Gm’tginaq - GMRC€¦ · Toqwa’q / Fall • 2008. Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council. 2....

Gm’tginaqToqwa’q / Fall • 2008

Listuguj Eel River Bar Pabineau

Mawi apoqonmatultinej waqamnmu’g ula gm’tginu.Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council

ISO 9001:2000 certified

Listuguj Eel River Bar Pabineau

Mawi apoqonmatultinej waqamnmu’g ula gm’tginu.Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council

ISO 9001:2000 certified

Mark J. SarkChief Executive Officer

Victoria MetallicEnvironmental Technologist

Brian IsaacCommercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinator

Leslie MitchellAdministrative Assistant

John Murvin VicaireCommunications & IT

1 Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council Toqwa’q / Fall • 2008

94 B Riverside EastListuguj, QC G0C 2R0

Tel. (418) 788-3017Fax (418) 788-3192

[email protected]

GMRC attains ISO 9001:2000 Certification ...............................2

Message from the CEO ..............................................................3

Mi’gmaq Vocabulary Related to Tides ....................................4

GMRC Welcomes New Staff Member ......................................5

GMRC Projects in Progress .........................................................6

Strengthening our Relationship with the Salmon .....................7

2008 Shoreline Cleanup .............................................................9

Commercial Fisheries Liaison Update .....................................10

Gitpu ...........................................................................................11

Recyclables & Non-Recyclables .............................................13

Table of Contents

Printed by:Acadie-Presse

January 2009

2Toqwa’q / Fall • 2008 Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council

Continued on page 4

GMRC attains ISO 9001:2000 Certification

G espe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC), a First Nations environmental and natural resource service provider, today

announced that QMI™ SAI Global, an official accreditation body for ISO 9001 standards, granted GMRC ISO 9001:2000 certification for quality management systems (QMS). Globally recognized and respected, ISO 9001:2000 standards are set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a Geneva-based worldwide federation of national standard bodies. This certification demonstrates GMRC’s dedication to and implementation of a dedicated, systematic, and quantifiable approach to quality-of-service standards through a rigorous auditing process.

“ISO 9001:2000 certification is an important milestone for GMRC and validates our unwavering commitment to delivering the highest quality service and satisfaction that our clients and communities have come to expect,” said Mark Joseph Sark, Chief Executive Officer for GMRC. “The quality management system implemented provides reassurance to our clients and community members that we will continue our focus in developing and providing services and support of the highest caliber.”

ISO 9001:2000 standards specify organizational require-ments in documentation, procedures and operations for a quality management system and are important for a business focused on demonstrating its ability to consis-tently provide products or services that meet customer satisfaction and applicable regulatory requirements. In achieving ISO certification, GMRC set solid standards and baselines in order to meet and exceed benchmarks going forward for quality customer service.

“Throughout the certification process, GMRC did an out-standing job implementing and adhering to the rigorous requirements specified by the ISO 9001:2000 standards,” said Darlene McCulloch, General Manager of Membertou Quality Management Services. Kenneth Sadler, lead au-ditor for QMI™ SAI Global, an ISO Registrar, commented, “GMRC’s certified quality management systems bolster their continued commitment to customer service and reliability.”

The Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council is fast be-coming a local leader in providing environmental and natural resource management services within the tradi-

Left to right: Chief Everett Martin, Eel River Bar; Chief David Peter-Paul, Pabineau; Chief Allison Metallic, Listuguj; Mark J. Sark, CEO GMRC


“Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.”

Message from the Chief Executive Officer

T he past few months have been extraordinari-ly busy ones for the Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC). The hard work and dedication of our staff members and our

many community volunteers, continues to set us apart from just simply being another organization. Because of those contributions, “we are able to do, what we do.”

Recently I read a report (WWF’s Living Plant Report 2006), which explores the overall impact of humankind on the planet. The report outlines that the world’s natural eco-systems are being degraded at a rate unprecedented in human history. The report also confirms that man is using the planet’s resources faster than they can be renewed and that populations of certain species have declined by about one third since 1970.

The bottom-line of this report could not be clearer. For years we’ve lived our lives in a way that exceeds the car-rying capacity of Mother Earth. The choices we make today shape future generations, whether we choose to believe it or not. The fact is that some of us live beyond our means in our use of natural resources. If we continue on this same path it will surely limit opportunities for our

children. This in itself should be a matter of concern for our people.

I think it’s interesting to highlight that humanity’s foot-print has more than tripled between 1961 and 2003. The most precious resources in the 21st century will be nat-ural resources, particularly in a finite world with rapidly growing populations and consumption. In spite of this certainty, “not all is doom and gloom.” As First Nations, there are things that we can do and roles which we can

play. I view these challenges as opportunities. An oppor-tunity for our people to get engaged with what is going on in the world and what we can do to help. The era of global interest in the health of our planet also presents some interesting opportunities by way of job creation and potential economic development spin-offs.

Left to right: Peter Metallic, Mark J. Sark, Lammie Metallic, and Pernell Wysote.


While differences exist in how we go about getting more involved, there are some certainties. In order to establish a meaningful position in how our resources are man-aged, there are a number of choices which we will have to make. One question we need to ask ourselves is, who will take the lead in addressing resource management is-sues and what will our priorities be pertaining to them? While there has been a lot of discussion on this subject, I am still unclear as to who will be doing what.

Why is resource management so important to you and I? With fewer natural resources available and with the ever-increasing demand for those resources it is vital to our self-interest and our autonomy, as a people, that we get involved. Work should begin immediately in pressing our case at all levels of government. Additionally, our leaders should insist that our people be at the table when dis-cussions are being held regarding policy and guidelines, particularly when policy has the potential to impede on our rights and access to natural resources. When techni-cal studies are required or when traditional knowledge is necessary, we should be the ones performing these ser-vices.

A short time ago, I attended a youth trade show at the Listuguj community hall. The number of booths and the variety of potential careers for our children really im-pressed me. I was encouraged to see so much interest and how there seems to be more opportunities today for our youth then we had when we were their age. From an organizational viewpoint our future is in the youth. If we are to grow, as an organization, we will need new people to fill our ranks. Perhaps the best place to look for future talent is in our own backyard.

As always, GMRC belongs to the people of Gespe’gewa’gi. I will continue to confer with community members to ensure that GMRC remains responsive, accessible, and ac-countable for our actions. Always working towards main-taining a positive image, which reflects our values and traditions as proud Mi’gmaq people.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the many volunteers who have contributed to our many successes over the past number of months. Be-cause of your efforts we have made tremendous progress in moving forward with great causes. Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

Mark J. Sark, CEO

tional district of Gespe’gewa’gi, the seventh and largest district in the Mi’gmaw nation. Some of GMRC’s current projects include American Eel research, Atlantic salmon traditional use study on the Restigouche River, lobster en-hancement work in the Bay of Chaleur, species at risk and invasive species, and shoreline erosion work.

GMRC’s current clients include the communities of Listu-guj, Eel River Bar and Pabineau, as well as, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Health Canada, and Environment Canada.

Continued from page 2

Mi’gmaw Vocabulary Related to Tides.

Niweteg - the tide is out

Paqtlusg’teg - the tide is lower than usual

Wejgupa’q/wejgwapa’q – the tide is coming in

A’qatpa’q – the tide is halfway in

Waju’pa’q/gaqpa’q/gispa’q – the tide is full

Gawasg’pa’q – the tide is changing

Enm’pa’q/enmigiaq – the tide is on its way out

Wesguegiaq – the tide is changing direction fast

‘Lmu’ju’pa’q – the tide is usually about halfway in and seems to change direction or not move at all, going up or down

Ma’munpa’q – the tide is very high

Ga’qasgwitg – all ice flows out to the sea in the springtime

Welpa’q – the tide is just right for an activity as fishing/swimming

source: Listuguj Education Directorate: Mi’gmaw Language Department

Please let us know at GMRC if you can think of oth-er words in Mi’gmaw that are related to the tides. We’d love to hear from you.


M y name is Brian Isaac and I am both pleased and honored in becoming the newest Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) team

member. GMRC has included in its budget, funds from the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) for the position of Commercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinator (CFLC).

As the successful candidate to this new and challenging position, I am tasked with assisting the Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council representatives of Listuguj, Eel River Bar, and Pabineau with: greater participation and capacity building in commercial fisheries; planning and managing a successful commercial fisheries; and participating in fisheries co-management.

My duties include, but are not limited to, the following: attend Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) meetings, attend advisory and management committee meetings and other commercial fisheries meetings, as well as, stakeholders industry meetings.

As an overall objective GMRC is committed, through this new initiative, to create an opportunity and mechanism for all member communities to develop a sustained and effective presence in the commercial fisheries industry. I

look forward in working with the Chiefs of the member communities, their staff, designated delegates, and related stakeholders.In a spirit of Mi’gmaq Sustainable Resource Management,

Brian IsaacCommercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinator

GMRC welcomes new staff member


What are some of the projects we are working on?

Shoreline Erosion Awareness

P.L.A.M.U. - Promoting (Healthy) Lifestyles, Activities, and Mi’gmaq Understandings of Restigouche River Salmon

The goal of this project is to assemble information on soil erosion and its impacts and to communicate them back to the people.

The shoreline awareness project will seek to increase aware-ness and understanding on the impacts of improperly man-aged shorelines.

GMRC will also develop a homeowners and land developers best practices guide on shoreline protection specific to the community.

This project has several objectives that are related, and will be based on studies to identify individuals and critical habitat of three species at risk; the Maritime Ringlet Butterfly, the Harle-quin Duck, and the St. Lawrence Aster.

The project is based on traditional and current Mi’gmaq terri-tory, in the estuaries of the Restigouche and Nepisiguit rivers and out into the Bay de Chaleur. A goal of this project is to increase knowledge and awareness of the three species at risk on Mi’gmaq land and to promote more careful use of the critical and key habitat that might harbour these species.

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Species at Risk - Harlequin Duck, St. Lawrence Aster, & Maritime Ringlet Butterfly

By combining Mi’gmaq traditional knowledge and western science, GMRC is working toward providing a clearer picture of today’s Restigouche River Atlantic salmon, the plamu.

Although the primary objective is to assess the impacts of environmental contaminants on the salmon, GMRC will also explore Mi’gmaq perspectives regarding the salmon.

GMRC will be engaging community members, through the discussion of Mi’gmaq traditional knowledge, about the im-portance of fish and fishing practices in our communities. The discussions will also explore community members’ per-spectives regarding healthy lifestyles and activities related to salmon fishing (both past and present).


The Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) held its first public information session and workshop on November 6th and 7th in Listuguj. The meetings were held to

promote communications among agencies, groups and communities regarding Atlantic salmon conservation.

“We are proud to showcase to community members preliminary results of salmon conservation projects we’ve been working on over the past two years. Our project Promoting Healthy Lifestyles, Activities and Mi’gmaq Understanding about Restigouche River Salmon is studying possible impacts on salmon from environmental contaminants, and how that relates to the communities of Listuguj, Eel River Bar and Pabineau. The salmon is a symbol of persistence and renewal for our communities, and we are pleased to have started a

discussion with other groups and governments about how to work together for its conservation,” says Mark Sark, CEO of the GMRC.

David LeBlanc, biologist and executive director of the Restigouche River Watershed Management Council (RRWMC), presented an overview of salmon habitat issues for the watershed, including siltation in watercourses, buffer zones protection, invasive species, uses of herbicides, stress caused by outboard users and flow regime modification by forestry activities and climate changes. Listuguj, Eel River Bar and RRWMC are already partners in research projects such as the smolt wheel operation, but the RRWMC is pleased of Listuguj and GMRC leadership in the salmon issues and confirmed interest for the upcoming partnership in educational and capacity building projects.

Melgigna’tu’g Ta’n Telmawo’ma’ti’gw Plamu


LeBlanc says: “This event gave us the chance to learn and understand the traditional importance of the salmon resources and to build bridges for a common objective: the protection of the salmon and its habitat for generations to come.”

Workshop participant Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, NB Chapter, said, “Hearing about the creative ways the GMRC is talking to their communities about salmon conservation has inspired me with new ideas about how our groups can work together to conserve wild Atlantic salmon habitat in all the rivers of the Restigouche region.”

“Atlantic salmon is woven into our Mi’gmaq culture and heritage, and we want to do our part to make

sure it will also be a part of our future,” says Victoria Metallic, Environmental Technologist for the GMRC and leader of the environmental contaminants project.

Workshop participants benefited from speakers such as Dr. Fred Whoriskey of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, who gave an overview of recent research on tracking salmon at sea, and Listuguj Councilor Wendel Metallic, who described the development of the community’s Salmon Management Plan. Stephen Chase of the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation urged groups to collaborate to get more bang from their project funding buck, and Fred Metallic of Listuguj moved the audience with his video expression of what the salmon means to Mi’gmaq communities.

Strengthening Our Relationship with the Salmon


Listuguj Shoreline Cleanup 2008by John Murvin

GMRC is proud to have contributed, for the second year, to the Listuguj Shoreline Cleanup. In total, the volunteers were able to remove approximately 15 large bags of gar-bage and other large debris, enough to fill the back of the public works truck.

It was quite cold and windy, but that didn’t stop many from coming out to help our community.

Special thanks goes to the Alaqsite’w Gitpu School for participating in large numbers two years in a row and we also thank all those came out and helped clean the com-munity’s shoreline.

The problem with garbage on the ground is that some of it decomposes over time. Moisture and water can filter through the waste, picking up metals, minerals, organic chemicals, bacteria, viruses and other toxic materials. This contaminated water is called leachate. This leachate trav-els site to site and contaminates everything it comes in contact with.

We must not let our shores become backyard dumps. Our salmon, our fish, our river; they are all integral to the Mi’gmaq way of life. Let us be warriors in support of Mother Earth, and not wage war against her. A healthier environment means a healthier community.


Commercial Fisheries Liai-son Coordinator update: by Brian Isaac

T his will be the first of an ongoing process to keep community members of Listuguj, Eel River Bar, and Pabineau up to date with prog-ress within the AICFI/CFLC program of GMRC.

Updates will cover on ongoing and upcoming initiatives in the Commercial Fisheries sector including other relat-ed fisheries subject matters. Currently we are in the very early stages of my mandate. As such review of several reports in Snowcrab, Lobster and Groundfish are ongoing in order to understand the developing trends, practices and difficulties being experienced in the fisheries. To view these reports visit the following sites:

http://www.frcc.cahttp://www.frcc-ccrh.cahttp://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca

Of most importance is the development of a collabora-tive relationship with the Chiefs of Listuguj, Eel River Bar, and Pabineau. To do so I have had communications with Chief Allison Metallic (Listuguj) and Chief David Peter Paul (Pabineau FN) and one scheduled with Chief Everett Martin (Eel River Bar) to introduce the role of the CFLC to develop collaborative working relationships. Collabora-tion has begun with the Natural Resources Directorate of Listuguj in the area of the Lobster fisheries and we have committed to assisting on other projects.

Most fishing activities have drawn to a seasonal close, meaning workshops and advisory committee meetings will begin. As such DFO’s Contribution Agreement (CA) requires that the CFLC research, identify, and become familiar with advisory, industry, scientific, and other fisheries committees/groups of direct and potential rel-evance to all AAROM body members. The following is a list of meetings and workshops attended: Southern Gulf Lobster Workshop (DFO), Species at Risk Act (SARA) Ab-original Traditional Knowledge (ATK) on the American Eel workshop, and the AICFI Commercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinators meeting held in Moncton, NB. An invitation was also extended to attend a meeting in Moncton, NB; and Arichat, NS; to view vessels.

Visit http://www.migmaqresource.org/ to view follow up to Southern Gulf Lobster Workshop.


It is a magical sight to see an eagle, especially when you’re allowed to get close enough to snap a couple of pictures. In just the last few years there has been an increase in the sightings of eagles, as well as, an increase in their overall numbers.

Although I am amazed to see so many eagles around, I can’t help but be concerned at the same time. Is there something that is driving them this way, or is it a natural cycle?

Some possible scenarios are: logging activities and other human influences are destroying their habitat; climate change is forcing them to migrate; more salmon to feed on (as a result of salmon dying from the saprolegnia vi-rus); an improving population as a result of increased protection (legislation, banning of certain pesticides, etc.). These are only a few possible reasons as to why we are seeing more eagles.

I recently read a study that linked a decline in otters to changes in the Bald Eagles’ feeding habits. Otters feed on sea urchins in the kelp forest, which is also habitat for another fish called the rock greenling. The rock greenling was once a food source for Bald Eagles in Alaska. As long as otters were abundant, they kept the sea urchin popu-lation in check and allowed the kelp forest to thrive. But

Gitpurecent declines in otters have resulted in increased sea urchin numbers, which in turn cause declines in the rock greenling. This has forced the eagles to begin eating other animals and fish.

Recently, a friend who regularly comes to visit in the of-fice, shared some wisdom with us. Some Elders had told him the eagle would return when the Mi’gmaw culture began to strengthen. Out of all the explanations i’ve heard or read, i like this one the best.

Out of all these questions, there is only one certainty: everything in this world is connected in some way. That is why we must take care of our water, our animals, our plants, and our land.

So what could it be? I don’t have the answers, but I am interested in what our community members have to say.

I am inviting you to submit your stories, your knowledge, or your experiences about the Bald Eagle. Together, may-be we can shed more light one what is happening.

by John Murvin


RecyclablesPaper and Cardboard

Metal

Glass

brown paper bag (unsoiled)

milk & juice Cartons

phone books newspapers post its newsletters & magazines envelopes (window ok)

wrapping paper(no bows/ribbons)

corrugated cardboard

Plastics

x

food cans pop cans clean aluminum foil nails

Plastic bags can be recycled (put all bags in one), as well as, all containers and lids numbered 1 to 5 and 7.

Only glass containers, regardless of size and color.

egg carton


NonRecyclables

dishware food telephones calculators

window glass toys batteries(of any kind)

porcelain

tires paint canspacking foam hair dryers & brushes

* This is not a complete list. There are many more items that cannot be recycled.

Made with paper certified from the Forest Stewardship Council. Please recycle this newsletter instead of throwing it out. Thank you.

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