Archive for category: News

A recent ruling on cross-border trade allows New Brunswickers to buy beer in Listuguj or Cross-Point without fear of being charged. 

The ruling lifts the restrictions imposed by the N.B government that charged Gérard Comeau for importing more than five cases of beer into the province. The government of N.B. has until the end of the month to appeal the decision.

During the days following the ruling, there were reports that the sales of alcohol in Listuguj and Cross-Point stores increased, as the prices of beer and other alcoholic beverages are cheaper in Quebec than N.B. Christine Bujold, cashier at the Restigouche Drive-Thru – a Listuguj store located on the Interprovincial Boulevard – noted that there wasn’t an increase in the number of clients. 

“It’s almost the same,” she said. “But now instead of buying two or three cases of beer, they fill their car trunk.”

Canada is  a country that signs international Free Trade agreements with countries around the world. Economic Development Minister, Navdeep Bains, called the decision a “positive development.”

This legal battle for the recognitions of the Constitutional right to cross-border trade is a reminder of First Nations legal battles to implement the Jay Treaty signed in November 1744 which reaffirmed “that First Nations could cross the border without harassment and not pay tax or duty on goods.”  The implementation of the Treaty was challenged many times.

As part of the many ongoing attempts to incorporate Mi’gmaq and First Nation’s culture, the University of New Brunswick held it’s second annual Pow Wow on April 6. Natasha Martin-Mitchell, from Listuguj, was one of the committee members. “Everything worked out the way we had hoped,” she said. “We had great attendance, it looked like everyone had a great time.”

The live stream also turned out to be a hit. People from all over logged in to see the ceremonies. Others from Listuguj, like Craig Isaac, danced.

Craig Isaac is known for his spirited dances. He was one of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq to support the UNB cultural event, one of the few winter Pow Wows in the province. (Photo: Lucy Peter-Paul)

The Pow Wow, and all the other First Nation’s driven initiatives are coming out of the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre. As the director, and former Chief of Tobique First Nation, David Perley and his wife Imelda Perley – the Elder in Residence -have been working to make the University more inclusive.

“Everything that we’re doing here is based on a vision that’s been formulated in consultation with the elders of First Nations communities, and First Nation education directors, and so on,” said David Perley.

Perley said there are three main components to what they’re trying to achieve at the university. (Read about them online in the full story on news.listuguj.ca) For the Project Coordinator of the Pow Wow, Starlit Simon of Elsipogtog First Nation, the recent changes have been “refreshing.”

“Now it’s kind of like everyone is so interested,” she said. “Everybody wants to know, they want to know more about our history, more about our culture.”

For Martin-Mitchell, these trends and the diversity of people who attended the Pow Wow is directly meeting the goal.  “That’s what we wanted,” she said. “Sharing our culture with other nations, right.”

Martin-Mitchell and her husband Brandon Mitchell — also from Listuguj — are both graduating on May 19th from the Bachelor of Integrated Studies Program, but will remain a volunteer at the MWC.

DAVID PERLEY

For David Perley, it’s good to be surrounded by people who support what he’s trying to do. As the Director of the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre, he has been helping develop initiatives around the University. He says there are three main components.

1st Component

“Mi’gmaq and Wolastoqey worldviews, histories, philosophies, knowledge bases, traditions, and contributions will flourish within UNB grounds. Either within the curriculum, or of course, UNB in general”

2nd Component

“I’m a strong believer that when our Mi’gmaq and Wolastoqey graduates leave here, they should also have a strong cultural foundation.

So having an education doesn’t mean you have to abandon your identity. What we want to do here is reinforce that identity, so that students know they have something to be proud of — that could be Mi’gmaq identity, or that could be the Wolastoqey identity. But when they leave here, they will have that strong cultural foundation. So when I see  our graduates walking across the that stage to get their diplomas and degrees, then I know that student has a strong cultural foundation. ”

3rd Component

“We have to ensure that our faculty members – doesn’t matter which faculty it is – they should know something about Mi’gmaq Wolastoqey histories, traditions, worldviews, contributions, and knowledge bases, and so on.

They should have some knowledge about that. So what we want to do is educate them on those aspects of Mi’gmaq/Wolastoqey societies and ensure that they, hopefully, have a better understanding of Mi’gmaq/Wolastoqey societies.

As a matter of fact, one of the initiatives that we’re now planning is cultural immersion for faculty members. So I’m hoping that sometime this late spring, or summer, we’ll have at least one week with them, and then they’ll be immersed in the culture of our ancestors.

I would like for the faculty members to know at least the greetings in Mi’gmaq and Wolastoqey languages. So we’ll have Mi’gmaq or Wolastoqey elders who will come and teach them about the greetings in their languages.

Another one would be to ensure that they also take part in ceremonies. As I mentioned to my colleagues, I keep on saying that it’s nice to read about those ceremonies, but what’s more important is for you to take part in those ceremonies, so this way you have a deeper understanding, because when you read something, it gives you a superficial understanding of the ceremony, but if you take part then it has a whole new meaning.”

The application in the New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench in Campbellton to stop the Chaleur Terminals Inc. project in Belledune will proceed on March 14 and 15.  It has been delayed from the original date, Jan. 18.

People are encouraged to attend.

The project could see up to 220 rail cars of oil per day pass along the Restigouche River to a tank farm in Belledune, where nearly a million barrels of oil could be held. The project was developing without proper consultation with the Mi’gmaq communities, says Troy Jerome, the Executive Director of the MMS.

The application was filed by the MMS on behalf of the communities it represents, as well as Chief Scott Martin personally. Both Chaleur Terminals Inc, and the province of New Brunswick are named as respondents. 

Chaleur Terminals Inc has stated that it didn’t want this delay. Jerome said nothing was filed as the original court date approached.

“We’re trying to prepare a case, and it’s hard to prepare a case when we don’t know what they said,” Jerome said.

Affidavits have been filed by experts, and the legal team continues to prepare.

“It seems like we’re on track,” Jerome said.

The LMG is essentially two years ahead of its Management Action Plan (MAP), which gives everyone a little more breathing room

“It’s truly incredible the way that is has changed,” said John Alexander, the Director of Finance. “A lot of the credit needs to go to the directors.”

Financial troubles led to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) requiring a MAP. It laid out how the organization would address and improve the issues. It meant more paperwork, meetings, and monitoring.

“It’s a vicious cycle when you’re in it,” said Alexander. “But it’s like it’s almost a positive cycle when you get out of it.”

AANDC creates ratios to judge the financial health of organizations. The same ratios are used by banks, which contribute to risk ratings and interest rates.

After a downturn in these ratios, the LMG laid out ways it would improve. This really meant improving its financial standing, and its long-term sustainably.

“The actions were pretty basic,” said Alexander.

Deals were made with major creditors, departments were restructured, and people were laid off. It was difficult, but necessary.

The step after a MAP is “third party management.”

Under “third party management,” an accounting firm essentially takes control of all funded money. For Listuguj, that’s about 40 percent of its revenue, or nearly $20 million dollars.

“It’s an extra expense, without an extra solution,” said Alexander. “It’s just – we lose control.”

The plan was deliberately slow. It was expected to take three years. But, being ambitious and falling short would have reflected poorly, and would have potentially resulted in “third party management.” Instead, goals were realistic, and the LMG far exceeded the expectations, within only 18 months.

“The objective of your MAP are achieved,” wrote Jacques Giroux the Regional Director for Funding Services with AANDC, on November 19, in a letter to Chief and Council. “Therefore, the Department will no longer monitor the implementation of your MAP.”

What this really means is the LMG has restructured itself to be sustainable.

“It’s not a bandaid solution. It’s a permanent solution,” said Alexander. “Now we are able to grow in a more sustainable capacity.”

Alexander said the focus will turn to commercial reinvestment. Commercial operations have been generating profits for the community, as well as jobs. Several new ventures are being considered. But, Alexander said the they need to do the “due diligence up front,” which takes time.

“We are working on it,” he said. “We just need to be patient.”

Alexander said that reaching this point is the result of cooperation, and commitment throughout the organization.

“It was a tough path to get to – to be sustainable,” he said. “But the fact that we’re here now, and with the proper planning – this place has all the opportunity in the world.”

The annual Christmas decorations competition with Listuguj and Pointe-à-la-Croix is going on again this year. This will be the 12th year in a row that it has been held. And like everything by The Harmony Project, it is to “build up relations between native and non-native communities in the area,” said Pierre Vicaire, one of the co-coordinators.

A bus full of people from Listuguj take an evening to go select three winners from Pointe-à-la-Croix. They drive through the streets and look at how all the homes are decorated. People from Pointe-à-la-Croix do the same in Listuguj. Participation prizes will also be awarded this year.

People can only win once every three years, so everyone has a chance.

It’s just another small initiative in The Harmony Project’s overall goal.  

“It’s no different, Christmas here than it is anywhere else,” said Vicaire. “No matter if it’s here, or next door, or if it’s across the bridge, or if it’s anywhere – it’s Christmas. And at the base, that’s what we’re trying to promote.”

The Harmony Project has come a long way since it began as a way to figure out how to avoid the conflicts that were arising over a skatepark in Pointe-à-la-Croix.

“The history of our communities had it built – in their mind – that whenever our kids would go over there, it wasn’t for sharing, it was confrontation, right away,” Vicaire said.

He said it’s hard to recognize that environment today.

“There are so many positive things, or good stories, that have come out in the last 13 years.”

Through many activities and field trips, neighbours are given the opportunity to create fun memories early on.

“Keep your culture — keep your language, keep your schools, but it’s got to be based on giving yourselves some fair chances to share some fun time together,” Vicaire said.

A key focus is creating those relationships early. In fact, when kids strike up friendships, it helps mend relationships with parents, and even grandparents.

The Harmony Project has seen so many successes that work is being done to possibly make it national.

“If it can work here, we don’t see why it can’t work right across Canada,” Vicaire said.