Haven House celebrates 25th anniversary

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When the shelter first opened in 1991, Sheila Swasson – the Director at the time – remembers the misconceptions.

A police officer once came to the shelter, with information about a woman at risk. He didn’t know if the shelter could do anything, because the woman hadn’t been physically assaulted yet.

“It just goes to show you that at that time, the issue of family violence was in existence, but yet, maybe the scope of it wasn’t fully understood,” she said.

Swasson, the manager of the shelter today, has worked at the shelter for 23 of its 25 years in existence.

“[The Police] didn’t look into when a woman is threatened, when she feels that her well being is threatened, or financial abuse, or emotional abuse, sexual assault – all these things,” she said. “I believe we’ve done a lot of work in that area, where we’ve increased that awareness, through education in our community.”

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Victoria LaBillois speaking at the Haven House 25th Anniversary.

On December 6, the 25th anniversary of the Haven House was celebrated at the bingo hall. It was intended to be “something different.”

With the performance of a skit by Anita Olsen-Harper, a cabaret singer, and the honoring the council that helped bring Haven House into existence over two decades ago, the evening certainly went above and beyond. It was meant to pay tribute to the shelter, and everyone involved.

Over the years, the staff have had their share of emotional moments.

“There are moments that are difficult,” said Swasson. “But then there are moments that are at the other end of the spectrum – where we see the personal growth, and we also see the healing that [clients] overcome while here, or while working with us. Where they feel empowered to make a better life for themselves.”

Swasson sees many former clients out in the community, but one – who also attended the 25th anniversary – comes to her mind.

“When I see this woman in our community, and she’s doing so well, I’m just like ‘wow,’” Swasson said. “I would like to feel that we’ve contributed to that as well, in some small way we made a difference. “

Check out some of the original documents:

A new tool to keep Listuguj connected

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You may have noticed a giant electronic billboard in Listuguj recently.  Hopefully you learned something from it as well.

On November 29, 2016 Listuguj had the new electronic message board installed, complements of Listuguj Community Social Services.

Over the past few years Listuguj Community Health Services (LCHS) has been working on getting the electronic message board. The idea had been pitched to Health Canada for years. It was finally able to move forward this year.

“I wanted the community to see all of the possible programs and activities that are being offered,” said Donna Metallic, the Director of the LCHS.

The message board is centrally located, in hopes that everyone in the community will see it regularly. It will help keep people informed – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The idea isn’t entirely new.

“The first time I went to Mashteuiatsh up north they had a message board when you enter their community”, Metallic said.

Directly under a beautiful statue – a monument welcoming people to the community – there’s  screen, with a feed of all the activities going on. It was only for one directorate. Metallic immediately recognized how useful it could be for Listuguj. For all of Listuguj.

“I thought, ‘This is beautiful.’ It’s a beautiful way to showcase the happenings in the community,” she said. “What better way than to display it on a board in the middle of the community.”

The sign came from Pattison Sign Group in Edmunston, New Brunswick. The sign was made in Edmunston, and delivered and installed, with the help of Mic Mac Electric.

Metallic used a similar sign in Kanehsatake. It was modified to showcase the LCHS logo.

“I wanted to be able to have that on the sign,” she said. “I also wanted to showcase that the Health Center is an accredited organization, and it was a lot of work with staff and accredition coordinator that put us on the accreditation path of quality services that we provide to the community.”

The sign adds another level of communication for the community.

“I would like to see each of the directors use that sign to promote their activities,” Metallic said. “I want it to be used as much as possible, so that when you’re driving by – at any given time – then you will know what is going on.”

The sign will start to generate revenue starting January 9, 2017 for any additional information please contact the LMG IT/Communications department at sign@listuguj.ca

Public Meeting

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On September 25th, Chief and Council held a community meeting at the Listuguj Community Development Center (Bingo Hall) to discuss topics that community members submitted.

The doors opened at 5 p.m with over 50 community members in attendance. It lasted nearly four hours. The night’s agenda had several topics.

First item for discussion was the electronic meters from Hydro Quebec. Questions were asked and what benefits come from these meters.

The next topic was the 20 houses being built. It was explained that 10 were ready for construction this year while the other 10 were having the lots prepared for next Spring.

The Matrimonial Property Law was also looked at briefly, with Sheila Swasson explaining what it is and what it means for our community members.

Zenabis was the last item on the agenda, questions focused on the availability of jobs across all sectors, from construction all the way to production. Two 8-week training courses will be hosted by the L.E.D and facilitated by the Kwantlen Polytechnic University. The training would be done online and this would be a starting step for anyone interested in the Professional Management of Medical Marijuana Facilities in Canada.

Other related topics were brought up during the meeting were the Elder’s Facility, Education, Future Structure of Housing, Finances on Housing, a request from CHRQ.

Brenda Gideon-Miller was present, and thought it was a positive meeting overall.

“The only regret that i have is that there wasn’t as many community members as I had anticipated,” she said.

She would have also liked an agenda prior to the meeting, and any other information that could have been available. Overall, she thought it was encouraging, and a good step by the Chief and Council.

“It was good conversation, good discussion, people were talking,” she said. “There wasn’t any yelling going on, there wasn’t any of the negativity also. I think it was a good first public meeting. I’m looking forward to more.”

Chaleur Terminals: the battle isn’t over

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The New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench may have ruled in favour of Chaleur Terminals Inc. project on Aug. 5, but the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) doesn’t entirely consider it a loss.

“We were not able to halt any construction during the court case,” said Tanya Barnaby, the new Executive Director, who acted as the interim Executive Director since April.

Now, it’s on to the Federal Courts. An application to quash federally approved permits – similar to the provincially issued permits – has been filed.

“We’re also able to attack the project as a whole through the federal courts, whereas through the provincial courts, it had to be specific to certain permits,” said Barnaby.
“Our legal team has assured us that this is a good way forward.”

An appeal hasn’t been filed yet, but the MMS clearly disagrees with the New Brunswick court’s decision. As for other action, discussions with the leadership of the three communities will be held in the middle of September.

While the most cost effective way to challenge the transportation of 150,000 barrels of oil through the Restigouche region, has not been identified yet, the commit to stop it is loud and clear.

“We will stop the Chaleur Terminals trains,” said Barnaby.  “[The leadership’s] goal is to make sure that these trains do not come through our territory carrying this bitumen oil, and they’ll do what it takes to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”

Listuguj Investing in Emerging Industry

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The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government’s $3 million investment in International Herbs Medical Marijuana Ltd. – which owns Zenabis in Atholville NB – was officially announced on Aug. 30 at a press conference at the LMG.

“This opportunity will not only provide a financial return, but more importantly – a partnership built from meaningful conversations, a vision for the future within the sector, and a lasting, mutual, beneficial, business relationship,” said Chief Darcy Gray at the event.

“We know we make a significant contribution in the local economy, and are key contributors. Together, working in respectful business relationships, we can strengthen this region.”

Kevin Coft, CEO of International Herbs Medical Marijuana Ltd, said the plan is to have the facility producing by early 2017. In the meantime construction needs to be complete, and staff needs to be trained.

“The most critical thing for zenabis is to have trained people, who understand the legislation, and once they understand that legislation, there’s going to be many job opportunities,” said Coft.

“We are having training programs with the Listuguj education department, and training programs with – we’re in talks with – the New Brunswick government.”

Chief Gray said community members will be notified of all training opportunities.
“It comes down to the training and qualifications,” he said. “We’re going to be focusing on making sure that we get community members trained, up to speed, and get the qualifications that they’re going to need to go and work and take advantage of those opportunities.”

Coft has previously stated that the facility will be the largest indoor producer of medical marijuana in the country, and the investment by the LMG follows a week after the New Brunswick Provincial government’s announcement of a $4 million investment.

The investment from the LMG will be made in the form of a convertible debenture.

“A convertible debenture is issued at a later time, in stocks. And that will be something that we will be considering in the future,” said Coft. “So it’s an interest, and a stock position.”

The LMG stated in a press release that this investment is part of its long-term economic view – to work with neighbors and strengthen the region with economic development.

“One of the things that we have noticed is that the Listuguj Government is very proactive in this area – to try and see how they can benefit the economy,” said Coft. “This loan from the Listuguj Government is really a strategy. A long-term strategic strategy that the government has, in order to provide more jobs, more opportunity.”

Food and Water Study being done in Listuguj

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It is our lifestyle to consume what comes from the land. We fish, we hunt and we harvest. With the rise of industry, came the reality of exposure to harmful contaminants.

What could be in the local resources? This is what the First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environmental Contaminant Study (FNFNES) is here to examine.

The FNFNES will be conducting a four mon th study here in Listuguj. This is just a small portion of the study, which spans coast to coast over the course of 10 years. The FNFNES has collected data from many First Nation Communities all across Canada.

The study is collecting traditional food and water to be prepared and sent for testing.  During the four months Stephanie Levesque, the Nutrition Research Coordinator from FNFNES, will be here alongside two Community Research Assistants, Stacy Martin and Claudette Methot. The data of the study is separated into these 5 components:

• Drinking Water Component
• Traditional Food Sampling and Collection
• Surface Water Collection
• Hair Sampling for Mercury
• Traditional Food Frequency
Questionnaire

100 Households will be selected at random for the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The first part asks how much of the traditional food the participant has consumed, and how often. The second part asks about the water sources used in the household for cooking.

Nujignua’tegeg’s Tyler Morrison sat down with Stephanie Levesque and Denny Isaac, the Director of Research at the GMRC, in Listuguj to talk about the FNFNES study, as well as information from the studies conducted by the GMRC.  “I find it very pleasant to know as a Dietician that some people are hesitant to eat traditional food, but once it’s been tested it’s proven to be healthier than typically what we can buy in the grocery store” said Levesque.

AFN National Chief in Listuguj

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Listuguj received a special guest during the Powwow weekend.  Perry Bellegarde, the Assembly of First Nations National Chief, came to the community for the first time and delivered a vibrant speech at the Powwow.

“I got a really nice invitation from Chief Darcy to be with him and his community,” he said. “I’ve never been to Listuguj before. So when I saw him at our last AFN AGA in Niagara Falls two or three weeks back I said, ‘Hey let’s make it happen.’”

His visit started with a breakfast at the Community Center (Bingo Hall) where LMG Councillors, Directors, Gespeg Chief Manon Jeannotte, as well two members of Parliament from the region, Hon. Remi Masse and Rene Arsenault, Campbellton Mayor Stephanie Anglehart-Paulin and N.B. Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, Patrick France were all in attendance.

There were several presentations during the breakfast. Councillor Lloyd Nicholas, Alcon, Officer Trapper Metallic and Chief of Police Peter Arsenault from the Listuguj Police Department spoke on the difficulties that the department has been experiencing due to a lack of funding and the tiring amount of hours each officer endures.

There was also an announcement of a 100,000$ funding grant from Aboriginal Language Initiative Program from Heritage Canada to help with revitalizing the Mi’gmaq Language in Listuguj. This support will help the different efforts of the community to create awareness on the Mi’gmaq language situation, provide classes, stimulate the use and transfer the knowledge of the language to the non-speakers.

After the meeting, the dignitaries went to the Powwow grounds for the Grand Entry where Chief Bellegarde wore his tradition Plains Cree headdress.  The National Chief, elected in December 2014, is from Little Black Bear, Saskatchewan.

The morning started off with a blue sky bursting through what little clouds we had, a beautiful day to Powwow. After the Grand entry National Chief Bellegarde spoke about the importance to preserving identity despite the centuries of oppression and struggles for First Nations.  ‘We are alive’ he told the crowd that applauded him.  He took the time to thank Lita Isaac and the Powwow volunteers, dancers, drummers for their efforts to bring people together every year.

After the morning’s events finished, Mr. Bellegarde gave an interview on camera to Nujignua’tegeg (see our Youtube channel) before leaving to Eel River Bar for a Sweat Lodge ceremony.

AFN chief

Many aspects to wellness

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The 23rd annual Wellness Fair kicked off in the usual way, with a march from Subway to the Powwow grounds at 8 AM.  As always, the Wellness Fair was a family event, equipped with an inflatable playground, and breaks for games, like a fair-wide “rock, paper, scissors” tournament. Organizer called it one of the best attended Wellness Fairs in recent years.

“One Wellness Fair is never the same as a previous one,” said Sheila Swasson. Haven House hosts the event.

This year, many aspects of physical and mental wellness were addressed, but it had a clear focus on language. Many presenters in the morning spoke entirely in Mi’gmaq. Others spoke partially in Mi’gmaq.
“If we don’t start working toward revitalizing our language, within 30 years, there will be no Mi’mgaq speakers in Listuguj,” said Swasson.

Lorna Sook, Listuguj Education Director, told the crowd about the struggles of the Listuguj Education Directorate in finding a way to address the threats facing the language.

Sook eventually attended a conference at Mount Allison University, where she heard that the only way to save a language is through immersion programs. And immersion programs will only work if they are complete. “I came back with that message, frightened,” said Sook. “Having to make a decision on relocating the Mi’gmaq Immersion Program out of the Gitpu School, and it will be located in a section the Education Complex.”

The Immersion classes will be isolated, in an attempt to reduce the tendency to switch back to english. After a certain point, people will only be allowed to speak Mi’gmaq.

Like every year, the Wellness Fair had many presenters under the big tent, and lots of gifts to give away. Presenters spoke on a variety of topics related to all aspects of “wellness.” Denny Isaac, of the GMRC spoke about the importance of water. Dr. Fred Metallic was able to keep with the Mi’gmaq language theme, while also giving a first-hand account of how preventing violence can apply to different levels. He told the story — partially in English, and partially in Mi’gmaq — of his doctoral thesis, and the battle to write it in Mi’gmaq, and defend it in Mi’gmaqi.

He referenced a banner “Family violence is not a Mi’gmaq way of life” carried in the march earlier that day. “Well neither is institutional violence a Mi’gmaq way of life,” he said. “To insist that indigenous students only speak English or French is a form of violence.”

Nta’tugwaqanminen — Our Story

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More than 60 people gathered under the new LMG tent at Moffat landing for the presentation of the book Nta’tugwaqanminen – Our Story.

The book produced by the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat is the fruit of many years of research, reflections and discussion about Gespe’gewa’gi Mi’gmaq.  A video about the importance and uniqueness of the book, was presented to the public. The video included interviews to Elder Barnard Jerome, an academic, a lawyer, a youth, a researcher and the MMS Director.

The book itself is rich in information about history, archeology, place names, legal analysis of Aboriginal Title, the Mi’gmaq vs. Canadian vision on the territory and the regional, national and international context of Indigenous struggles to reaffirms their Inherent and Aboriginal rights.

The book Nta’tugwaqanminen describes the evolution of the Gespege’wa’gi Mi’gmaq and it represents a solid source of information for those interested in knowing Mi’gmaq identity, culture, history and the roots of our rights.  There are few books available on library shelves that carry the voices of the Mi’gmaq knowledge holders and written from a Mi’gmaq perspective. This is a “must read’ for all Mi’gmaq and anyone working with the Mi’gmaq people.

For Maddie Metallic, a Mi’gmaq language teacher the book is necessary for Mi’gmaq students at all levels. “I remember when I went to Mount Allison University we were taught about our history and about our people from a non-native perspective. At that time I felt that it was wrong and we were misrepresented but I didn’t have the tools to respond to them. If at that time I had the book Nta’tugwaqanminen and I had read it, I would have the tools to respond to their misinformation.” Holding the book on her hand and with a strong sentiment Maddie concluded: “This is a great book with so much information and above all, from a Mi’gmaq perspective.”

The Nta’tugwaqanminen book is available at the MMS office and will be distributes in Listuguj, Gesgapegiag and Gespeg.

Aboriginal Day in Listuguj

Aboriginal Day

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In Listuguj, Aboriginal Day was also celebrated by the Veterans with a Flag Raising event with participation of Chief and Council.

This was the 20th year that First Nations in Canada celebrates the National Aboriginal Day. Communities across the country organize PowWow, spiritual gatherings, political and other cultural events June 21 was chosen for Aboriginal Day because the Summer Solstice has an important cultural significance for Indigenous Peoples. Because of its astronomical significance, many cultures around the world celebrate on, or around Summer Solstice.

The Sun’s movement would tell Indigenous peoples in different parts of the world, when to plant the crops that sustained them, to keep track of the seasons, to keep a calendar or move to different grounds for seasonal food and resource gathering. Ceremonial sites are built with some type of solar alignment integrated into the structures. The Sun is included into Indigenous prayers as well in many spiritual practices.

The Aymara people of Bolivia celebrate their New Year (5524) gathering on sacred sites at the sunrise to greet Father the Sun. At Stonehenge (a stone structure built over 5,000 years ago in today’s United Kingdom) people gather for a Summer Solstice Festival.