Archive for category: Community

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

Chelsea Lee-Anne Cullins (Germain) is originally from Listuguj, and now resides in Millville, New Brunswick.  While working at the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre in Fredericton, Cullins redesigned the centre’s website, and this kickstarted her drive to create her business, Claw Connections. The name “Claw Connections” has a special meaning behind it. The title, CLAW comes from Cullin’s initials, “Chelsea Lee-Ann” and the last two letters come from Cullin’s children’s initials. The logo was designed by local Listuguj artist, Griffin Germain.

Claw Connections helps develop Indigenous resources online through creating and collaborating with Indigenous businesses, website development, and helping businesses establish and maintain an online presence. The business really developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cullins said, “Connecting with people, and chatting with people, I found there weren’t any Indigenous resources that were available online – especially during that time period when everyone began navigating online.” Cullins is creating a tool where people can search for Indigenous resources easier, when using social media may not be an option. She also mentioned having these resources accessible to elders is very important.

She said the first real collaboration with Claw Connections was the project “Traveling the Wabanaki Way.” From here she has taken on many other significant projects, such as the New Brunswick First Nation Child Welfare Jurisdiction, Listuguj’s MMA club The Vault, and more. Most recently were two events and workshops with the Mi’kmaq Wolastoqiyik Association of Social Workers.

Cullins said she is excited to be an entrepreneur as an Indigenous woman. She loves helping businesses connect with their clients. She appreciates and learns a lot from the businesses she collaborates with. “I get to be a part of a glimpse into these businesses, and I can take away the teachings they’re sharing,” said Cullins.

The process of collaborating with Claw Connections is very easy and productive. Clients will reach out to Cullins and provide information about their business or anything else they’re looking to promote. Cullins will connect and go over the client’s needs and wants to pertain to their business and come up with a plan on helping client’s grow their business online and reach larger audiences.

On top of being a business owner, Cullins has recently started a new position at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs as the Indigenous Navigator. She has also been accepted to VanArts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) this fall for Website Development and 3D design. She is very excited to further her expertise in the field.

“The whole purpose of Claw Connections was just to highlight Indigenous businesses,” said Cullins. If you are interested in giving your business an online boost or inquiring about the many services available at Claw Connections, visit clawconnections.com. and contact Chelsea Lee-Ann Cullins.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Erwin Molley has many roles in the community. He is a Councillor for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, he is a Male Mentor with the Listuguj Community Social Services Directorate, he runs a basketball program, and he is also head of the non-profit organization, Kicks for Kids.

Kicks for Kids began in 2021, and it provides athletic footwear for youth in the community, free of charge.  “It started with basketball. I noticed some kids just didn’t have the proper shoes,” said Molley.  The organization offers a wide variety of footwear such as basketball shoes, soccer and baseball cleats, skateboard shoes, dance shoes, and more. The organization has also received donations of non-athletic shoes that are still in mint condition that can be worn on more special occasions, like graduation ceremonies. Molley provides footwear for community members who are currently not residing in Listuguj. Individuals can purchase reasonably priced sports footwear, provide Molley with proof of the purchase, and can get reimbursed.

Kicks for Kids gives all children in the community an equal opportunity to take part in sports.  Having this resource may take some financial stress off families. Some families have multiple children who are enrolled in sports, and shoes can run $50-$90.  While it is a free service for all children, Molley does encourage youth to show they are committed to a sport and are dedicated when it comes to attending practices and games before opting for free footwear.

Having the proper footwear when playing sports leads to more confidence in our youth. It allows them to live more healthy and active lifestyles. Playing sports is beneficial and helps develop sportsmanship and teamwork skills, and Kicks for Kids assists children in achieving this.

The program is non-profit, and Molley volunteers his time to ensure the footwear is always stocked up for the community. “It has to be an ongoing, steady thing because everybody’s feet grow,” laughed Molley. When it comes to the program itself, Molley receives support and donations from several sources, such as small businesses, branches of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, and the public in general.

If you or your child would like a free pair of shoes to participate in sports, you can reach out to Erwin Molley via Facebook, or stop into the Youth Centre to inquire. As of recently there is an official Kicks for Kids page that provides information and updates.

By Ann Marie Jacques