit them today at 4 Pacific Drive in Listuguj.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Douglas Pictou and the AGS Drum Group

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The Alaqsite’w Gitpu School (AGS) drum group has been a staple in the community since the school opened in 1997. Several students have been members of the group over the years. One of these members was Douglas Pictou, the Performing Arts Coordinator at AGS, who has been facilitating the drum group at the school for the last three years.

Pictou first attended AGS when he was 11 years old, and said when he was younger living in Dalhousie, New Brunswick, he didn’t connect to his Mi’gmaw roots until he was introduced to drumming. He said, “When I got here, it was my first introduction, to not just seeing different practices in the culture, but attire, language, displays all over the school. There was a big pride over it.” Being a member of the drum group was important to Pictou at this age, and he started to really embrace his Mi’gmaw identity. He stopped drumming during his teenage years and in his early 20’s, but picked it up again while working with the Listuguj Youth and Family Centre, and eventually in his current role at AGS.

The AGS Drum Group are a group of 10 students ranging from grades 5 to grade 8. They practice twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday at recess, and perform at school events, community events, and at other schools in the area.  Every year Pictou reaches out to previous members to see if they would like to re-join, and for remaining spots, a sign-up sheet is posted in the school.

Although the drum group can be seen as a fun extracurricular activity, it’s much more than that. It’s a respected ceremonial practice that needs to be taken seriously. Pictou said, “I have certain philosophies, disciplines and protocols that were taught to me over the years, and these are the same things that I implement with the students.” It’s important for the students to show commitment, dedication and recognize the spirit of the drum.  Pictou talked about the importance of proper enunciation when it comes to singing and performing. He coaches the students to ensure they are sounding everything out, and using their tongue, lips and teeth.

What sets the AGS Drum Group apart from other drum groups are female members. Pictou said, “One of the big things that was talked about when I first started was, ‘Are you going to let females in your group?’ Traditionally that is not a thing we do.” Traditionally, women made drums for men to use as medicine and to heal and chant.  Pictou went around the school speaking to Elders asking their opinion on allowing females in the group. Ultimately Pictou decided that he would let females join the drum group. For the past two years, the AGS Drum Group has had female members, who demonstrate pride and treat the role with earnestness.

This year, there are two leaders: Makayla Barnaby and Levi Isaac. The leaders are responsible for controlling the honour beats, supporting fellow group members, and just being a team leader overall. It is important for all group members to conduct themselves in school and be respectful, as they must hold themselves to a high standard when being a part of the group.

When it comes to teaching and mentoring the students, Pictou said, “I love doing events with them, especially when I can kind of sit back and watch them conduct themselves. It makes me proud of them.” He hopes that the students will take the knowledge and perseverance and apply them in the future when they leave AGS.

AGS Drum Group 2024-2025 School Year:

Levi Isaac
Makayla Barnaby
Charlie Drapeau
Pasmay Paul
Bethany Martin
Hendrix Bear
Alex Morrison
Vaan Barnaby
Keegan George

By Ann Marie Jacques

Local Artist Spotlight – Lola Marie Vicaire

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Tell us about yourself.

“Gwe’ telwisi Lola Marie Vicaire, nesisgegipunai jel asugom aqq tleiawi Listuguj. ‘Ngij telwisit Janice Vicaire aqq nujjaq telwisipnaq Murvin Metallic. Gi’s nanipunqeg waiopsgwa’tegei. “

When did you learn how to bead, and how did you learn? 

“Amgweseweieg poqjiwaiopsgwa’tegeianeg na ‘ngij gegina’muip ta’n ‘teliltmg “necklace”. Etug pas’g ‘lluigneg te’sipunaiap na tujiw.

Toqo 2020-eg, getu’unjanianeg na ‘gsnugowaqan telwisig COVID ala’s’g’p. Newtugwa’lugweiap te’sigisg’g. Na tujiw poqjiwaiopsgwa’tegeiap aqq etuapnn nassaputaqann aqq keychain-l.”

What kind of products do you create?

“I create all kinds of beaded items but my favorite to make (and most requested) are floral earrings – they sparkle beautifully in the sun, and compliment everyone so well.”

Where do you find your inspiration when it comes to your beadwork/art?

“My inspiration comes from many things! Like the very first time I beaded with my Mother and learning to make the little flower necklaces is a core memory that means so much to me. I live right by the beach so sometimes I draw inspiration from the sparkle in the water or the colors of the sky as the sun is setting. And sometimes I get inspired by the beads themselves, and the way they catch the light and compliment one another. “

Tell us a bit about ‘Gsite’taqan Designs by Lola.

“Every piece of mine is a unique, long lasting, handcrafted heirloom. They are meaningful pieces that are meant to be cherished gifts, and that’s why I chose the name ‘Gsite’taqan. I’ve always been a creative and artistic person, and beadwork was a perfect fit for me. It all simply began as a creative outlet, which over the span of 5 years turned into full time business. My overall goal is to have my own creative studio and boutique, a place where I can collaborate with other artists and continue sharing my love for beadwork with others. “

Can you tell us about any future projects you have in store?
Stay tuned!

If someone was looking to purchase an item, what is the best way to contact you?

I can easily be reached at Gsitetaqan.designs@gmail.com, Instagram:  gsitetaqan_designs or on Facebook. 

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

Jamie Metallic Designs

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Listuguj’s own Jamie Metallic is a self-taught artist who has been making traditional crafts since she was a child. Crafting always made her feel at peace and grounded, and is motivated by creating meaningful art. Over the years she developed a broad skill set when it comes to traditional crafts, and her specialties include concho belts, traditional beaded mitts, moccasins, ribbon skirts, quilling, beading and Pow Wow regalias.  Metallic’s precision and intricateness is a true reflection of her years of experience when it comes to crafting.  

Regarding her work, and inspirations, Metallic said, “Over the years as an artist, you do get inspired by other’s people’s work, but I’d like to think that I’ve developed my own style of beadwork and creations. I like to put my own spin on my designs, I love to incorporate quill work into my pieces and think outside the box for my bead designs on my mitts. I like for them to stand out.”  She is inspired by the people she works with, whether it’s a student in her workshops, fellow creators or the communities she engages with. She is always eager to explore and grow when it comes to her craft and is determined to bring Indigenous art and culture to a wider audience.

Metallic offers belt and quill workshops, where she offers hands-on experience in learning traditional techniques and to embrace Indigenous artistry. These workshops are great for team building exercises, or for individuals who are simply interested in learning more about creating traditional crafts. She said, “Our workshops are more than just craft sessions: they are about creating shared space for creativity, collaboration, and community.”

If you would like more information on Jamie Metallic Designs, or would like to host a workshop, you can email jamiecmetallic77@gmail.com, reach out on Facebook: Jamie Metallic or Jamie Metallic Designs, or through Instagram: Jamie Metallic.

By Ann Marie Jacques

AGS Launches New Production Team

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Alaqsite’w Gitpu School (AGS) has recently rolled out a brand-new production team for students to take part in. Gitpu Productions was established roughly a month and a half ago and was created for students who wanted to be part of a team, but not necessarily interested in sports. Being part of a team or club shows commitment, independence and responsibility.  Gitpu Productions is led by gym teachers, Jennifer Morrison and Tyler Gideon, with assistance from teacher, Darryl Stevens, and as of right now, there are 11 members, ranging from grade 5 to grade 7.

Grade five French Immersion student, Mia Legace, who is a member of the production team, said, “Gitpu Productions is pretty much of us making videos of people working at our school, of the athletes, and everyone else, and we put them on our media groups online.”

Each student has their own jobs and duties that they are comfortable with performing. Some of the tasks include sports announcements, filming and live-streaming sports events, graphic design, photography, laundry, and more. Gideon said, “There’s so many things that we can do. We’re going to start small, and we’re going to build and build and make sure all these students experience different jobs and see all the little things behind the scenes that most people don’t see when it comes to events.” While some of the students on the production team are members of various sports teams at AGS, they work together to ensure all tasks are met, if one of the students is out to play sports.

The production team gets together at least once a week to brainstorm and come up with ideas for future projects and events. A few ideas for the future: interviewing athletes to create profiles and bios, becoming game officials and statisticians, and creating gear for the team, with a logo created by member, grade seven English student, Charlie Pictou.  The team will also be looking into rolling out their own TikTok channel and creating more social media content. Morrison said, “We’re also going to be having some video editing. They’re going to be in charge of creating TikToks, content for social media, and getting the word out to community members.”

As of right now, you can see what Gitpu Productions has been working on via the Facebook page, “AGS Sports and Recreation.” The students have been dedicated to showing AGS and the community what they have been working on. We look forward to seeing what they have in store for the future!

From left to right:
Jennifer Morrison, Emily Mitchell, Donna Isaac Brisk, Sheeana Martin, Aubrey Wysote, Kiana Anderson Isaac, Charlie Pictou, Mia Legace, Lori Brisk, Kiera Barnaby, Lilly Barnaby, Shyla Martin, and Tyler Gideon.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Kicking off the Mi’gmaw Language Home Kit Engagement Sessions

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In early October, the Mi’gmaw Language and Culture Revitalization Team, in partnership with Metallic Publishing kicked off their very first Mi’gmaw Home Kit Engagement Session. In this session, a reading was done of the children’s book “U’j’ji’jg”, titled “Blackflies” in English, originally written by Robert Munsch. This book was published in Mi’gma’gi by Metallic Publishing, translated by Mary Ann Metallic, and edited by Victoria Metallic and Janice Vicaire. Metallic Publishing worked with Scholastic Canada Ltd. to make the Mi’gmaw version of this book possible, which included an agreement that Metallic Publishing had to duplicate the layout of the English version. The artwork in the book was done by Jay Odjick from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin community in Québec. The book took months to translate and edit, and number of drafts were done before the final project was completed.


Listuguj’s Victoria Metallic, creator of Metallic Publishing feels as though sharing Mi’gmaw stories and providing resources is important to those who are wanting to learn the language. This was one of the reasons she created Metallic Publishing. She said, “Creating a publishing company was very important, because when I was younger, I didn’t have any books in Mi’gmaw to read or browse through. I didn’t have any videos to listen to. The only time I heard Mi’gmaw was through my parents at home.”

Since “U’j’ji’jg” has been published, it has been distributed to schools in Listuguj, Gesgapegiag, and New Richmond. Various group readings and discussions have been done on the book as well. Metallic Publishing has several videos that can be used as a useful tool when it comes to learning the Mi’gmaw language. Metallic said, “We’ve made some videos on YouTube, where you can hear audio of different words, sounds of the letters, and different verbs too.” These videos can be found on Metallic Publishing’s page on Facebook, or on YouTube.

If you would like a copy of “U’j’ji’jg” please reach out to Mi’gmaw Language and Culture Coordinator, Mary-Beth Wysote for more information. She can be reached at mary-beth.wysote@listuguj.ca or at 418-788-2136.

By Ann Marie Jacques