Chief Dean Vicaire Appointed Interim-Co-Chair for APC

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Chief Dean Vicaire Appointed Interim-Co-Chair for APC

On March 19-21, 2013 Chief Dean Vicaire attended a gathering of the Atlantic Policy Congress (APC) in Halifax Nova Scotia.

There Chief Vicaire was able to help change policy and take a huge step forward for the Mi’gmaq of the Gespe’gewa’gi. The policies that governed the APC and its boundaries inadvertently excluded the Mi’gmaq people of Gespe’gewa’gi; therefore there was a proposition to change the policy currently being used to include the Mi’gmaq of the Gespe’gewa’gi which will adopt the boundaries of the traditional Mi’gmaq territory.

Following this decision to adopt the traditional boundaries, Chief Vicaire was then nominated and unanimously chosen to be on the executive committee, shortly after he was nominated and chosen to sit as the interim Co-Chair for the APC. This will be implemented until a formal election is done in the upcoming months.

Click Here For Resolution By The APC Appointing Chief Vicaire As Co-Chair

Boom Property Sold at Auction

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Boom Property Sold at Auction

April 17, 2013 (Listuguj) Recently, on April 15, 2013 the LMG, through the efforts of Chief Vicaire, discovered that an auction had been held by the Municipality of Pointe-a-la-Croix on  April 11, 2013, at which time portions of land which had been intended to be transferred to Listuguj, were put up for auction.

According to Pointe a la Croix, the land had been put up for auction because there were unpaid taxes owed by the land occupant; thus, the decision was made to auction off those parcels of land, which were then purchased by  a Point-a-la-Croix community member.

Based on Quebec law, this sale is still conditional, which means that the original occupant of the land has one year to pay the back taxes on the property; and, if taxes are paid,  the original occupant may reclaim the property and the purchaser at the auction would be seized of their rights to the property.

It is the position of the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government (“LMG”) that the lands surrounding Listuguj have always been an integral part of Listuguj Mi’gmaq ancestral territory. It is the view of the LMG that Pointe a la Croix municipal staff and leadership were aware of and accepted the plan to have the lands added to the community. The LMG is disappointed about the lack of consideration and consultation by the municipality of Pointe a la Croix. 

“Listuguj will not stand idle and allow government to make unilateral decisions about Listuguj lands, lands that we have never given up our rights or title to, as Mi’gmaq,” states Chief Dean Vicaire. 

BACKGROUND

In 2006, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government, through an Order in Council, formally advised the Department of Indian Affairs and the Municipality of Pointe a la Croix that it intended to have a strip of land,  referred to as the “Restigouche Log and Boom”, adjacent to the lands formerly known as Busteeds,  added to the reserve. Through our research, LMG discovered that the lots were no longer needed by the former occupants.  Therefore, plans were developed to include these lots as part of the “Additions to Reserve” -ATR process.

For more information, please contact Communication Officer, Mike Isaac, at 418 788-2136, or by email to michael.isaac@listuguj.ca

ECO Program Re-launch

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ECO Program Re-launch

 

The LMDC and Chief and Council are honoured to reintroduce the ECO program. This program will give summer students meaningful work experience that will build self-esteem and self-confidence and will enable the youth by equipping them with the skills and tools that they need for a positive self-image and independence.

The ECO program is a career and employment camp designed to spark interest in the many opportunities available in today’s labor market. The main goal of the ECO program is to eliminate barriers to academic success through exposure to careers.

The environmental camp that the organizers participate in allows for exposure to careers in research, data analysis, reporting, statistics, desktop publishing, Biology, aquaculture, forestry, communications etc. all of these careers can be related to the subjects that are studied in high school. The importance of math, English, history, sciences etc. is brought to light as organizers progress in the program and learn from the community’s natural environment.

Added to this, is an awakening of the Mi’gmaq way of life, which respects all that is, all that gives and all that sustains life. The program reaffirms the necessity of maintaining a healthy natural environment for the continuation of all eco-systems. Organizers foster a renewed respect for our community’s natural resources by promoting clean air, water and earth which are essential for all plants, animals and Lnu to exist.

The program promotes teamwork and respect for leaders and peers; it fosters an acceptance and admiration for differences; it inspired strong identity through self-exploration; and it encourages an understanding that one had for the power to succeed, which requires making positive choices and implementing well informed decisions through research and planning.

Hydro Quebec Employees on Route 132

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Attention Community Members

Hydro Quebec Employees on Route 132

 

Hydro-Québec will be dismantling a transmission line that is located on the Listuguj territory. It is the line located near route 132. Hydro-Québec will dismantle the line next year, but before this takes place, Hydro Quebec has to inventory sensible elements. Therefore employees from Hydro-Québec will be under the line between April 8 and 19. There will be two employees on a four-wheeler and they will be there for approximately an hour or two.

If you have any questions feel free to contact the LMG at 418-788-2136

LPD Prevent The Transportation Of Controlled Substances

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On the evening of March 27, 2013, the Listuguj Police Department intercepted three individuals within the Mi’gmaq territory of Listuguj. A significant amount of controlled substance was seized during the course of the interception. This seizure is a result of police operations being conducted by the Listuguj Police Department. Two of the three individuals implicated have been processed for criminal charges and will be appearing in the Court of New Carlisle at a later date.

The LPD will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all illegal activity occurring in and around Listuguj.

The LPD also continues to encourage the community to assist by providing any information concerning any illegal activity in and around our community.

 If you have any information on any illegal activity please contact the Listuguj Police Department at (418) 788-2334. All information provided will remain confidential and secure.

Demonstration to bring awareness to EI reform

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The Coalition of groups against EI reform of the Gaspe and the Lower St. Lawrence have organised these demonstrations. On the same day, a delegation of some 40 representatives will be in Ottawa to meet with Minister Finley, and to lobby MPs. The demonstrations have as an objective to also support the delegates in Ottawa. The main spokesperson of the Coalition is Bertrand Berger, mayor of Escuminac and president of the CREGIM.

On February 27th, at 11 am (New Brunswick time), there will be simultaneous demonstrations in several locations:

  1. Listuguj (foot of the bridge)
  2. Chandler (front of Service Canada office)
  3. Fox River (front of Church)
  4. Ste-Anne-des-Monts (front of Service Canada office)
  5. Magdelen Islands (community ctre Etand du Nord)
  6. Rimouski