By creating a relaxing atmosphere, with snacks, coffee, and calming music, the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) hoped to get a sense of what is most important to the three communities it serves – Gesgapegiaq, Gespeg, and Listuguj.

The concept was developed by Donald Jeannotte-Englehart, the Community Engagement Officer with the MMS. 

“MMS has not been involved in the … three communities for a couple of years,” he said. “We wanted to reconnect with the people.”

The key was to have the sessions in an easy-going and informal way.

People are use to meetings where a speaker stands in front of a crowd to relay information. Unfortunately, some  people can find these scenarios intimidating, especially when it involves asking potentially embarrassing questions.  The MMS is trying to find a way around this.

Over the course of six weeks, nine Mawiomi Cafes have been held – three in each community.

People were invited to come out to sit and talk over coffee.

“There’s no agenda,” Jeannotte-Englehart said.

The Executive Director, Tanya Barnaby, found that conversations often flowed naturally.

“You start by having one discussion, and it leads to something else, and then another question pops into someone’s head,” she said. “You started talking about wind, and you ended up talking about moose. And that’s really what I like to see.”

Like everything the MMS does, there’s a citizen engagement component.

“Top [priority] is definitely citizen engagement,” Barnaby said. “For us, it’s number one, no matter what you’re doing.”

At the end of the cafes, people were asked to fill out surveys, to help the MMS organize feedback.

“The most popular [topics] are the negotiation process, the land claim and Ango’tmeq Nm’tginen which is the GMP, (Gespegewagi Management Plan),” Jeannote-Englehart said.

With the first round now finished, the MMS plans to use the findings to help inform people where it counts.

“We need to have the people know about this stuff, and it’s difficult because people have their own lives,” said Jeannotte-Englehart. “The goal – it’s to get the message to them, so they give us what they want for the future, for their kids.”

The team working a Mawiomi Cafe. From left to right: Andrew Lavigne, Juliette Barnaby-Doucet, Tanya Barnaby, Tanner Barnaby, Donald Jeannotte-Englehart, Philip Leblanc, and Oakley Barnaby.

Trapper Metallic is the new Chief of Police for the Listuguj Police Department (LPD). He was appointed on Feb. 6.

“This is a position I was never really considering this early in my career,” he said in an interview with the Nujignua’tegeg.

With the unexpected passing of former Chief of Police Henry Vicaire, the position opened up internally.

Metallic has been with the LPD for the majority of his career, starting when he was 17 years-old.

For a brief period, he tried post-secondary school, but realized it wasn’t for him. He started volunteering again with the LPD. When the opportunity came up to train with RCMP, he took it. Once he graduated from that, he came back to Listuguj as a full fledged police officer, and has been here ever since.

“I’ve had the opportunity to experience various positions within this organization, from the operational standpoint, to the administration organization,” he said.

He went from a Patrol Officer, to a Sergeant, to an Investigator. He was in that role for nearly two years, before submitting his name for consideration as the Chief of Police.

“I definitely was reluctant and waited until the 11th hour really to submit my name,” he said. “I felt that the Chief of Police position – it encompasses so many things for the community, for the detachment – on all different levels. It’s a position that’s a hefty one to fill.”

After process concluded, Trapper was chosen to succeed Vicaire.

“It’s just humbling to succeed such a good man,” he said. 

“It’s been an emotional journey for me due to all the personal relationships … I was very, very close to [Vicaire],” he said. “A lot of teachings I learned from him. I’m very humbled to be designated as the Chief of Police for this community … I’m looking forward to whatever this position’s challenges throws at me, we’ll take it head on.”

Almost immediately after hearing the news about their friend, Dylan Montgomery, several students jumped into action.

Montgomery was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Montgomery and his family have been travelling back and forth from Halifax every week since Christmas.

“We wanted to make him happy,” said Embrey Isaac.

Isaac and her classmates organized a bake sale in their school to help out financially, however they can.

“He was always nice and giving to us,” said Amelia Rioux. “We just wanted to give something back to him.”

Two tables were set up along the main entrance of the school. They were filled, front to back, with cookies, cupcakes, banana bread, and more.

Anna Smith teaches Grade 7 & 8 French Immersion.

“Right away, Monday, they started planning,” she said.

Smith helped organize and supervise the bake sale.

“I just think it’s a really nice thing to see that the kids from both communities coming together and caring about each individual, and doing something special, no matter who it is and where they’re from,” she said.

The following week it was announced that the bake sale had raised a total of $900.

The Listuguj Community Social Services has an active program (initiative to fight poverty) for community members in need. The initiative is funded by Quebec and Labrador Social Services Commission, and through this, the community food bank was created in April 2016. The food bank is typically held on the third Tuesday of every month, however dates still can be subject to change.

For those who come to the food bank, they would be given an assortment of fresh foods and non perishable items. Basic food items such as eggs, milk, bread, pasta, potatoes, breakfast cereals and much more.

With the amount of recipients the food bank gained over the past few months, this has brought a few changes. Starting February, they are implementing an evaluation process in order to avoid abuse of the services and to provide to those truly in need.

“They just meet with me once. They have to provide their proof of income & proof of expenses (Hydro, Telephone) and we’re going to create a file for them here,” said Jessie Gallant “Once you meet with me, then you’re good to go. Your always welcome every month.”

For more information, call Jessie Gallant at the Listuguj Community Social Services. (418-788-3039

Firefighters from the first course offered in Listuguj in 15 years graduated just before the new year. The graduation was held on Dec. 16 at the Bingo Hall.

The 10-week course began in September. They could be seen running various training exercises throughout that time.

Some of the new firefighters, like 18-year-old Cody Duguay tried getting in early, but didn’t hear back. He recieved a call the day the course started. Someone had dropped out. Duguay was there five minutes later.

“What have I gotten myself into,” Duguay quickly thought.

“I would just start, take a step back, think why I’m doing this, and is this really what I want to do,” he said.  “As I read through the course books and looked at and everything, I found this would be something I would really love to do, so I kept going with it.”

The training did it’s job – it taught Duguay how to keep a level head in a stressful situation.

He remembers one time during training when he was under a firetruck, practicing how to conserve air when an air tank is low. He rolled over, and didn’t realize his air was off. Then he got stuck.

“That scared the hell outta me right there, I was ready to quit the course,” he said.

His instructor pulled him out, and he decided to go back the next day. Now he has five different certificates qualifying him as firefighter.

“We earned this and it was a hard road,” said Duguay. “While I will – and always shall – be happy that we have completed this course, I will miss this training. I will miss doing this everyday.”