Sports and Recreation at AGS

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Listuguj’s Alaqsite’w Gitpu School (AGS) thrives on the personal growth, well-being, and education of students in the classroom, and this is also the case when it comes to sports and recreation. Physical education teachers Jennifer Morrison and Tyler Gideon work hard inside and outside of the school with students to ensure they are receiving the best coaching and mentorship when it comes to playing sports.

Jennifer Morrison has been a physical education teacher at AGS for the past four years. She started during the COVID-19 pandemic, and during this time, sports had to be put on hold. Fast forward 2-3 years later, and sports and recreation are at an all-time high in the Nursery to Grade 8 school.

Morrison stated that she was hesitant at first when she was offered the job as a physical education teacher. She wasn’t sure she was familiar and comfortable enough with various sports and rules, but ultimately it ended up being better than she could ever have imagined. Gideon joined AGS two years ago. He has an impressive background when it comes to sports and coaching with over 30 years of experience. The two teachers collaborated with many people to make AGS sports what it is today. Morrison said, “We’ve had a lot of people come together through coaching, chaperoning, and volunteering to help these programs really kind of take off.” Since Morrison and Gideon are the physical education teachers, this is beneficial when it comes to finding students who are passionate about sports, and who show willingness to learn and play in a team setting.

Both Morrison and Gideon are advocates for creating opportunities when it comes to sports and recreation. AGS combines passion and culture in its sports teams. Morrison and Gideon believe sports open doors and are always eager to recognize and acknowledge the student’s determination and progression.

Last year in 2023, the school started with one boy’s middle school basketball team (grades 6-8) – Gitpu’g, which eventually led to an elementary-aged basketball team (grades 3-5) – Gitpu’ji’jg. Having an elementary-aged basketball team was a first for AGS, and it came with major success that this year, the school was able to compile a second team for this age group. All basketball teams are now co-ed.

Last year, many students expressed interest in a volleyball team. With the help from volunteers, a volleyball team was formed. There were five coaches during the first year, who worked with the students on the rules and logistics of the game. The school now has two girls’ volleyball team called Gitpui’sqwaq and a boys’ volleyball team.

AGS also offers soccer, cross country, mountain biking, softball, track and field, and as of last month, swimming. They are continually working at bringing new sports and recreation activities to the school.

This year, more students than ever expressed interest in joining sports teams. A lot of students are joining multiple sports teams in the school as well.  “Every team that we had last year, we more than doubled them this year, and there are still kids who are wanting to join,” said Morrison.

For those students who may not be quite ready to commit to a team, but would like to get a feel for sports, AGS offers intramurals. These are various sports played in the gym or soccer field during recess times. There are intramural playoffs and championships, which give the students exposure and a taste of what playing sports competitively is like.

AGS competes in various sports jamborees during the school year. Last year there were four jamborees held throughout the season. These jamborees consist of all the teams that the school typically plays against (Campbellton Middle School, Lord Beaverbrook School, Jacquet River School, etc.) Listuguj held a basketball jamboree for one of the Gitpu’ji’jg basketball teams in February. The team was undefeated for the second season in a row.

The school also attends the annual First Nations Education Council Inter-School (FNEC) Games. This brings together athletes from all First Nations schools in Quebec. This year it is being held in Laval, Quebec from May 23-26. The coaches plan on bringing a number of teams and athletes to participate. This will be Morrison’s third year attending the FNEC Games. This is a great opportunity for the students to play amongst other First Nation communities.

Every year the school celebrates its athletes with a Sports Banquet.  Last year there were roughly 150 attendees at the sports banquet, Morrison is expecting the turnout to be bigger this year. Several awards are handed out, such as Athlete of the Year – in which a feather with the student’s name will be on display in the gym. This is for middle school-aged students. Last year they introduced the Gitpu’ji’jg Athlete of the Year, which goes up until grade five. A feather is given to students to go up on the wall for this as well.

When the school year comes to an end, Morrison and Gideon offer sports and recreation summer camps for students. This is typically a three-week program over the summer break.

All the sports and recreation wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of the teachers, coaches, volunteers, and parents. They are always seeking volunteers and recruitment to help when it comes to coaching and chaperoning students and athletes at AGS. If you are interested, contact 418-788-3100.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Siwqw – A Time for Renewal and Growth

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat had the honor to host Senator Paul (PJ) Prosper and Parliamentary Affairs Director, Claudine Santos in Gespe’gewa’gi on April 2, 2024, as part of his listening tour across Mi’gma’gi. Senator Prosper, a respected advocate for Mi’gmaq rights and notable parliamentary figure, aimed to deepen his understanding of the challenges facing our MM community to champion legislative and policy reforms nationally.

The visit represented an opportunity for our communities to articulate our concerns and visions for governance, rights, and community well-being followed by a tour to visit our community developments and initiatives.


We would like to acknowledge Senator Prosper’s commitment to listening and learning from the voices of Mi’gma’qi with a profound respect for our traditions, challenges and aspirations. Here’s to moving forward in a positive way.

The day ended with a tour of Listuguj and its latest developments and initiatives, Turtle Lodge, Police Station, Public Works, Social Services, housing development, Gardens and Waqatasq Facility. We received a warm welcoming from our AGS Youth Chief and Council leadership for ceremony followed by a panel of questions from the students, including a visit to the Mi’gmaq Immersion and Outdoor Education. An enriching day wrapped in a bundle of medicine.

A special thanks to all those involved in making this initiative possible.

With efforts in growing our capacity, the MMS is accepting resumes for various fields and expertise with the effort to create a list of potential candidates for upcoming roles in the areas of: Archives/Records Management, Project Management, GIS – ARC software, Finance and Administration, Lands and Environment, Consultation – Planning and Engagement, Social Media Content, Senior Management, Communications and Governance.

You can submit your resume to resume@migmawei.ca

MMS will be launching an awareness survey in the near future, stay connected and visit our re-designed website www.migmawei.ca or send your feed-forward to stayconnected@migmawei.ca

Ap, Namultes

-MMS

Muin Ji’j Center – Bridging the Gap for Families in the Community

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Muin Ji’j Center was created by the Listuguj Community Social Services Directorate (LCSSD) to develop another option for childcare in the community. At this time, the Mawo’ltijig Mijjuaji’jg Child Care Centre provides childcare for children up to age 4. The Youth and Family Center offers a variety of programs for children aged 5 and up. This may come as a challenge to parents looking for before and after-school care for children ages 4-6. The Muin Ji’j Center Coordinator Alicia Simon said, “It’s about bridging the gap for children that age out of the community daycare, and children who are still quite too young for programs at the Youth Center.”

The Center started in October of 2023 and is located at 18 Caplin Road. Right now, 20 children take part in the Center’s Before and After School programs, and there are four staff members: childcare workers and the coordinator. The Center opens its doors at 8 AM and closes at 5 PM. Parents/guardians can drop their children off before bus pickup, which typically occurs at 8:30 AM. After school, busses can drop the students back off at the Center until pickup from the parent/guardian.

During the Summer, a summer camp will be offered for children born from 2017 to 2019. The camp is expected to be 8 weeks long. Registrations will open for this in the near future.

The Muin Ji’j Center offers childcare and peace of mind for parents. Simon said, “Instead of just offering childcare services to families and working families in the community, we have that opportunity to create a safe environment and model appropriate play.” The children enrolled at the Center do a variety of hands-on, sensory, dramatic, and creative play. They have the opportunity to earn “Muin Ji’j bucks” by completing different challenges and tasks. With these bucks, they can purchase treats and toys in a hands-on store inside the classroom where the children operate the cash register. The children are given nutritious snacks and are encouraged to experiment and try new things when it comes to food. They take part in a regular culture class with song and drum circles, and the Mi’gmaq language.

Overall, the Muin Ji’j Center has been an important service that was needed in the community. It continues to expand and grow. If you are interested in more information on the Center, contact Alicia Simon at alicia.simon@listuguj.ca or 418-788-5147.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Morgan Toney – Combining Mi’kmaq and Celtic Music

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Juno Award Nominee and East Coast Music Award Winner, Morgan Toney is a Mi’kmaq traditional Celtic fiddler and singer from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

He got into music at a young age he was introduced to highly influential bands by his family. When he was seven years old, he was visiting his Uncle’s house and his Uncle had a Phil Collins Live in Concert DVD. Toney immediately fell in love with the idea of being a musician and performing for a crowd. He took the DVD home and watched it every day. He eventually took an interest in playing the drums and began drumming on his mother’s pots and pots, which led to her buying Toney his very own set of drums.

He played drums throughout his adolescence and transitioned to playing the fiddle after he graduated high school.   When he graduated high school, he knew he wanted to study music and signed up for various music programs across Nova Scotia. He enrolled in a Traditional Celtic Music Program at Cape Breton University, where he took fiddle lessons. When it comes to playing the fiddle, Toney said, “The fiddle – people say is the most difficult instrument to learn, and to master, and I feel like when I get to the age of 92, I feel like I’ll still be learning, and it fascinates me so much.” Toney has only been actively playing the fiddle for 5 years but has proven his excellence and dedication to this challenging instrument.

Toney eventually took lessons from different fiddlers across Nova Scotia. He performed at various events and parties in his community and noticed that when he played for Elders, they typically became uninterested in Celtic music after some time. He decided to try to fuse traditional Mi’kmaq music with Celtic music. One song he always really loved is the Mi’kmaq social song, “Ko’jua” and once he added Celtic flare with his fiddle, it instantly became a big hit. When it came to this mash-up, Toney said, “Taking two cultures of Cape Breton – the Mi’kmaq culture, the Mi’kmaq songs, the Mi’kmaq teachings, the Mi’kmaq philosophies, everything that makes me who I am – and blend it with the Celtic music of Cape Breton.” Toney now classified this genre of music as, “M’ikmaltic.”

It’s no secret that Toney is always working on his craft. In his downtime, he likes to turn off social media, go outdoors, and take his dog for walks.

Toney’s album Resilience came out in November of 2023, and it was positively received, earning various awards and nominations. He and his band are currently in the studio working on a new album.

You can find Morgan Toney on all streaming platforms.  

By Ann Marie Jacques

LPD Investigate Theft in Nursery Classroom

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Listuguj Police Department received a call Friday, March 15th regarding a theft in a nursery classroom. Officers were dispatched and arrived on scene at 9:20 AM at the classroom of Ms. Joanna Gray. The students explained that the leprechaun stole all their shoes. Cst N.Isaac and Cst Ouellet started to conduct their search by following the green footprints left behind which led them to a few places, and finally found all their shoes in the classroom sink!

The leprechaun was never seen again and couldn’t be brought in for questioning.

By LPD

A Recap of the LWRI Symposium

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The Listuguj Wellness Renewal Initiative (LWRI) focuses on the well-being and health of all community members, from youth to Elders.  The initiative strives to provide education, resources, and overall support to all. This includes the promotion of cultural and holistic approaches to wellness, empowering community members to overcome substance abuse and addictions, and advocating for positive change.

On February 21st and 22nd, the LWRI held a two-day Wellness Symposium at the Listuguj Community Development Center. This event consisted of many guest speakers and presenters focusing on the topic of overall wellness in the community. Several booths were set up inside with a variety of information and resource materials.  A sacred fire was held outside for the duration of the event by John Paul Lavigne.  Lunch was provided on both days by Tyana Barnaby.

The event began with an opening prayer and smudge from Glenda Wysote LaBillois.

Councillor Chad Gedeon spoke on behalf of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government’s (LMG) Chief and Council. Regarding the LWRI, Gedeon said, “I think we can all agree what is important to our community is its wellness and better health – mentally, physically, and spiritually.” Gedeon’s speech was followed by a video clip from LMG’s CEO Bassem Abdrabou.

Glenda Wysote LaBillois returned to the podium and spoke about her role as a social worker, and how culture and tradition played an important role in helping to overcome trauma in her life.

The Listuguj Community Health Services Directorate began their portion of presentations starting with Director, Donna Vernon Metallic. Metallic spoke about the many programs and services available within Health Services.

Dr. Stéphanie Marsan and RN Johanna Sincére also spoke on behalf of the Listuguj Community Health Services Directorate. Both Marsan and Sincere work at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal (CHUM) specializing in addictions and have been working with Listuguj since 2019. Some of the topics that were covered were the current opioid crisis, harm reduction strategies, and what treatments are available at the CHUM for those struggling with addictions and substance abuse. These treatments include inpatient and outpatient clinics, evaluations, detox services, consultations, withdrawal support and management, and specific services with rapid access for Indigenous clients.

Dr. Marsan said, “We are living through an opioid crisis right now,” and provided some signs and symptoms on how to tell if someone is going through an opioid overdose:

  • Shallow breathing or no breathing.
  • Blue lips/fingertips.
  • Drowsy/unconsciousness.
  • Dizziness/confusion.
  • Choking/gurgling/snoring sounds.
  • Cold or moist skin.
  • Very small pupils.

Sincére spoke about substance use, harm reduction strategies, and needle exchange programs. These strategies help reduce the negative consequences associated with drug use, including overdose, infectious disease transmission, Hepatitis C, etc.

Dr. Marsan concluded her speech by touching on the negative stigmas when it comes to substance abuse and addictions. She spoke about the shame and embarrassment individuals may feel when they are actively using substances or seeking treatment. Dr. Marsan said, “What we need to do is not isolate people, we need to actually bring them love, we need to give them attention,” which resulted in applause from the audience.

Listuguj Community Social Services began their portion of speeches with Director, Tanya Barnaby. She addressed the wellness issues in the community. “First Nations health and wellness is gravely affected by historical and cultural specific factors that include, but are not limited to, the loss of language, the connectedness to the land, residential school abuses, systemic racism, environmental destruction, cultural, spiritual, emotional and mental disconnectedness,” said Barnaby,

Cultural Coordinator Christine Metallic spoke about her time working as a crisis worker in Montreal. She talked about the grieving process, personal growth, and how important it is to break the silence to help cope with pain.

Addictions Counsellor Michael Martin told the audience about a new program he will be offering at the Listuguj Community Social Services Directorate in the future. The program is called, “Living in Balance” and has been created to educate families on addictions and culture. This will be a 27-part program and the time/date will be determined later.

Director of Public Security, Peter Arsenault took the podium and spoke about the Bylaw Enforcement program and the role that the Listuguj Police Department, Fire Department, and Listuguj Rangers play when it comes to wellness in the community.

Victim Specialist, Kali Barnaby wrapped up day one of the symposium with a thorough presentation on the correlation between domestic violence and substance abuse. She presented statistics on the domestic and sexual violence impacts in Listuguj in 2022 and 2023. She spoke about the importance of victims being able to come forward and express themselves. Barnaby said, “I wanted to serve my community. I’m doing my dream job now, working with the police and helping victims break the silence, encouraging their voices to come forward and speak up on what they’ve been through, or what their friends have been through. Lift that heavy weight that they all have on their shoulders.”

Day two of the symposium kicked off with a presentation from Melissa Bryan and Mitchell Syvret-Caplin of Mawiomi Treatment Center. They spoke about the seven-bed facility in Gesgapegiag, that offers 6-7 weeks of treatment for individuals battling substance issues and abuse. As of Fall 2023, Listuguj now has a local Outreach Coordinator for Mawiomi Treatment Center, Jenn Isaac.  The Center incorporates both clinical and cultural workshops and offers pre-treatment and aftercare services. Bryan mentioned that the Center is looking to expand its services into detox in the future. When it comes to addiction, Bryan said, “I heard a saying once that the opposite of addiction is connection. So how do we get people reconnected? Reconnected to their families, reconnected to their roles and responsibilities. I think that’s ultimately what we have to do.”

Listuguj’s Codey Martin is an Addictions and Mental Health Counsellor and resides in Kahnawake, QC. He gave a powerful presentation on cultural and ceremonial components when it comes to wellness, and how it is important to have a positive relationship with yourself when it comes to grief and trauma. He talked about how colonization continues to affect Indigenous communities, and how there is still a lot of grief work to do. Martin said, “The real journey of wellness begins with ourselves.”

Listuguj’s Treaty Education Experiential Learning Lead, Patrick Wilmot did a rope exercise with the audience. The exercise symbolized the importance of communication, and what it looks like literally and figuratively.

Michael Isaac is the Director of Education, and he spoke on education’s role and responsibility in the community when it comes to wellness. He touched on the learning environment at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School, safe classrooms, traditional and healthy lifestyles, and how the main role of education is prevention.

The last presentation of the day was done by Treaty Education Lead, Jacob Gale. He said, “Treaty Education is who we are as l’nu, our culture, our language, our communities, our families our ceremonies.” He spoke about various activities and events that Treaty Education holds that promote social and emotional well-being for students. He shared photos from Culture Days at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School, which recently consisted of a moose calling contest and Ko’jua contest. Treaty Education is about promoting culture and instilling teachings on strong cultural identities in students.

This was the second event held by the Listuguj Wellness Renewal Initiative. Please keep an eye out for future events and activities held by the LWRI.

Our Journey to a Healthier Community Starts Here.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Mitchell Isaac Named Coach for Canada’s 3D Archery Team

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Mitchell Isaac began archery in 2019. His children and wife were heavily involved in the sport, and Isaac eventually decided to give it a try. The first time he played, it didn’t go so well, but he didn’t get discouraged, he kept trying, and once he was shown the mechanics of how to properly shoot a bow, he quickly fell in love with it.

Isaac said, “Archery was something I never really saw myself doing growing up. I’m a trained hockey player, and hockey was the only thing I knew when it came to competitiveness.”

Isaac is now the owner of the Listuguj Archery Club, and the Vice President of the Restigouche Archery Club, located in Atholville, New Brunswick. During the indoor season, Isaac practices in Atholville at Alma Hall, and during the outdoor season, he shoots and trains in Listuguj. Isaac is responsible for managing and coordinating archery in Listuguj and setting up ranges in the paintball field and ball field in the community. 

Earlier this month it was announced that Isaac has been selected to be the coach for Canada’s 3D Archery Team at the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships. This will be held in Mokrice, Slovenia from September 30th to October 6th.  Last Fall there was a call out that Team Canada was looking for a manager and coach. Isaac applied for the coach’s position and was selected for an interview, ultimately landing him the title of coach.  This event takes place every two years, and the team is selected at Outdoor Nationals, which was held in 2023 in British Columbia. Any athlete who competed at the Nationals was eligible to be on Team Canada.

Isaac will be coaching 20 adult athletes from all over Canada. Six athletes will be returning from the 2022 event. Isaac is currently working on obtaining his Competition Development Coaching Certification, which is the highest level you can get in Canada. He will be using this certification to help the team with strength and endurance training. There is a lot of training when it comes to the sport of archery, not only physically, but mentally. Visualization is important, as well as mental preparations for consistency.

“What’s really special about archery is the community that you become a part of,” said Isaac.

If you are interested in trying archery, you can reach out to Isaac via Facebook at Listuguj Archery Club or Restigouche Archery Club. During the indoor season, the first night is free, afterwards, those looking to practice archery must be a member of Archery New Brunswick, which comes with an annual fee for adults and children.

Good luck to Mitchell Isaac and Team Canada at the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships!

By Ann Marie Jacques

AGS Mascot Retires After 20+ Years

/0 Comments/in , /by

Alaqsite’w Gitpu School’s mascot, Gitpu (meaning Eagle) was introduced to the community over 20 years ago. The mascot attended several school events, and activities over the years, and quickly became a staple of the school.

In November, it was announced that AGS would have a new mascot, Pi’gunji’j. Pi’gunji’j (meaning Little Feather) started as a nursery student and will grow with the students.

On February 28th, a retirement party was held at the school for Gitpu. The students said farewell to Gitpu and danced and celebrated with both mascots in attendance.

Wela’lieg Gitpu!

By Ann Marie Jacques

Waqatasg Elders Care Facility Update

/0 Comments/in , /by

Listuguj’s Elders Care Facility, Waqatasg – meaning “Northern Light” has been in the works dating back to 2001. In 2023, the vision of Waqatasg officially became a reality, and the building’s construction was completed.

Back in November, it was announced that Rheal Raymond had taken on the role of Administrator of Waqatasg. He is working hard to ensure the facility is staffed with top-of-the-line, experienced workers who will go above and beyond for Listuguj’s Elders.  Raymond said there are two goals when it comes to the facility: “The main goal of Waqatasg is to bring back clients who are already placed in different facilities, to the community. The second goal is that once we’re fully operational, we shouldn’t have to transfer residents outside of the community.”

At this time, the facility has three doctors secured, Dre. Luce Picard, Dre.Marjolaine Leblanc-Roberge and Dre. Catherine Benoit. These doctors will regularly visit on a rotating basis and tend to residents. They will always be accessible via phone and email, and after each visit, will make recommendations to the nurses and staff on how to continue providing the utmost care to the residents.

Jarvis White has taken on the role of Environmental Services Supervisor. He will be supervising the custodians, watchmen, and laundry workers in the building. He is responsible for anything mechanical in the building, ventilation, HVAC, water, etc.

Tasha Doiron, who is currently working with the Listuguj Community Health Services at the Health Centre, has been working half days as an assistant to the Administrator.

As of right now, the kitchen has two employees. The Head Cook and Supervisor of the Kitchen is Catlin Irvine, and the Chef is Ryan Morrison. They are currently working on menu options, which will include traditional meals.  All food will be made and prepared in-house daily.

When it comes to staffing, the facility is facing challenges in finding nurses. The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government Human Resources department is working hard to find candidates for nursing positions because Waqatasg cannot open its doors until nurses are in place. Waqatasg Elders Care Facility is currently looking for Long-Term Care Registered Nurses – two full-time and four part-time positions.

For nursing job postings, and other jobs available at Waqatasg Elders Care Facility, visit listuguj.ca/jobs.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Gina’mu Studio – A Place to Play and Learn

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Gina’mu Studio is a brand-new facility located in Campbellton, New Brunswick, offering before and after-school care and weekend programs. The weekend programs include playgroups, art workshops, and Mi’gmaq language classes for youth ages 5-11. “This project is a combination of all my passions, and needs that I see for the Mi’gmaq community,” said Amy Martin, owner of Gina’mu.

Martin is a Concordia University student, majoring in First Peoples Studies, with a minor in Human Rights Studies. She began teaching Mi’gmaq two years ago in Montreal and comes from a family of youth educators. Her sister, Karen Martin, is a Mi’gmaq Immersion teacher at Alaqsite’w Gitpu School. Amy Martin said she relies a lot on the community of Listuguj for their resources when it comes to teaching the Mi’gmaq language.

At Gina’mu Studio, Martin expressed the importance of acceptance and kindness. This facility is open to everyone and is a safe place to play and learn social skills. “We’re here to make friends, and teach the language,” said Martin.

Martin offers a before and after-school program on weekdays from February to June, picking back up in September. It will run in the mornings from 6:45 AM to 8:45 AM, and in the afternoon from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The before-school care is $75, the after-school care is $50 and if you’d like both services, it is $100.  Weekend programs consist of a Mi’gmaq language class from 1-2 PM, and an art and play workshop from 2-3:30 PM. These programs run for $10 each. There are no long-term commitments for these programs. Schedules of activities will be released ahead of time on Gina’mu Studio’s Facebook page.

Gina’mu Studio is located at 156C Water St. in Campbellton. If you want to register your child in one of these programs or would like more information, you can find Gina’mu After-School on Facebook, or email ginamulearningcenter@gmail.com.

By Ann Marie Jacques