Qey. Welcome to the Maliseet of Viger First Nation Website!

In order to keep our members and other persons interested in the reality of our milieu up-to-date, we have decided to increase our communications outreach to ensure that we are able to follow the development of important issues. We hope that you consult our internet site regularly because it is not only a showcase but also an additional means to keep the conversation going. We wish to thank the staff  of the Communications Sector of the First Nations Education Council (FNEC), who have not only provided great support but have also provided us with the benefits of their extensive experience in working with many different First Nations communities. They have provided us with judicious advices and technical support to improve our own technical communications. I think you will appreciate the new changes we have made to the internet site, including a “News” section, which will keep you informed of current highlights and issues.
Woliwon.  Thank you.
Jacques Tremblay
Grand Chief of the Maliseet of Viger First Nation

Profile of our community

In Quebec, Maliseets have not been regrouped into a community. They can be found living sparsely on quebecois, canadian and american land. The Viger Maliseet community is the only Maliseet community in Quebec. It has access to a territory located in the Whitworth Township, close to Rivière-du-Loup, and to a tiny lot in Cacouna, making it the smallest aboriginal reserve in all of Canada. By and large Quebec Maliseets speak French though some speak English. Some speakers of the Passamaquoddy language currently reside in Maine and in New Brunswick. Maliseets operate a commercial fishing enterprise (CFE) and are busy diversifying their economy through the development of partnerships on a regional basis.

 

Maliseet Fisheries

Logo Pêcheries Malécites

MALISEET FISHERIES
At the outset of the 21st century, Quebec Maliseet’s took part in commercial fisheries activities, following the Sparrow and Marshall judgements. In 2000, the federal government granted them a permit to fish snow crab and northern shrimp. Then, in 2006, they got an exploratory permit to fish sea urchin and, in 2012, two permits to fish ground fish and three permits for whelk. In 2009, a committee was formed to manage commercial fisheries, it is called the «Comité de gestion de l’entreprise de pêche commerciale (EPC) »; ensued the creation of Maliseet of Viger First Nation.
Its main objectives and mandates are as follows:
Coordinate commercial and food fisheries, commercial permits and boats; manage material and human resources; recruit personnel and manage its training; implement policies on fishing practices; prepare budgets and manage finances; set-up plans for commercial fisheries; prepare and follow-up development projects relating specifically to commercial fisheries.

In addition to providing financial assistance and creating stable employment for the community we aim at training and retaining our staff, proceeding with further and more intensive recruitment within the community and provide necessary tools to ensure recruits get the essential training required in the field of commercial fisheries. At this point in time over 50 % of crew members of the fleet are Aboriginals from the Maliseet First Nation.

The development of the Maliseet Fisheries represents a commercial leverage for both our Nation and the Lower St-Lawrence and Gaspésie regions. We are proud to participate in the development of our communities. The management committee is keeping abreast of new opportunities to expand and diversify capacities of the commercial fisheries enterprises. (CFE).).