Listuguj

Listuguj is one of the three communities most historical Mi' gmag gaspésiennes and of both federal Indian reserves of southern bank of the Gaspésie in the south-east of the Quebec with (Canada). Until 1994, official toponymy was Restigouche, after which one preferred the orthography Mi' gmag to him.

The traditional territory of the members of Listiguj is called district of Gespegewagi . The nation Mi' gmag of Listuguj counted in 2003,3152 members, of which several do not reside on the reserve but scattered in the east of the the United States and a little everywhere at Canada. Of this number, only 1879 even lived in 2003 on the reserve, which had been assigned to them exclusively by the government of the Low-Canada in 1853. The totality of the members maintain their fasteners with Listuguj via the modern means of communication and of visits at the time of annual events the such celebration of the salmon ( Salmon Harvest ) in June, the Holy-Anne ( St Ann' S Day ) in July and large the Pow wow in August

The word “Listuguj” is at the origin of several regional toponyms, of which the Rivière Ristigouche as well as other neighbouring places bearing the name of Restigouche. Listuguj is also the name used to indicate one of the traditional forms of writing of the language Mi' gmag.

Policy

All the members, it does not matter their place of residence, take part every two years in the election of the Chief and the twelve advisers, as issued by the electoral payments of the Loi on the Indians of Canada, which was completely altered in 19xx. Listuguj is allied at the other communities Mi' gmaq of Gaspésie and those of the North of New Brunswick. This partnership enables them to make the promotion of the ancestral rights of traditional autogouvernance and territories Gespe' gewa' gi or Kespékewáki (fine of the grounds). Listuguj was always an enthusiastic defendant of the rights of the Amerindians to Canada and to date continues to have talks with the government of Quebec on the access to the traditional territories. In 2001, the three communities linked themselves to create the Secrétariat Semi' gmawei Mawiomi with for objective giving joint services, establishing economic relations (especially fishing and forestry) and to prepare with next the negotiation governmental territorial

Geography of Gespe' gewa' gi

The district Mi' gmaq of Gespe' gewa' gi extends from the Fleuve Miramichi to the point of peninsula gaspésienne, a bearing territory thus on the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. The natural main resource is the salmon and other products of water and the forests, of which the wood S and Baleine S. They lived in lengthened Wigwam S and Tipi S. Mi' gmag of Listuguj were maintained with the current of the events of the whole nation thanks to the communication system of “runners” and had a rudimentary written language.

Post European contact

The first relations white-autochtones were rather peaceful, possibly because according to their legends, they awaited the arrival from abroad on large vessels, and thus were not surprised to see them arriving and were immediately opened to make deals with them. The greatest social changes took place in the south of the territory, between 1610 and 1680, which saw conversion with Catholicism, and the ratification of the very first territorial treaty with the Vatican. A first mission is built in 1745 served by the Capuchins. The refugees Acadien S were the next ones to settle in the area, following the Déportation of Acadian the of the Nova Scotia 1755. The relations with Mi' gmag were peaceful because Mi' gmag were allies of France. In 1759, after the defeat of Montcalm by Wolfe on the Flat of Abraham, one enjoignit in France to send 4000 soldiers and of the vivres in order to try to take again Quebec. But on April 10th, 1760, they are only 5 trading vessels and the frigate Machault with 400 soldiers who leave Bordeaux for News-France. Only Machault, the Beneficial one and Marquis-of-Malauze reach the St. Lawrence on May 15th and learn that an English flotilla is there, then they change course to take refuge at the bottom of bay of Heats where they go up Restigouche and install, on its banks of the batteries of shooting. At the summer 1760, the community of Restigouche counted some acadian families and 150 families Mi' gmag. The vivres of the 3 French sailing ships were very appreciated.

Battle of Restigouche

Confrontations of 1972-73

Skirmish with Restigouche in 1981

In 1980, for already several decades, the fishermen of Listuguj have made use of nets to capture salmon arriving in the estuary of Restigouche. The fishing rights belong to the ancestral rights issued by the federal government. June 9th, 1981, the Québécois minister of Leisures, drives out and fishes, Lucien Lessard, sends a telex to the Chief of Listuguj, Alphonse Metallic, demanding that the nets are withdrawn in less than 12 midnight, that is to say on June 10th at midnight, for.

the first descent . June 11th with 11:20, arrived a provincial helicopter and 550 police to carry out a descent and to remove the illegal fishing nets. The phone lines were cut and there be a dozen brutal arrests including two less than 18 years. Side of New Brunswick, the bridge was barred by the Royal Gendarmerie of Canada but they could not prevent the students from returning in Listuguj to the exit of the school, who threaded. The 10 men were imprisoned with the provincial prison of New-Carlisle. Listuguj received the support of Riley Flagstone, president of the fraternity of the Indian nations, followed by a support on behalf of several autochtones groups to Canada, of which a blocking of sympathy of the Bridge Draper with Montreal by the Mohawks of Kahnawake. The Conference of the Chiefs moved the meeting of Victoria in British Columbia was moved in Restigouche.

the second descent . June 20th, 1981, nine days later with 5:00, the police officers tried to carry out a new descent. The fishermen tried to recover their nets before they are confiscated but the police officers shot at the fishermen with rubber balls and teargas grenades. Amerindians of everywhere in Canada (and as far as Alaska) came to lend strong hand to Listuguj

These two events of closing of bridge caused at the white populations some problems, but the access between the provinces was not completely cut since one could use the cross all the same to pass between Miguasha and Dalhousie. In 1982, Edith Butler, singer acadian, on words of Luc Plamondon, reported the events in song, “Skirmish with Restigouche” which was banished waves.

the lawsuit May 3rd, 1982. With the law courts of New-Carlisle, the lawyers had negotiated an agreement with the prosecutor that if the defendants pled guilty, they would have sentence reduced with postponed and 25 $ of fine. Two fishermen refused by principle. In progress, the judge lined up as regards police officer and declared that the photographs were faked and that the witnesses of the defendants lied, the defendants accepted one year of release on probation and 250$ of fine. German Donald and Robert Barnaby reiterated their innocence and promised to go in Court of Appeal.

Opening of commercial fishing to the salmon . In June 1982, ironically, the ministry Lucien Lessard issues that it was useless to restrict the fishing on the Québécois side of bay whereas in New Brunswick there were no restrictions. Then it opened fishing.

the call . In August 1983, the superior court of Canada gave its judgment: “Had not been errors of right and fact…”, here are the words pronounced by the superior court of Canada. It is possible that they were not judgments and the sentences were broken and cancelled by judge Louis Doiron

In 1984, the scenario writer Mi' gmag Alanis Obomsawin aquit rights to the song “Skirmish with Restigouche” for the soundtrack of her film “ events of Restigouche ”. In the interview between Lessard and Obomsawin at the end of film, Lessard indicates that he regrets that these events created negative consequences on people of Listuguj.

Education

Before the arrival of Europeans, the autochtones ensured their own lesson. During the first centuries of colonization, they attended without much enthusiasm the school of missionary of the Capuchins. In 1920, the Minister for the Indian Businesses founds the system of the Day School and in Listuguj, these courses are managed by the sisters of the Saint-Rosary. Aiming at even giving 7 years of academic instruction on the reserve. The frequentation increases slowly with the passing of years, especially thanks to an allowance with the families whose students attended the school in 1947, then in 1950, the growing number of students was sufficient to justify the construction of a new school. The courses are also taught there in French and English. In 1960, the creation of the system the general-purpose ones for the teenagers forces the students of Listuguj to attend the school of Point-with-the-Cross. After the fire of 1966, the teenagers have to attend the secondary school of Campbellton, where they could receive, in addition to English, some lesson in language Mi' gmag. As from 1997, a new educational program takes along the construction of a new named modern elementary school “Alaqsite' W Gitpu” (Eagle which will fly).

Population

At the XVIIIe century, the reserve of Listuguj is divided and several groups of families leave to settle elsewhere, either in the north of New Brunswick, or in the mouth of Cascapédia (where the government possibly the statute of reserve and close to Gaspé granted to them (where they were spread out largely without establishing specific community). Mi' gmag of Point-Navarre - Gespeg (Gaspé) concluded an agreement with the National park Forillon to move there their village with Point-Penouille

Municipalities bordering

References

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