Archive for category: Arts

Jodie Callaghan (Barnaby) has many impressive achievements and accomplishments, both academically and careerwise. She is an award-winning author and has a number of degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Journalism, a Post Graduate Diploma in Education, and a Master of Education. Callaghan has worked as a journalist with APTN in the Halifax bureau and has worked and studied abroad in Scotland. Since her return to Listuguj, she has been an educator for the past 10 years. She currently teaches English at the Adult Education centre in the community, Elawsimgewei Gina’muo’guom.

Callaghan wrote her story, The Train, in 2009-2010. The story is about a young girl who learns about her Great-Uncle’s experiences and the long-lasting and damaging effects of residential school. The Uncle reminisces about a train in their community that was used to transport the children to residential school, where their lives would change forever. The story centers on the young girl’s emotions and initial reaction to learning about residential school. She said that the young girl in the story represents how she felt, or how anyone might feel upon learning about Canada’s tragic history. They may go through many emotions, like anger, and confusion, but these feelings are valid and are important to be talked about, for educational purposes and for healing.

The story was written around the time of the government of Canada’s apology to former students in the residential school system. Callaghan had been working for APTN at the time and was covering news stories at the former site of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. She interviewed survivors and their family members, and they shared their experiences and stories with her on that historical day. Regarding her inspiration for The Train, Callaghan said, “There was an elder there, he was a survivor, and he was talking about getting on a train to go to the school, and I had that visual in my mind – these little children getting on this train. When you think about little kids getting on trains, it’s exciting, it’s a positive experience, but for the survivors, it was the opposite.”

Callaghan’s grandmother, Margie Martin had attended the Indian Day School in the community. Some of the references in The Train were direct examples from her grandmother’s own personal experience.

Callaghan submitted her story to Mi’gmawei Mawio’mi Secretariat (MMS) for their annual Mi’gmaq Writers Award contest, where she won first place. Years later, a publishing company, Second Story Press announced they were holding an Indigenous Writing and Illustration Contest. She decided to submit The Train, and won the children’s category. For winning this contest, she had her story published by Second Story Press, after they found Georgia Lesley to provide the book’s illustrations, it was released to the public in March 2020.

The book’s success has earned Callaghan multiple award nominations, including the 2021 Silver Birch Express Award, the 2022 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature, and the 2022 Indigenous Voices Award. The Train is available locally at The Flying Canoe Bookstore, and online at Amazon, Chapters, or GoodMinds Indigenous Books. The book also comes in the dual-language edition, called G’as, which was interpreted and translated by local elder, Joe Wilmot.

Callaghan said that she has always wanted to write a book and have it published, so the whole experience was very surreal. When she is not teaching, or spending time with her family, she is still writing. For her next project, she plans on writing young adult horror stories focusing on Indigenous lore.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Dwayne Ward is originally from Metepenagiag (Red Bank) and has been living in Listuguj for the past 18 years. He has held many job titles throughout his life: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter, motivational speaker, addictions counselor, clothing line entrepreneur, and more, but the one thing that always remained consistent was his love for combat sports and an active lifestyle.

Back in 2012, Ward opened his MMA training club, “The Vault” in Campbellton on Roseberry St. where the old National Bank was located.  “We called it ‘The Vault’ because it was in an old bank,” laughed Ward. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with encouragement from his wife, Ward felt it was the right time to move the club to Listuguj. The Vault is located at his home on 26 Mi’gmaq Drive. It is in a separate building adjacent to Ward’s home and is fully equipped with mats, nine punching bag stations, and other specialized training equipment and gear.

Ward has competed in and won numerous fights in MMA and boxing over the years. His last fight was in 2015 when he decided that he felt more inspired to teach and train others when it comes to the sport. Ward brings his expertise and intensity when it comes to training, but also offers his compassion and encouragement to those who attend his classes. There are a variety of training classes available at The Vault, such as boxing/kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There are co-ed classes, newly introduced ladies’ classes, and even classes for kids. The kids’ age groups run from ages 6-9, and ages 10-15. The size of a class varies and is usually between 8-16 people per class, with a limit for the kids’ classes. There are a few membership options to choose from, such as monthly memberships or day passes.  Ward specified that these training classes are not just for fighters, but for people who would like to come train and just get a good sweat on. He believes this type of fitness can be seen as an art form and is all about creating a safe and welcoming place for people to come in and feel good about themselves. People from all over the province come to train at the club, and it is also home to several regular Gesgepegiag club members.  It should also be noted that when the club was in Campbellton, there were roughly 20-25 regular members, and in Listuguj, The Vault now has 80-100 members. The club has really thrived and succeeded here in Mi’gma’qi territory.

Ward has been very vocal about his past drug and alcohol use and can often be found speaking at public events on his sobriety. He has been completely sober for 23 years and has used this experience and drive when it comes to being an addictions counselor and when it comes to training others. Ward left his job as an addictions counselor last year to solely focus on his club and clothing brand. Ward said, “I can listen to people’s problems, and I can parlay that into either addiction or taking it out on problems, It’s so important for mental health.”

Alongside the club, he also owns a very successful clothing line that consists of very bold, cultural pieces that really represent Ward’s passion.  “My clothing line was to promote Native Pride and fitness. Two things I’m really proud of,” said Ward.  His clothing can be found at various events and Pow Wows and people have been spotted representing The Vault clothing in different parts of the world.

Ward plans on continuing his classes at The Vault, and says eventually he’d like to expand his club, and possibly offer Elder’s training classes in the future. He says he feels the outpouring of love in the community and is so grateful that he’s able to help progress combat sport in Listuguj. “I’m very fortunate to be able to make a living off something that I love to do, and that’s my passion,” said Ward.

If you are interested in more information, or attending classes at The Vault, you can find Dwayne Everett Ward on Facebook and send him a message. He will be able to assist you and answer any questions you may have about any available classes.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Oakley Rain Wysote Gray is originally from right here in Listuguj. Wysote Gray identifies as two-spirited, and their pronouns are They/Them. They discovered they were passionate about fashion at a young age. “I have a vivid memory from when I was a kid where I would make clothes out of paper for myself,” laughed Wysote Gray. From here, they realized there was no Indigenous representation when it came to fashion. They went on to attend the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design in Fredericton, where they graduated from three separate programs: Aboriginal Visual Arts, Fashion Design, and the Advanced Studio Practice graduate program.

Wysote Gray has developed a very powerful brand called “Gigpesan” – meaning Rain. The brand comes with two collections: Mei Eimotieg Part 1, and Mei Eimotieg Part 2. Mei Eimotieg means “We Are Still Here” and these collections embody that entirely. Part 1 of the collection, started off with all-white pieces –they said this is to represent Indigenous people pre-invasion. The white pieces are then stained with the bloodshed of ancestors and the ink of the Indian act. “The whole idea of the collection is to visualize the trauma that we all wear underneath,” said Wysote Gray. The pieces help bring awareness to the systemic racism and colonization that Indigenous people are still facing today.

Wysote Gray will be debuting ready-to-wear pieces soon.  They will be a more wearable version of the high fashion, beaded pieces from his current collections. They will be debuting five new pieces at the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design’s fashion show in May 2023.

Alongside working on their fashion brand and collections, Wysote Gray has recently taken on a mentorship program at the Atlantic Ballet of Canada in Moncton. They have been working in Costume Production for the upcoming production of “Pisuwin: A Wolastostoqiyik Story.”

Their impactful work has gotten a lot of attention, and they have gone on to win the BMO 1^st Art Award in 2022.

When asked if they had any advice to give to anyone interested in starting up in fashion design, they said, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.” They also mentioned that it is important to express yourself in your work, including topics that others may find controversial.  

If you’d like to see the Gigpesan brand in its entirety, visit www.gigpesan.com, or look for them on Instagram.

By Ann Marie Jacques