Gespe’gewa’gi Institute of Natural Understanding - GINU, 1 Marshall Way, Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC (2026)

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05/20/2026

🌧️Did you know that heavy spring rains can have a harmful effect on fish?

In areas where human activity has left soil bare of vegetation, excess fine sediment gets washed into waterways in a process called siltation. This can irritate gills, disrupt feeding and limit the hiding places fish need to survive.

That’s why GINU has been working to capture or divert sediment-filled runoff before it reaches rivers and streams. Since 2019, we have:

- Built sediment control structures like silt traps, sediment basins and diversion ditches in 38 locations across the Restigouche watershed, including on forestry roads, farmland and industrial lots.

✨The result? Cleaner water and safer habitats for species at risk.

👇Here’s a look at GINU’s work on siltation prevention.

10/21/2025

Big shout-out to our amazing team! So far, we’ve successfully hauled 31 old tires out of the Eel River. Every single tire removed makes a difference, it’s one less piece of garbage poisoning our local waters.

You might be surprised how much damage a discarded tire can do. Tires are built to be tough, and that's exactly why they're such a menace to the environment when they end up in the river:

- Toxic Sludge: As tires sit in the water, they leach hundreds of chemicals and heavy metals, like zinc, directly into the ecosystem. This essentially creates a toxic soup that harms fish and other aquatic life.

- A Never-ending Problem: They practically never go away! A tire can take hundreds of years to break down, slowly polluting the river the entire time.

- Microplastics: Over time, they shed tiny pieces that become microplastic pollution, which gets into the food chain.

- Mosquito Havens: Tires on the banks or in shallow areas collect stagnant water, turning them into ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes.

It’s hard, messy work, but knowing we’re protecting the Eel River is worth it.

09/25/2025

Help us grow our community!

Come get your free red oak saplings from GINU. We're giving them away to help create more shade, boost local biodiversity, and add to the natural beauty of our area.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

Red oaks get very big! They can grow over 20 meters tall and wide, so make sure you have enough room for them to thrive. To ensure everyone gets a chance to plant one, we're limiting distribution to two trees per household while supplies last.

You can pick up your saplings at the GINU office. Limited amount available.

Let's work together to make our community a little greener!

09/03/2025

We've offically launched our Marine Debris Project!

On August 18th, our staff, summer students and volunteers from the Listuguj Natural Resources department rolled up their sleeves for a shoreline cleanup near our offices. This marks the beginning of our two-year journey to tackle plastic pollution in local waters and protect the coastal ecosystems that sustain us.

Over the next two years, we will be organizing shoreline cleanups, documenting the sources and types of plastic debris we find to help inform our future stewardship efforts in taking care of Mawipoqtapei.

📊 Results from our first cleanup:

🟦 Total debris collected: 29.12 kg

🟦 12.5 % of the total mass of debris collected were recyclable materials

Why does this matter?

🌐 Every year, over 11 million tons of plastic enter the ocean.

🧪 Plastics break down into microplastics that end up in fish, birds, and us.

🐟 Marine animals often ingest or get entangled in plastic, causing injury or death.

What you can do to protect Mawipoqtapei:

✅ Reduce single-use plastics.

✅ Join local cleanups.

✅ Share this post to spread awareness.

✅ Be mindful of waste during outdoor activities.

📸 Stay tuned for upcoming cleanup dates and volunteer opportunities.

Together, we can keep Mawipoqtapei clean and thriving!

07/22/2025

All of us at GINU extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and students of Jonathan Barnaby (Spanky).

Spanky was a passionate educator with a deep love for his culture and a drive for learning. He often joined us on staff outings to learn about traditional medicines and was always excited to pass those teachings to his students. He would reach out from time to time to organize outings with GINU or join us in the field with his class whenever possible. Spanky was always eager to provide his students with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.

His enthusiasm, curiosity, and fun-loving spirit left a lasting impression on all of us.

In honour of his life and legacy, GINU will move forward with the development of a land-based Junior Biologist curriculum, a project he had recently envisioned and was collaborating with us to create.

07/17/2025

Check out the infographic below, co-created with Listuguj graphic artist Brandon Mitchell, illustrating the hands-on work being done to support aquatic ecosystems and honour our deep relationship with Plamu (salmon), Ga’t (eel), Gomqwatamu (sturgeon) and other aquatic species.

Address

1 Marshall Way
Pointe-À-la-Croix, QC
G0C2R0

Website

http://www.ginu.co/

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