Archive for category: Community

On September 10, Loni Vicaire, General Manager of Economic Development, and Julianne Wysote, Economic Development Officer, attended the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC).

Loni Vicaire was newly elected to the Commission’s Board of Directors as Administrator of the Mi’gmaq Nation for a two-year term.

Congratulations to Loni and all newly elected representatives from the four Nations.

The Economic Development Unit looks forward to applying the knowledge and tools gained during the training and general assembly to continue to advance current and potential economic initiatives within the community.

Greetings Listuguj! 

August 4^th, 2025 marked the 25^th 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

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.

Restigouche Family Services is an organization located in Atholville, New Brunswick, that specializes in several services, such as therapy and counseling sessions, speech therapy, and more. One of their most recent initiatives is Sacred Bundles Healing and Counselling Inc., which began as a specialized program, but has grown into its own entity located right here in Listuguj at 28A Gaspé Highway, that just opened earlier this month.

Sacred Bundles is a community-oriented service available to Indigenous clients that focuses on healing, growth and cultural connection. All services are billed through Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations and Inuit (NIHB).  The team consists of Eel River Bar’s Holly Miller, a Licensed Counselling Therapist-Candidate, and Listuguj’s Sara Mitchell and Jordan Barnaby, who are both Clinical Social Workers. There is an established Advisory Board with Listuguj members, Michael Martin and Paige Isaac, and Eel River Bar members, Patricia Miller and Rosalie LaBillois.

There are a wide variety of therapeutic and healing practices available at Sacred Bundles. These practices include one-on-one counselling sessions, youth programs, group therapy sessions, grief circles, addictions counselling, play therapy for children ages 3-10, and more. The team will also be introducing more hands-on cultural activities and land-based healing soon. Sessions can be offered in person, or online for community members from Listuguj or Eel River Bar.

Regarding the style of practices, Mitchell said, “We are focused on working in a two-eyed seeing approach. Looking through the lens of Indigenous ways of knowing and doing and the strengths of that, but also with modern day and Western practices, and branching them together.”  Services are adapted to the individual and what they’re comfortable with when it comes to their culture. Barnaby said, “I work with my clients using the Medicine Wheel, and the Seven Sacred Teachings as well. I ask them if they would like more of a Western approach, more of an Indigenous approach, or half and half.”

If you are interested in receiving services from Sacred Bundles, they can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or by contacting info@sacredbundles.ca.

By Ann Marie Jacques