New BrunswickListuguj, a Mi’kmaw community in Quebec north of Campbellton, filed a motion in Miramichi’s Court of King’s Bench to intervene in an ongoing Aboriginal title case brought by eight other communities which aims to have most of the province recognized as ancestral land.Listuguj, a community north of Campbellton, is claiming its ancestral land overlaps with land in N.B.Katelin Belliveau · CBC News · Posted: Nov 24, 2025 4:55 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Listuguj, a Mi’kmaw community in Quebec located along the Restigouche River, is seeking to intervene in an ongoing title claim for most of New Brunswick. (Bridget Yard/CBC)A Mi’kmaw community in Quebec believes it should have a say in a New Brunswick title claim along with eight other Mi’kmaw communities.A lawyer representing Listuguj, a community north of Campbellton, appeared in Miramichi’s Court of King’s Bench on Monday, arguing that the community’s ancestral land crosses the Restigouche River, and overlaps with much of northern New Brunswick.That’s why it filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit that currently aims to have most of New Brunswick recognized as Aboriginal title. “Listuguj’s rights and interests are directly at issue,” Zachary Davis, who represents the community, told Justice Fred Ferguson via video call.Chiefs from eight Mi’kmaw communities known as Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., or MTI, filed the lawsuit in July 2024.It demands Crown leases be transferred to Mi’kmaw communities, and that they be compensated. It does not ask that private property be seized from land owners. It’s filed against the provincial government, the federal government, N.B. Power and the Regional Development Corporation, and is still making its way through the courts.Eight Mi’kmaw communities in New Brunswick represented by Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. are asserting title to lands and waters in New Brunswick, indicated by the horizontal lines. (Submitted by Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc.)Davis said Listuguj does not oppose the current claim to Aboriginal title filed in New Brunswick, but it does not consent to be represented by the plaintiffs, and it wants the ability to represent itself.Listuguj chief Scott Martin told Radio-Canada in an interview that the community wants its voice to be heard.”We feel we should be part of the negotiations that are happening with the New Brunswick chiefs,” Martin said. “They should have involved us in the beginning.”The community has occupied and governed areas around the Restigouche on both the Quebec and New Brunswick side “since time immemorial,” said Davis.Community also occupied islands in the riverIn court on Monday, he also said the community occupied islands in the river, and that its ancestral village “was in fact on the New Brunswick side,” referring to present-day Atholville, which is west of Campbellton.He said members of Listuguj continue to use the islands to fish, garden and gather.Gwen MacIsaac, the lawyer representing the federal government, said the Attorney General is requesting conditions be imposed to limit the scope to which Listuguj can intervene in the case.Lawyers representing the province did not take a position in the matter. A lawyer representing the other Mi’kmaw communities said they do not wish to impose conditions on Listuguj’s intervenor status.The communities already part of the Aboriginal title claim are Amlamgog First Nation (Fort Folly), Natoaganeg First Nation (Eel Ground), Oinpegitjoig First Nation (Pabineau), Esgenoôpetitj First Nation (Burnt Church), Tjipõgtõtjg First Nation (Buctouche), L’nui Menikuk First Nation (Indian Island), Ugpi’ganjigFirst Nation (Eel River Bar) and Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation.Elsipotgog First Nation is not part of the case.Justice Ferguson suggested Monday that the parties have a discussion to try and resolve the matter in private.What unfolded during that private conversation in court Monday is not yet known.ABOUT THE AUTHORKatelin Belliveau is a CBC reporter based in Moncton. With files from Pascal Raiche-Nogue
Mikmaw community in Quebec wants to intervene in New Brunswick title claim
