Archive for category: Feature

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

On June 3^rd, the students at Alqsite’w Gitpu School took part in a Pride Walk from Moffat’s Landing (Pow Wow Grounds) to AGS.

Pride Walks are a celebration and a safe space where people of all identities can be seen and supported. It brings people together to celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQIA2S+ communities.

Listuguj’s Josie Slaughter has been fostering animals in the community over the past year. Although she does not have an official role with Listuguj Animal Control, she volunteers to take in some of the animals before they find their forever homes.

Slaughter is a big animal lover and first got interested in fostering after she adopted her first cat, Sir Pounce. She did a lot of research on how to properly raise cats and completed Neonatal Kitten Foster Training at the Toronto Humane Society. While Slaughter was working for the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, she offered her fostering services to Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Vera Isaac, which was greatly appreciated and needed.

When it comes to the importance of fostering animals in the community, Slaughter said, “Since Listuguj doesn’t have an agreement with the SPCA and no shelter of its own, any animals apprehended by Listuguj Animal Control have nowhere to go unless there are volunteer fosters available.”  Listuguj Animal Control will assist in providing the cat and dog food and handle any vet visits the animals might need as well.

Slaughter has fostered many dogs and cats and takes care of them until a good adopter is put in place. One of her recent animals, was a dog named Maverick, who she cared for while he recovered from leg surgery. Maverick has since found his forever home with a loving owner.

Roaming dogs pose a challenge in the community, and concerns have been raised about irresponsible pet ownership. Something that can help with this ongoing issue is spaying and neutering pets. Please see the following points from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA):

• The CVMA supports all efforts to prevent unplanned breeding (including spaying or neutering of companion animals by licensed veterinarians) and recognizes this is an integral part of pet ownership.
• Spaying or neutering dogs and cats can provide health and behavioural benefits such as reduced risk of some diseases and undesirable behaviours that are influenced by reproductive hormones.
• The CVMA advocates for pre-pubertal spaying or neutering of all sheltered dogs and cats, which is critical for addressing the serious concern of pet overpopulation in Canada.
• Pet owners should consult a licensed veterinarian when deciding timing of spay or neuter surgery for an assessment of the risks and benefits given their pet’s breed, size, behavioural characteristics, and planned use of the pet.
• The current veterinary professional workforce shortage may affect accessibility of spay and neuter procedures.
• The CVMA advocates for further research into the ideal timing of spaying and
  neutering of cats and dogs, along with non-surgical alternative procedures.

When it comes to the future of Blueberry’s Buddies – ‘Pgumanji’j maw witapaq, Slaughter said, “One day I’d love to make my fostering efforts for Blueberry’s Buddies more formal and fundraise so that all animals I take in can be vetted and spayed/neutered before adoption but I’m not quite there yet.”

Thank you for dedication and care when it comes to the animals in our community, Josie!

If you are interested in fostering animals in the community, please contact Vera Isaac at 506-987-4524.

By Ann Marie Jacques