Listuguj Holds First Cancer Walk

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On October 4th, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government held its first-ever Cancer Awareness Walk in the community. The event was put on by the staff at Listuguj Community Health Services (LCHS), and it was a tremendous success.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but the event was inclusive to those battling, or having battled all forms of cancer. Lavender merchandise and swag were handed out at the event, and the colour was chosen by LCHS to represent all cancer types.

The Listuguj Police Department led the walk, starting at the Youth Centre and ending at the Community Centre.

At the Community Centre, an opening prayer was done by Blanche Martin.  Audrey Isaac did the opening and closing remarks of the evening and introduced special guests and breast cancer survivors, Donna Wysote and Pamela Isaac. The survivors shared their emotional experiences and stories with the crowd.

Attendees were served hearty soup and rolls made by Eli Isaac. Along with cupcakes donated by IGA Extra Campbellton. Floyd Metallic provided the entertainment and was the DJ for the evening.

The event acknowledged those who are currently battling cancer and the survivors. A mini candlelight ceremony was held in honour of those who may have lost the fight with cancer but will never lose their place in our hearts.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it is estimated that in 2022:

  • 28,600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women in 2022.
  • 5,500 Canadian women will die from breast cancer. This represents 14% of all cancer deaths in women in 2022.
  • On average, 78 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
  • On average, 15 Canadian women will die from breast cancer every day.
  • 270 Canadian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die from breast cancer.

If you are 40 to 49 years old, talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer, along with the benefits and limitations of having a mammogram.

If you are 50 to 74 years old, have a mammogram every 2 years.

If you are 75 or older, talk to your doctor about whether having a mammogram is right for you.

Thank you to the team at LCHS for organizing this successful event: Melissa Lavoie, Jennifer Caplin, Teeka Dedam, Tyra Barnaby, Kara Metallic, Wanda Metallic, Lori-Lynn Wysote, Cindy Isaac, and Olivia Isaac.

For information on cancer, or for general inquiries, feel free to contact Listuguj Community Health Services at 418-788-2155.

By Ann Jacques

Listuguj Pow Wow

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Rain or shine, the spirit of Listuguj Powwow shines bright. Together, we’ve proven that nothing can dampen the spirit of our powwow family.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our vendors for their dedication and determination in serving our visitors, despite the challenging conditions. Your creativity and commitment truly shined this weekend!

Thank you to all of our guests for braving the wet and muddy conditions to come out and support our vendors, dancers, and drummers.

To all the incredible Powwow Family, thank you for bringing your dance talent and song into the Arena. You guys ARE the powwow ❤

Special thanks to our elders Rose Ann Martin and Michael Martin for the Sunrise Ceremony.

To our firekeepers John Paul Lavigne, Tim Adams, and Gullege Isaac.

To our grounds keeper John Paul Lavigne for all his hardwork.

To our volunteers who were here daily leading up to the event.

To Chief Scott Martin and Council.

To our Golden Age headdancers Chris Sanipass and Rebecca Sanipass, our Youth headdancers Jacob Bernard and Honour Young-Stephens, and last but not least our head dancers Owen Mayo and Kwena Boivin.

To Our Host Drum Crazy Spirit

To our Guest drum Wabanaki Confederacy

To our Emcee Trevor Gould

To our Arena Director Christian Barnaby

To our Drum Director Joshua Dedam

To our sound Director Shamu Martin

To Ronnie Swasson Moffat for keeping our grass upkept.

To BlackBear cadets for always being happy to volunteer.

Special thanks to those who directed traffic and parking, the sanitary and garbage team, the runners and golf card Driver.

Huge thank you to our feast and breakfasts cooks for serving a delicious meal for all of our guests. And to our coffee baristas for serving coffee all weekend long.

Thank you to the Moffat Family for sharing your space with Powwow.

Huge thank you to all of our sponsors for your support.

-LMG

-TD Bank

-MRC Avignon

-LPD and LFD

-Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (Gaspe dioces and Hamilton Dioces)

-Heritage Canada

-Desjardins

-City of Campbellton

-Meubles Klomie

-LFG Construction

-Dedams Grocery

-Wysotes Corner Store

-Arco lumber

-Groupe Lebel

-Atholville Mill

-MMBC

-Mi’gmaq Star

-Popoff Morrison

-Restaurant Pastalli

-GDS

-CN Rail

-Home Hardware

-Mahers Funeral

-Pecheries Merinard

-Pharmacy Louis-Alexis

-Moms Dufy Free

-NAPA Auto Parts

-Barnabys Grocery

-Nadia Wysote

-JM Arsenault

-Canadian Tire

-Jeromes Grocery

-Initinative

-Elizabeth wilmot

-Derek Condo

-Jeanette Henry

-Elizabeth Wilmot

-Healing Stitches

-George Martin Rez411

-Abby Metallic

-Welteg

-Honour Young-Stephens

Last but not least thanks to Lita Isaac for 31 years of dedication and to all of the powwow committee for coming together to pull this event off.

Without everyone above we would not have a powwow. You guys are appreciated!

Wela’lioq!

-Nation Isaac, Powwow Coordinator

Canada’s First Indigenous Miss World Canada – Emma Morrison

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Emma Morrison is a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation, outside of Timmins, Ontario.  She grew up very connected to her culture and spent most of her time outdoors: hunting, fishing, and playing sports. In 2017, Morrison received a message via Facebook from a local pageant representative asking if she’d be willing to give pageantry a try and represent her town of Chapleau. She was skeptical but agreed and ultimately went on to be the first-ever Indigenous woman to win Miss World Canada in 2022.

Before competing in the Miss World Canada pageant, she competed in other pageants. and claimed the titles of Miss Northern Ontario and Miss Teenage Canada. There is a lot of hard work that comes with competing in pageants. They require a lot of training and dedication and are physically and mentally demanding on competitors. Even during vigorous training, Morrison always stays humble and grounded.  

In November 2022, Miss World Canada was held in Toronto, Ontario. When Morrison was crowned, she said it was a surreal experience. “I had a little piece of sage on me, I was having a little prayer backstage by myself amongst all the chaos. I remember thinking, ‘Okay creator, whatever you have in store for me, I surrender to that 100%,” she said.  When she got on stage, she was given an Indigenous issue question from the panel, and at that point, she felt it was truly meant to be. Morrison will never forget what it felt like to win and have her family cheering her on from the front row.

Morrison now has the privilege of visiting multiple Indigenous communities throughout Canada. She does motivational speeches and meets with community members promoting self-acceptance and gaining confidence. She joked that in every community she visits she always ends up with a “new cousin.” Even though she comes from a small town, she has worked hard for her accomplishments and is a good example for young people that anything can happen if you set your mind to it.

Morrison will be going on to compete in the 72nd Miss World Festival in December 2024. She said, “I’m really looking forward to this because, in 72 years, there has never been an Indigenous Canadian woman representing Canada.” One thing she is looking forward to about Miss World is that the festival holds a “Dancing of the World” category, where delegates can showcase a dance from their culture. Morrison plans on dancing in Fancy Shawl Regalia. There is a “Beauty with a Purpose” portion of the festival as well where delegates have a project developed in their communities that provides change and hope. Her project is “Reconnecting through Ribbon Skirts” where she creates ribbon skirts for Indigenous women and two-spirit people, so they can feel connected to their culture.

During her trip to Listuguj, she visited several places and met with many community members. She spent a lot of time with our youth visiting Alaqsite’w Gitpu School, the Outdoor Kindergarten class, and Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton. She attended Eel River Bar’s Annual Pride Celebration. She went salmon fishing, attended a belt-making workshop with Jamie Metallic, and was taken around the community to see the beautiful sights. Morrison stated she thoroughly enjoyed her time in the community. She also experienced salmon fishing using a net for the first time, as opposed to using a fishing rod that she is normally used to. “The people have been so welcoming. Everyone has been so kind, and they have gone out of their way to make me feel so welcome in the community. The kindness is beaming from Listuguj. I’ll be back!” she said.

You can find Emma Morrison on Facebook or Instagram, where she posts regular updates about her travels, her pageantry, and her positive outlook on life.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Migwite’tm 2023

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Chief Martin
Migwite’tm 2023 Speech
June 11, 2023


It’s inspiring to see Listuguj come together to honor our people who were involved in the 1981 raid. This year as the previous years, the commemoration carries a meaningful name: “Today we honor the day we became stronger.” When the rights of our Mi’gmaw Nation were challenged, our people stood together to defend our fishing rights. They did this for all our people and our future generations.

In 1981, when our rights were challenged by the government, our people stood together once again to defend our fishing rights. As we stood for our rights, we also stood together for the rights of our future generations. Strength grew strong within our community on June 11, 1981.  Not only did we receive support from our Canadian First Nations communities we also received support from our first nation communities within the US.

We truly became one Nation.

The 81 raid was another test of character for our nation, now we move forward and celebrate with strength, affirmation, and assertiveness for our people. We will never surrender our inherited rights as first nations for ourselves and our future generations. We will continue to fish by respecting and honoring Plamu as taught by our ancestors.

I would like to thank everyone who made this Migwite’tm commemoration possible: the organizers, the walkers and the sponsors.

Thank you for everyone’s’ help and support in making our community stronger.


Wela’lin

We Remember
In light of today, we gather to remember,
The scars that have lightened over time
Still, the stories remain vivid and true.
Despite the healing and fortuity of growth
We ruminate the actions we’ve had to subdue.
We try to fathom this sacred feeling
That flows through our blood,
Like the salmon that run the streams.
An unexplainable mystery that can’t be seen.
But we remember how,
On June 11, 1981,
The people were made aware.
By the juddering sounds of helicopters above
And wailing speed boats splashing through the Restigouche river; stunned
Our people while the Surete began to demand and shove.
They came in the night without any sight
They came with their weapon’s at Listuguj First Nation
They came for destruction with strict instruction…
To cut the fishing nets
Seize the salmon with many threats,
Violate the Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
They slipped through history
And attempted to rip
The essence of our being they thought could shatter,
But what they held really didn’t matter.
A human shield of residents were forming
Because they would not allow the intruders to yield our right
And stood in their way
Despite the government’s warning
Through the thick of it we remember,
The time it took to fix our nets,
Anticipating the moment to challenge
their laws once more and renounce
We would resist and do what was true…and fight!
To prove salvation is always the goal rather than unhinge
With all our might.
Today I ask that you remember,
Through the rivers and streams
The salmon symbolize our right to the land
A regalia of life and hope,
For First Nation people to cope.
We are the key,
To preserving nature’s beauty,
For all to enjoy and see,
A profound emotional experience
In a world that’s sustainable through coexistence
Truly.
So today we honor,
And celebrate
The day we got stronger!

By: Carley Wysote

20 Year Staff Celebration

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On May 25th, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government held a Staff Appreciation Dinner celebrating staff who served the LMG for 20 years or more.

Congratulations to the following staff:

Public Security
Sharon Barnaby
Jacob Mitchell

Chipper Operations
Henry Metallic

Capital and Infrastructure
John Metallic

Social Services
Tina Caplin
Tanya Isaac
Tierra Ritchie

Health
Jennifer Caplin
Valery Jacques
Bonnie Isaac
Donna V. Metallic



Education
Derek Barnaby
Karla Condo
Jean Isaac
Suzie Isaac
Tammy Isaac
Bobbi Madahbee
Patsy Mallaley
Naomi Marchand



To see all photos from the celebration, visit LMG’s Facebook page.


By Ann Marie Jacques

Showing Gratitude to Msit No’gmaq…All my Relations

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Before daybreak, on April 11, the Newport Wharf is busy as captains and crew are getting ready to leave for the new 2023 snow crab season. The opening is set for 5:00 a.m. and no vessels are allowed to leave before that time. 

On this Easter weekend, Chad Gedeon volunteered his time to visit our vessels at the wharfs of Ste. Therese, Grande Riviere, and Newport to conduct a Send-Off ceremony. “It’s nice to be with captains and crew. They gathered in a circle, and we smudged and prayed for their safety, and we gave thanks to the Water Spirit. It was a moving moment when I was singing the Honour Song and heard the voices of the children of Captain Franklin Brisk joining us,” he said. 

It’s the second year that the Natural Resource Directorate organized the Send Off ceremony and Chad enthusiastically got involved. On March 31, a group of 70 people gathered for the ceremony at the AGS. “Today, we have a vibrant fleet of vessels with our captains and crew. That was unthinkable 25 years ago, but times are changing and this afternoon we are celebrating the launching of a new commercial fishing season,” said Saqamaw Scott Martin.

The Send-Off ceremony is based on cultural and spiritual teachings and it highlights Ta’n telmi’watmg goqwei (Giving Thanks), one of the Seven Mi’gmaq principles which are essential to maintaining a balanced relationship with Creation and the use and occupancy of our territory. The event was supported by the LMG and the AGS.

For Denny Isaac, NRD Associate Director, “it’s significant to take the responsibility to revitalize and integrate this principle and teachings into our activities and foster opportunities for Mi’gmaq youth to witness and be part of it and to reconnect with our traditions.”

The one-hour event started with a prayer and a minute of silence for the fishers who have gone to the Spirit World. People attending the event went to the AGS Ceremony Room to make their tobacco offering and their prayer. Elder Eunice Metallic gathered the offerings and divided them into eleven pouches, one for each of the LMG vessels. The key moment was when eleven students, from Miss Karen Martin and Miss Mandy Belliveau’s classes, carried the bundles to the stage to hand them to the fishers.

“The Send-Off ceremony was intended to bring together the community, Elders, youth, NRD, LMG, C&C, Rangers, AGS, Captains, and crew members to show gratitude to the sea that provides for our people and to the commercial fishers and their support staff. It was also meant

to honour the ancestors who signed the Treaties and exercised our Aboriginal rights and the fishers who left for the Spirit World”, emphasized Denny Isaac.

Saqamaw Martin also had words for the staff working at the fisheries. “I would like to acknowledge all of them and say, “Thank you” to the fisheries department who are decisively at the wharf and their offices making sure that fishers, vessels, allocations, processing plants, and our vision are supported. 

Councillor Chad Gedeon conducted the Ceremony with great respect and Jacob Gale, LETE Treaty Education Coordinator shared the teachings about the Treaties and Netukulimk. The ceremony was live streamed by Justin Caldwell of CHRQ with almost 500 views.

The ceremony was also a teaching opportunity that Miss Mandy Belliveau’s class appreciated. In a group conversation about the ceremony “they highlighted the song sung by Mi’gmaq immersion class, the speech and stories and especially they felt good to attend the ceremony and felt honored to give the fishermen their sacred bundles”, said Miss Belliveau. 

Before ending his speech at AGS, Saqamaw Martin had a message for the fishers. “I saw people making their offerings and I know that Elder Chris Wysote also prepared tobacco ties for this event. I would like to ask our fishers, to be our messengers and before you start fishing, make an offering to the sea on our behalf.  We wish you a good fishing season. Come back safe, take care of each other, and support each other. Go back to the sea in a good spirit, honouring our families, our people, and the species that sustain us.”

Eleven days later, captains and crews were offering the tobacco to the Water Spirit. Chad Gedeon and the crew of the Migwite’tm 81 and the Harry Frye were praying and smudging at the wharf of Newport.  There are around 105 vessels all together fishing snow crab on Zone 12, including 21 First Nation vessels.

As the firework was signaling the departure of the fishers they certainly started the season based on the principle of Ta’n telmi’watmg goqwei (Giving Thanks) and along the way, the song and prayers of our community will reach the sea that provides its bounty.

By Felix Atencio-Gonzales

Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation (MMBC) Officially Announces Partnership with PLC Info

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On April 25th, Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation (MMBC) held a press conference in Gesgapegiag to officially announce their partnership with northern New Brunswick company, PLC Info. Many people attended the press conference, such as Frédéric Vicaire, MMBC CEO, Co-Founders and Owners of PLC Info, Pascal Labrecque and Marc Dubé, Chief Scott Martin of Listuguj, and Chief John Martin of Gesgapegiag.

PLC Info is an information technology (IT) company that offers a wide variety of services and products, such as cyber security, video security systems, cabling and fiber optic, point of sales solutions, and more. PLC Info is a well-established company that is located in Eel River and Bathurst that has been providing its services to Listuguj for a number of years now.  

The Mi’gmaq Communities of Listuguj, Gesgapegiag, and Gespeg are now shareholders in PLC Info after purchasing 51% stake in the IT company. “It’s a win-win partnership,” said Frédéric Vicaire, “It will enable us to work together to expand Indigenous clients, but also other markets in other provinces. It also means to maximize employment and build capacity for our Mi’gmaq workers in our communities.” The partnership is a new source of revenue that will benefit the three Mi’gmaq communities. Vicaire expressed full confidence in the success of this partnership and stated that PLC Info is a company with a great track record with Indigenous clientele.

Co-Founder and PLC Info Owner, Pascal Lebrecque states that the company was eager for the opportunity to partner and grow with MMBC. “Over the past three years, we have experienced tremendous growth and this new partnership will allow us to go even further.” As mentioned, PLC Info has been doing various jobs and providing products around the community of Listuguj for years. “Today’s announcement reinforces the bond we have developed with First Nations over the years,” said Lebrecque.

Chief Scott Martin also expressed his confidence in the success of the partnership. He said, “I am very happy we can go forward with this project; it’s been worked on for three communities for the past couple of years. It’s an opportunity for the three communities to prosper in this. It’s an opportunity for our people to take courses with computers, and further their careers in the IT field.” Chief Scott Martin thanked everyone who worked hard to make this project and partnership happen.

For more information on Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation (MMBC), visit mmcorporation.ca.

For more information on PLC Info, visit plcinfo.ca.

By Ann Marie Jacques

Listuguj Students Perform Ta’n Wetapegsulti’gw – Where we come from

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The Listuguj-CBU Community Studies students have completed their L’nu Culture in Media course. As a final project, students prepared and performed a theatre play entitled “Ta’n Wetapegsulti’gw,” written by Peter Vicaire. Students from the Alaqsite’w Gitpu School and Sugarloaf Senior High School were also invited to star alongside them. They performed three shows: March 24th for AGS staff and students, March 25th for invited guests, and March 26th for the community. Their final performance was even live-streamed on LMG’s YouTube channel.

Ta’n Wetapegsulti’gw tells the story of two sisters, Anissa and Nahla, who are lost in the forest and are trying to find their way home. They stumble upon two tricksters, Apli’gmuj and Giwnig, who are seemingly put on their path to waste their time. However, this playful duo leaves them with valuable teachings about our Creation Story and way of life. The director Shane Leydon shares, “In this story, Apli’gmuj says to the two lost girls, “How do you expect to know where to go if you don’t know where you came from?!” Out of all the bickering and fighting and one-upping Apli’gmuj and Giwnig do amongst each other, this is one line that has a lot of wisdom in it.” The teachings help Anissa and Nahla further along their journey, but you’ll have to watch their performance on YouTube to hear the whole story.

The atmosphere this group created in the Alaqsite’w Gitpu School gymnasium was extraordinary. The sets, designed by Jonathan Barnaby, immersed the audience in the story. The structure of Gulug’s nest towered over the characters, making us, as the audience, worried for them and their encounter with Gulug. The costumes, designed by Claudia Gray and Oakley Gray, and masks, created by Duane Isaac, were stunning and enhanced the overall look of each character.

The sound and lighting provided by S.R. Sound were on point. As you may already know, bolts of lightning are an integral part of our Creation Story. S.R. Sound did an excellent job of portraying their intensity on stage.

The Listuguj Education Directorate congratulates these students on their outstanding performance and work behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone who made this play a success. All your hard work has paid off.

Production Credits

Shane Leydon                Director

Troy Mundle                   Acting Coach

Michael Rossi                 Videographer

Duane Isaac                   Mask Design

Claudia Gray                   Costume Design

Oakley Gray                    Costume Design

Jonathan Barnaby          Set Design

Peter Vicaire                   Screenplay Writer

Jonathan Labillois          Artistic Director

Doug Pictou                   Music Coordinator

Ryan Parker                    Producer

Jacob Gale                     Stage Manager

Sound and Lights provided by S.R. Sound

Special thanks:

Sheila Christie

Gordon Sparks

Darryl Stevens

Everest Johnson

Cast List

(In order of appearance)

Glusgap                          Jeanette Henry

Anissa                            Anissa Metallic

Nahla                             Nahla Barnaby

Apli’gmuj                         Sandy Bulmer

Giwnig                            Ashley Barnaby

Na’gu’set/Nisgam           Kara Metallic

Nugumi                           Talia Caplin

Apistanewj                      Scarlett Vicaire

Netawansum                  Jacob Bernard

Ni’ganaptegewi’sgw        Myrna Isaac

Gulug                             Tanya Simonson

Crew List

Connie Moon

Jennifer Isaac

Jessie Moffat

Kaylea Germain

Mali Wysote

Meredith Bernard

Miranda Caggiano

Tori Condo-Metallic

By LETE

St. Patrick’s Day – LPD

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On St. Patrick’s Day, the Listuguj Police received a call from the AGS nursery class for assistance whereas they found some little green footprints all over their classroom.

Constable Ouellet responded and investigated the situation. The green little creature was never found!

By the Listuguj Police Department

Mijua’ji’j Park – Grand Opening Basketball Game

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Earlier this month, Listuguj celebrated the grand opening of Mijua’ji’j Park with a Chief & Council VS. Capital & Infrastructure basketball game.

Thank you to the community for stopping by to check out the new basketball court and playground, and to cheer on the teams!