Annual Report 2005-2006 Overview

Listuguj Education Directorate (LED)

The Listuguj Directorate currently employees 66 staff in the administration area and at the Alaqsite'w Gitpu School. Of the 74 employees 81% are Mi'gmaq or of Native ancestory and 19% are non-native.

Alaqsite'w Gitpu School

The name of the school was chosen from several names submitted from a "Name the School" contest. Alaqsite'w Gitpu translates to mean, 'The eagle will soar'. The winner of the contest, Leah Metallic believed that our own community school would give our children and their children the opportunity to go beyond the limits and to continue to soar despite our trials and tribulations. It is appropriate that the eagle and the Mi'gmaq are once again re-gaining their strength as is evidenced when visiting with our students at the Alaqsite'w Gitpu School and while observing eagles who can once again be seen on our Islands (M'nigul) located on route to Matapedia, Qc.

There are now approximately 285 students registered at the Alaqsite'w Gitpu School from Nursery to Grade 8.

"Ask yourself...Is it in the best interest of our students?"

LED Program & Services

• Department of Indian & Northern Affairs
• Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government
• First Nation Education Council

The Listuguj Education Directorate is an administrative body that was established in December of 1992 and provides coordination and supervision for the following programs:

• Post Secondary
• Transportation
• Breakfast & Noon Day Lunch
• Ancillary Services
• Mi'gmaq Language & Culture
• AGS Elementary School
• Provincial Schools
• First Nation Education Council

Post Secondary Program

There are some instances where funding is provided to mature students, who have not completed their high school if the student is accepted by the college and/or university they have applied to.

We currently receive $858,260.00 from the Federal Government to provide post secondary education to seventy four (74) full and part time students, however it cost our government approximately $1,158,260.00 annually to provide our students with a post secondary education. In order to do this the LMG contributes in the following way:

• The Listuguj Education Directorate provides the post secondary program with $150,000.00 while;
• The Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government provides another $150,000.00 for a total of $300,000.00.

Day Care subsidies are provided to resident from Listuguj students with dependents.

Incentives are also provided to resident students from Listuguj who complete their studies in the time specified in the Post Secondary guidelines with an additional incentive if they maintain a certain grade point average.

The following table shows the area of studies and the number of students in each area.

Transportation

• LED provides transportation services to students attending elementary, middle and high school here in Listuguj and in Campbellton
• Four busses are contracted to community entrepreneurs while,
• three are owned and operated by the Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government

Lunch & Breakfast Programs

The LED coordinates the Noon Day Lunch Program for the Listuguj Social Services Directorate. They currently provide approximately $240,000.00 from the National Child Benefit Program to ensure that all school age children receive a healthy nutritious lunch. The noon day lunch program is provided to students attending the following schools:

1. Alaqsite'w Gitpu School
2. Escuminac School
3. Pere Pacifique School
4. Matapedia School
5. Apollo XI School
6. Lord Beaverbrook School
7. Campbellton Middle School
8. Sugarloaf Senior High School
9. Atholville School

Ancillary Services

Sneaker Vouchers

School supplies

Student Allowances

Mi'gmaq Language & Culture Programs

• Alaqsite'w Gitpu School
1. AGS Alternative School
• Sugarloaf Senior High School
• Alternative High School
• Mawo'ltijig Mi'ju'ajijg Day Care Center
• Listuguj Education Complex
• Mi'gmawei Mawiomi Secretariate

Mi'gmaq Core Language Programs

• Over the last several years the Mi'gmaq Language Coordinator and the language instructors have developed a Mi'gmaq Language Core Program that is being delivered to students from Nursery to Grade 8 at AGS.
• They have also developed resource materials that compliment the Mi'gmaq Language Core programs.
• The Core Programs are taught by the Coordinator, Fay Metallic and the Mi'gmaq Core Instructors, Thelma White-Martin and Mabel Metallic.

Mi'gmaq Culture Program

• The Mi'gmaq Culture Program was developed by the coordinator, Claudia Gray and is taught to students from Nursery to grade 8.
• The Coordinator is assisted in the preparation and delivery of the classes by Audrey Mitchell and Denise Isaac.
• The program is taught through a hands on method where the student is shown how to construct pre-contact materials used by our ancestors.
• It is during this activity that students are instructed in the culture and history of their people by informing students how materials were constructed and why they were constructed in a particular way.

Mi'gmaq Immersion Programs.

• The Mi'gmaq Kindergarten Immersion Program was introduced in 2001-2002.
• We are currently in our 4th year of operation.
• To date there have been 40+ students who have successfully completed the Mi'gmaq Immersion Program
• An after school and summer programs have been available to students who have successfully completed the Mi'gmaq Kindergarten Immersion Program.

Other initiatives to promote, protect and preserve our language.....

Sugarloaf Senior High School

A Mi'gmaq Language Program using the Listuguj Accelerated Second Language program is currently being piloted at the Sugarlaof Senior High School. The program is receiving good reviews from both students and the instructor.

Focus Group (Tlisultinej)

• Tlisultinej members are comprised of fluent Mi'gmaq speakers. The group meets with Mi'gmaq Resource Coordinator, Joe Wilmot on a monthly or bi-monthly basis depending on the need.
• The group meets once or twice a month to review words and phrases that are being used to instruct our children and community members

Mawol'tijig Mi'ju'ajijg Day Care Center

Coordination and instruction is provided by Eunice Metallic.

Provincial Schools

• The Listuguj Education Directorate works in collobration with the District 15 School Board in providing program and services to students from Listuguj.
• The LED also provides the following staff: Dean Vicaire - Native Student Counsellor; Gwen Wysote - Teacher Assistant;Lita Isaac - Mi'gmaq Culture Instructor;Theresa Mitchell-Mi'gmaq Language Instructor. Theresa also works with the school Guidance Office on a part time basis.

First Nation Education Council

• Special Education
  1. Guidance Programs
  2. Methods and Resource
• New Paths to Education
• Parental Involvement
• Professional Development
• Science and Technology
• Career Choices
• Summer Work Programs
• Language Initiatives Programs