Saint-Anne’s Church Burns – Remembering its Role in Education in Listuguj

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Fred Metallic, Ph.D. and Amy Chamberlin, Ph.D. Candidate

 

(Photo Credit: Sarah Arsenault, Facebook)

Saint-Anne’s Catholic Church, built of stone and wood, was the largest and tallest structure in the centre of Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation community.  The first church in Listuguj, dedicated to Saint Anne, was built around 1740.  The Catholic religion remains a part of the culture for many Mi’gmaq throughout Mi’gma’gi. This is a complex and sensitive history.

The relationship between the Mi’gmaw Nation and the Holy See began in 1610, with the Concordat and the baptism of Membertou, and his extended family. In the seventeenth century, Recollect Father Chrestien LeClercq arrived in Gespe’gewa’gi and documented Mi’gmaw knowledge systems, spirituality, political, legal traditions, and ways of living, albeit from a heavily slanted Euro-centric point of view.

In 1894, Capuchin Father Pacifique (Henri Buisson d’Valigny) arrived in Listuguj where, working with Mi’gmaq people, he learnt Mi’gmaw language, hieroglyphic writing system, and developed the Pacifique Orthography, which is still in use by some Mi’gmaq communities in the broader territory. The Catholic Church was also responsible for, and involved in aspects of, education in Listuguj from 1856 onwards, including inviting the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to teach at the Indian Day School, from 1903 until 1961/1969. The church was built on lands set aside for mission purposes and for the schooling of Indigenous children.

After 1961, the federal government deemed the school a provincial school and the Day School fell under the authority of Quebec’s school board. Yet, the church was still heavily involved in education, and the Sisters of the Holy Rosary continued to teach during this period of ‘integration’. This history – of the church, including its role in education for Mi’gmaq – needs to be remembered.

In Listuguj, the most recent church was built in 1912/13. In 1926, the interior burnt, but the walls remained standing, and the structure was quickly re-built. Saint-Anne’s Catholic Church stood in Listuguj until April 26, 2021, when it caught fire at around 9:30 p.m. Many Listuguj community members, and neighbours across the bridge in Campbellton, New Brunswick, witnessed its burning through the night. Many are showing solidarity with Listuguj today.

Water Pressure Update in Community

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As a reminder, all LMG operations are closed today. As the Listuguj Capital and Infrastructure Directorate work to resolve the water pressure, we ask that you please use water sparingly today. Please reserve water for urgent matters only.

LMG Closed Due to Low Water Pressure in Community

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As a result of low water pressure in the community due to last night’s fire at the church, the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government will be closed for the day.
All administrative staff will have the day off. Please note that operational staff such as front line workers will have a regular day’s work.

Listuguj Forestry Season Memo

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Natural Resources Directorate – Forestry

Memo

For all those who are looking to take part in the upcoming Listuguj Forestry season, please contact us by email at martin_cummings@listuguj.ca to show your interest by May 7, 2021. For those without an email address, please contact the Natural Resources Directorate by phone at 788-3022. Any expression of interest after this date will not accepted.

Here’s a list of available positions/equipment required:

  • Cable or grapple skidder
  • Logging Trucks
  • Heavy Equipment (Bull Dozer, Grader, etc.)
  • Feller Buncher
  • Delimber
  • Slasher
  • Multi-Processor harvester
  • Forwarder

Please provide your contact information, type of equipment, experiences, and the number of Listuguj community members who will be employed directly or indirectly with your forestry services.

The LMG will do a follow-up by calling the selected forestry contractors. Official registration with an LMG business number and contract will follow.

 

Dr. Fred Metallic, Director of Natural Resources

Upcoming Post-Secondary Graduation Season

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It’s 2021 Post-Secondary Graduation season!

To be included in the annual festivities, please be sure to complete the GRAD survey (sent to your emails). If you weren’t funded by PSSSP, and would like to be included please contact Jeanette Henry at 418-788-1347, or email jeanette.henry@listuguj.ca.

Call for Tender Extended – Waqatasg Elders Facility

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The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government is extending the call for tender for the complete construction of the Waqatasg Elders facility on Isaac Lane. We would like to take this time to acknowledge and thank everyone who has dedicated their time over the years to bring this project to life.

The new deadline to submit a bid is 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) and 11:00 a.m. (Atlantic time) May 6, 2021. Tender documents can be obtained and submitted on SEAO or MERX as per the links below.

SEAO: https://www.seao.ca/OpportunityPublication/ConsulterAvis/Recherche?ItemId=8050bb19-1060-4c37-847f-bb493625b8a3&callingPage=2&searchId=26b13206-f0ea-4b28-a592-ad11012c60dd&VPos=300

MERX: https://www.merx.com/solicitations/open-bids/Waqatasg-Elders-Home-Listuguj-New-Construction/0000195331

Reminder – Federal Indian Day School Settlement

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Reminder to community members

The Federal Court approved a nation-wide settlement to compensate survivors of harms suffered while attending Federal Indian Day Schools. To be eligible for direct compensation, a person must have attended at least one of the Federal Indian Day Schools or Federal Day Schools funded, managed and controlled by Canada.

If you’re a community member and have attended the Mission Point Micmacs of Restigouche or another Indian Day School listed in Schedule K, you may be eligible for compensation under this class action suit. For additional information or to download the claim form, please consult the Federal Indian Day School Class Action website: https://indiandayschools.com/en/

 

Claims Process

The claims process is open to Survivors who suffered harms while attending Federal Indian Day Schools and Federal Day Schools. Survivors can now complete the Claim Form or call 1 (888) 221-2898 for assistance. Deadline to submit claims is July 13, 2022.

 

Once complete, you can submit your claim to the Claims Administrator in the following ways:

To: Indian Day Schools Class Action Claims Administration c/o Deloitte

By Mail: P.O. Box 1775, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5C 0A2

By Fax: 416-366-1102

By Email: Indiandayschools@deloitte.ca

 

This is a reminder that the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government has dedicated Molly Bradstreet to assist community members in filling out the administrative portion of the form. She is available to meet with community members on Thursdays. Please call the LMG at 418-788-2136 to make an appointment. If you require immediate assistance filling out your application, we ask that you call the FREE Claims Process and legal support hotline: 1-888-221-2898.

The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government acknowledges that by filling out your claim you may experience emotional distress. We offer a number of mental health services within our community that are available to help you: 418-788-2010. If you wish to seek support outside of the community, there is also a 24hr hotline dedicated to providing Mental Health Counselling and Crisis Support to claimants. To access these services, please contact: 1-855-242-3310.

Call for Tender – Social Services Building Construction

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UPDATE: This call for tender has been updated with Addendum #3.

UPDATE: Bid submittal is postponed to May 27th, 2021 at 10AM Eastern time and 11AM Atlantic time as per the following addendum.

UPDATE: Please note that this call for tender has been updated with the following addendum.

The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government has released a call for tender for the construction of the new Listuguj Community Social Services building. This new building will address the growing needs of the directorate by bringing its programs together under one roof. The deadline to submit a bid is Friday, May 14, 2021. (New deadline is May 19th, 2021 as per the addendum linked above.)

Please see links below for more details on the call for tender.

SEAO : https://www.seao.ca/OpportunityPublication/ConsulterAvis/Recherche?ItemId=5e8dd9c0-93e4-472f-9479-55c060dbbca3&callingPage=2&searchId=9d4b19ac-efa7-4fb3-87ab-ad1000936bea&VPos=200

MERX : https://www.merx.com/solicitations/open-bids/Social-Services-Building-Listuguj-New-Construction/0000197532

Canada Recognizes Listuguj’s Laws and Authority in Fisheries Governance

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CANADA RECOGNIZES LISTUGUJ’S LAWS AND AUTHORITY IN FISHERIES GOVERNANCE

The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government and Canada have reached an unprecedented step in our evolving relationship through a Rights Reconciliation Agreement on Fisheries.

 

On June 17, 2019, the LMG enacted the Listuguj Lobster Law following two years of community consultation, engagement, and guidance. The Listuguj Lobster Law is based, in part, on the Salmon Fishing Law, its principles and process. The enactment of the Listuguj Lobster Law sparked renewed negotiations with Canada. These negotiations sought to create a rights-based agreement on fisheries, with our Mi’gmaq understandings and beliefs, and recognition of our laws, poised at the centre.

The five-year Rights and Reconciliation Agreement on Fisheries was agreed to by LMG on March 24, 2021 and will be approved and signed by Canada in the coming weeks. In the Agreement, Canada recognizes the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation’s fisheries governance and fishing rights. The Agreement also recognizes the mechanisms, including our Mi’gmaq Laws, by which the LMG governs and manages its fisheries.

For the first time, Canada has formally recognized our sacred, inherent responsibility for the stewardship of the land, waters, and living things of Gespe’gewa’gi. As the basis for this Agreement, Canada has also accepted that the recognition of our inherent jurisdiction, legal orders, and laws is the starting point for discussions between the federal government and the LMG.

“We firmly followed the mandate we received from Listugujewaq to assume control over our Fishery Governance. With this Agreement, we leave in the past a model where we were managing DFO’s regulations for a renewed relationship premised on recognition of our laws governing our rights in our territory,” said Saqamaw Darcy Gray. “Because of Listuguj’s strong tradition of exercising our jurisdiction by adopting our own laws, Canada was receptive and accepted to move forward with us adopting the Reconciliation spirit that has helped to shape this Agreement. Our community will benefit from this Agreement, and we will recover our inherent jurisdictional rights on Gespe’gewa’gi,” he concluded.

The five-year Agreement was endorsed unanimously by Chief and Council, and it sets the base for a better relationship with Canada and DFO on Rights Recognition, Fisheries Access, Fisheries Funding, and provides a framework for LMG Fisheries Governance & Collaborative Management.

“This Agreement will allow us to plan and implement our seasons with some certainty that DFO will not unjustifiably infringe on Mi’gmaq fisheries governance and our fishing rights. We will also gain increased access to fisheries resources whether for food, social, ceremonial, or commercial purposes, funds for capacity building on fisheries governance, obtain fisheries access, which could include licenses and/or quota as well as vessels and gear,” said Dr. Fred Metallic, Natural Resources Director, member of fisheries negotiation team on behalf of LMG.

LMG remains committed to making certain that our rights, responsibilities, and full authority over our fisheries are upheld. If required, there is nothing in this Agreement that prohibits the LMG from initiating or supporting legal proceedings against Canada concerning any alleged breach of this Agreement by Canada, including action by Canada that fails to fulfill the duty to consult and accommodate or unjustifiably infringes our Aboriginal or Treaty Rights. The Agreement reflects our laws, and LMG will continue to protect and fight for Mi’gmaq rights and responsibilities, on the water and at the table with government. As part of the Agreement, discussions between LMG and Canada will continue. In concrete terms, upon signing this Agreement the LMG and Canada will form a Co-Governance Fisheries Committee to facilitate collaborative assessment, planning, and management in relation to the LMG’s Fishery.

Once finalized, the full agreement will be made available on the LMG website.

For more information, please contact Hilary Barnaby, Communications Manager, at 418-788-2136 or hilary.barnaby@listuguj.ca.

 

Updated Listuguj COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

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The Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government is concerned with the uptick in travel related cases in the territory. In an effort to protect community against potential exposure to the new variants, our government is announcing the following measures which take effect April 14, 2021:

  • Travel outside the region is prohibited and limited to essential travel only. This includes travel to obtain medical care and services, to appear in court, or for child custody arrangements.
  • Listuguj residents traveling home from an ‘orange’ or ‘red’ zone for non-essential reasons must quarantine for 14 days upon return. Please make arrangements to have your groceries and essentials in place before you come home.

Additionally, Listuguj residents travelling home from an ‘orange’ or ‘red’ zone for essential purposes are strongly encouraged to self-isolate for 14 days upon return. We encourage all Listuguj residents and staff to take precautionary measures in keeping our community, most vulnerable and Elders safe.

With the presence of the new variants in the territory, we are asking community members to remain vigilant while accessing essential goods and services in the region. If you exhibit COVID like symptoms, please consult the Government of Quebec’s online self-assessment tool: https://covid19.quebec.ca/surveys/cdd2/introduction.

The Listuguj COVID Hotline is still available Monday to Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 581-884-2771 should you have any further questions. Ways you can use the hotline:

  • To access accurate up-to-date information related to Listuguj’s COVID Response.
  • To access information related to support and services available to Listuguj Residents (e.g. mental health services, health contacts, etc.).
  • To provide information about potential breaches of our measures.