Pjila'si

Pjila’si

Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources represents the five Mi’kmaq communities of Unama’ki and was formed to address concerns regarding natural resources and their sustainability.
Commercial Fisheries

Commercial Fisheries

Management of our commercial fisheries involves a complex range of techniques and strategies including scientific, resource, commercial, and market information. The main mechanism for communication between governments and industry is through advisory and various other fisheries committees and groups. Attendance at these meetings is critical to full participation in co-management...
Forestry

Forestry

The UINR forestry division strives for an environmentally sound way to use our natural resources while creating employment for members of our communities and further strengthening relationships between local industry and Mi'kmaq people.
Moose

Moose

Moose have provided much to the Mi'kmaq through the years. The Mi'kmaq way of resource management includes a spiritual element that ties the people to the plants, animals and the environment as a whole. A Moose Management Plan will put into practice the responsibilities that accompany Mi'kmaq treaty rights.
Netukulimk

Netukulimk

At the soul of everything we do at UINR is Netukulimk. Netukulimk is the use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator for the self-support and well-being of the individual and the community. Netukulimk is achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity, or...
Natural Resource Officers

Natural Resource Officers

UINR's Natural Resource Officer (NRO) program began in 2006, evolving out of the 1990 Unama'ki Guardian Program. The original Guardian Program is managed by the individual bands. UINR's NRO project will allow coordinated work plans and targeted training under our NRO Coordinator to ensure our enforcement and conservation goals succeed.
Opportunities

Opportunities

Check back to this section on a regular basis to see if there are job opportunities, scholarships or other opportunities. Whenever there is an opening at UINR or if there is a new project that is looking for staff, we post it here!
Partnerships

Partnerships

UINR's partnerships with other organizations are an important part of what we do and the successes we have achieved. Our lead role in organizations such as Pitu'paq and the Bras d'Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative have resulted in important accomplishments in achieving our environmental and management goals. Through our partnerships UINR...
Research

Research

UINR's research is guided by our communities and the advice and guidance of our community's Elders. Our emphasis is research on species of concern to Mi'kmaq such as oyster, lobster, eel, gaspereau and other food fishing species. Species at Risk and invasive species are also of great concern at UINR....
Unama'KIDS

Unama’KIDS

Unama'KIDS looks a natural resources and the environment from the point-of-view of youth in Unama'ki. One of our goals at UINR is to reach the youth in our communities and work with them to determine what information they need, and to develop innovative ways to get that information to them that...
Latest News
Mawmaliptmnej HELP US HELP Malikewe'j

Mawmaliptmnej HELP US HELP Malikewe’j

UINR is organizing a cleanup of Malikewe’j on Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26. Have your large items out by Friday May 25 on the main road and cemetery Road. Community Ditch Clean-up Friday and Saturday from 10am–3pm. We will not be cleaning around cabins but you are welcome to use the dumpster or...
UINR's smolt wheel is back in Middle River

UINR’s smolt wheel is back in Middle River

UINR is conducting research on Atlantic salmon populations. The smolt wheel, which looks like a giant funnel on its side, collects young salmon smolt, safely directing them into a tank where they are counted. Smolt are young salmon that migrate each spring from the rivers where they were born and grew up in, to the...

  For some of us, things just never add up…but that’s definitely not the case for Billy Taylor. As UINR’s Finance Officer, it’s Billy’s mission to make sure that everything adds up to the penny. If things like cash flow statements, account reconciliation and financial forecasts make your eyes glaze over, Billy’s light up! It’s...
UINR Is Looking for Photos

UINR Is Looking for Photos

UINR is working on some new publications on Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge about Plamu (Atlantic Salmon), Ji’kaw (Striped Bass), and Peju (Cod). We need photos of people fishing, cleaning fish or even eating them! Old photos, new ones, all are welcome. If you have some photos that you are willing to share, please get in touch....
Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

MELC– Mi’kmaq Environmental Learning Centre, a division of Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, is is looking for organized, good-natured and flexible individuals who enjoy the outdoors and working with youth. This summer high school students will participate in a camp on forestry, natural resources and employment opportunities in the sector. We are looking for a...
Cool, clean water!

Cool, clean water!

Sitting at the kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee or tea with a friend…it’s something that most of us take for granted. But not Rosie Sylliboy and some of the other full-time residents of Malagawatch. A boil water advisory has been in place since April 2011 when UINR began testing the wells in Malagawatch....
Opportunity for Mi'kmaq Youth: Nikani Awtiken

Opportunity for Mi’kmaq Youth: Nikani Awtiken

Nikani Awtiken is a Mi’kmaq phrase that means “trail blazing” or “creating a new path.” This summer, up to 14 high school students from Unama’ki will participate in a week-long camp on forestry, natural resources and employment opportunities in the sector. Nikani Awtiken is a project of MELC (Mi’kmaq Environmental Learning Centre), the new educational...
The Oyster Garden Winter 2012

The Oyster Garden Winter 2012

The story I’m about tell goes back to the sixties, the early days of my life. The information is a tribute to my Elders, relatives, friends, and native and non-native anglers. Most of the information was obtained through traditional knowledge and Elder Dr. Albert Marshall through his concept of two-eyed seeing. Growing up, I listened...
Kataq–Mi’kmaq Knowledge on Bras d’Or Lakes Eels

Kataq–Mi’kmaq Knowledge on Bras d’Or Lakes Eels

After five years of research, community meetings and discussions with Elders and fishers, UINR is proud to announce the release of a new publication on Bras d’Or Lakes eels. At first, five years sounds like a long time but when you consider that the publication summarizes thousands of years of Mi’kmaq ecological knowledge, it doesn’t...
ATTENTION: Mi'kmaq Salmon Fishers

ATTENTION: Mi’kmaq Salmon Fishers

Margaree Salmon Association is tracking salmon in the Margaree River and Atlantic Ocean. If you find a black cylindrical device (about 2 1/2 inches in size) inside a salmon kelt (commonly known as slink salmon), contact UINR with information on catch date and location. If you catch a salmon kelt and you notice a one-inch...
Please don't burn grass!

Please don’t burn grass!

It’s that time of the year again. While many people still feel that burning grass is good for the environment, it really isn’t. Check out UINR’s flier on the hazards and spread the word! Grass Fires Flier
PUBLIC NOTICE: Boaters Using Middle River

PUBLIC NOTICE: Boaters Using Middle River

UINR wishes to inform the public to exercise caution when using the Middle River for recreational boating purposes between April 16 and June 30, 2012. UINR will be installing a Rotary Screw Trap (smolt wheel) on Middle River at approximately 46° 05’ 49.8N, 60° 55’ 18.8W to catch Atlantic salmon smolts to estimate their abundance and...