Gespe'gewa'gi Today
INTRODUCTION
Other parts of our site have described where the Mi’gmaq people have lived for thousands of years and how our language and traditions were formed over that long time.
But, where are we today? How do we live now? What are our social and political organizations at the present time? How are we keeping our culture and language alive?
We will look at these questions, particularly with respect to the district of Gespe’gewa’gi and to three of its communities, Gesgapegiag, Listuguj, and Gespeg, who formed an alliance together in 2000 for mutual support.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION
Let’s first look at how our national territory of Mi’gma’gi is organized.
Mi’gma’gi: Our National Territory
Mi’gma’gi includes at least what is today known as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Gaspé Peninsula and other parts of Québec, New Brunswick (north of the St. John watershed), parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, parts of Maine, and the islands in the Baie des Chaleurs, as well as their surrounding coastal and marine areas.
The portion of Mi’gma’gi that lies within modern-day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec, and northern and north-eastern New Brunswick is comprised of seven districts.
The Seventh District: Gespe’gewa’gi
Gespe’gewa’gi is the seventh and last Mi’gmaq district. Gespe’gewa’gi includes what is known today as northern and north-central New Brunswick, the Gaspé Peninsula, parts of the mainland of Québec, as well as the islands and surrounding waters.
There are eight formally recognized Mi’gmaq communities in Gespe’gewa’gi. The First Nations communities are:
Gesgapegiag, Listuguj, Gespeg, Ugpi’ganjig, Ge’goapsgog, Esgenoopetitj, Natoageneg, and Metepenagiag
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GESPE’GEWA’GI TODAY
Mi’gmawei Mawiomi is formed
In order to take advantage of the power of many voices in decision-making and to use our resources to better advantage, in August of 2000, the Gespe’gewa’gi communities of Listuguj, Gesgapegiag and Gespeg allied themselves, through a Political Accord, to form the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi.
Their objective in doing this was to protect the rights of the Mi’gmaq of Gespe’gewa’gi. The mission of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi, as stated in the Political Accord, is to:
Their objective in doing this was to protect the rights of the Mi’gmaq of Gespe’gewa’gi. The mission of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi, as stated in the Political Accord, is to:
- “…uphold, reaffirm and respect the treaty and aboriginal rights and aspirations of our people by rebuilding the nation through repatriation of lands, resources and surrounding waters.”
The Mi’gmawei Mawiomi is working to uphold and respect Aboriginal and treaty rights over Gespe’gewa’gi. At the same time, the MM alliance has made great progress in improving the economic opportunities, education, health, living conditions, and community well-being of the people who are members of the three communities.
Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat is created
The Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) is also assisting the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi to achieve its vision. The MMS opened its headquarters in Listugui in 2001. Its role and aims are to:
- “…support the work set out by the Assembly of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi. This includes coordinating and supporting the deliberations and activities of the Assembly itself.
- Our present focus is dealing with Aboriginal Rights and Title to the land that our ancestors have occupied since time immemorial.
- The MMS also undertakes a great variety of mandates designed to support the broader goals of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi and advise on issues such as: governance, territorial access to resources, capacity building, economic sustainability options for the nation, and collectively promoting the Mi’gmaq nation cause within ourselves and to our neighbours.”
This last goal includes building a new, fair relationship with the Governments of Canada and Québec.
Duty to Consult and Accommodate
Another step to foster closer political ties in Gespe’gewa’gi happened in 2004. In the fall of that year, there were communications among the chiefs of all of the communities in Gespe’gewa’gi about uniting their resources to work together on some projects of common concern.
Following these exchanges, the elected chiefs met in February 2005. This was truly an historical reunion of the leaders of Gespe’gewa’gi, which was followed by another meeting in May of that year. At that time, the Gespe’gewa’gigwei Sagamawuti ("Chiefs of the Seventh District") issued a Joint Proclamation on the Duty to Consult and Accommodate.
This document was signed in June 2005 by the elected leadership, and it was witnessed by the Sante Mawiomi ("Grand Council".) The event was widely publicized in Mi’gmaq communities and was shared with other First Nations, non-Aboriginal governments, and the media.
Following the proclamation, the leadership of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi released a report entitled Consultation and Accommodation in Gespe’gewa’gi. This report explores the issues, questions, and areas of greatest concern to the leadership and community members.
Following the proclamation, the leadership of the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi released a report entitled Consultation and Accommodation in Gespe’gewa’gi. This report explores the issues, questions, and areas of greatest concern to the leadership and community members.
CONCLUSION
The Mi’gmaq idea of ta’n teliangweiatulti’gw ( "how we look after one another") continues to guide Mi’gmaq communities as they undertake a wide variety of economic, cultural, and social initiatives to help each other succeed and prosper.
By forming the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi, the three communities of Gespe’gewa’gi ~ Gesgapegiag, Listuguj and Gespeg ~ are taking advantage of strength in numbers to press for recognition of Aboriginal rights and title on their land.
LEARN MORE
Read the report released by the Ma’gmawei Mawiomi about consultation and accommodation in Gespe’gewa’gi.
Read the 2005 Joint Proclamation on the Duty to Consult and Accommodate. in your choice of Mi’gmaq, English or French.