Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources | Mi'kmaq Sustainable Resources - Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, Waycobah

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.

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 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...

Help Us Help Malikewe’j

May 31, 2013

There’s a BIG weekend coming up for the community of Malikewe’j. On Friday and Saturday June 7 and 8, UINR will be hosting our annual Spring Cleaning and Community Ditch Clean-up. Help us help Malikewe’j by putting out large items that you want to have disposed of on the main road and Cemetery Road. Please...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Eels… LIVE!

May 30, 2013

At the next Wagmatcook Lecture Series on Thursday June 6 we are presenting a series of ten short videos on eels and their importance in Mi’kmaq culture. The videos tell everything we know about the American eel in Cape Breton. UINR biologist Shelley Denny will be on hand with Mi’kmaq eel fishers Joe and Judy Googoo...

Every Fish Matters!

May 7, 2013

UINR, with partners, Atlantic Salmon Federation and Margaree Salmon Association, are working together on an educational project to identify salmon smolt, parr and brook trout and ways to protect their population and habitat. Signs are being posted along salmon rivers throughout Unama’ki. To see the difference between salmon and trout and what you can do...

Scholarships Available

May 6, 2013

UINR, in partnership with Georgia Pacific and Port Hawkesbury Paper, has $15,000 in scholarships available to students in Cape Breton’s Mi’kmaq communities. Studies in Forestry, Science, Technology and Natural Resources are all eligible. Please download the applications here: Port Hawkesbury Paper and UINR Scholarship Fund (5) $1,000 Port Hawkesbury Paper and UINR Forestry Scholarship $5,000...

Welcome back Jason!

May 1, 2013

Welcome back Jason MacLean, UINR’s Assistant Forestry Manager. Jason graduated with honours as a Forest Technician from Maritime Forest Ranger School and also holds an honours certificate in Forest Resources. A graduate from Riverview High School, Jason has worked as a Forest Technician, chainsaw operator and labourer in Margaree, Ontario and British Columbia. Jason has also worked...

Eel Video Day 10-Winter Eeling

Apr 26, 2013

It’s time for today’s eel video– Winter Eeling. You can watch it here. This video shows how eel are traditionally speared during the winter. Eel fishers Kerry Prosper and John Sylliboy explain everything about winter fishing from digging through the ice to how to spear. UINR researcher Shelley Denny looks at some of the traditions...

Eel Video Day 9–Summer Eeling

Apr 25, 2013

It’s time for today’s eel video– SUMMER EELING. You can watch it here. This video looks at how eels are speared in summer. Mi’kmaq fishers Tracey Googoo, Charlie Joe, Kerry Prosper and John Sylliboy talk about summer fishing and why the tradition is so important. UINR’s Angela Denny, Lorraine Marshall and Shelley Denny talk about...

Public Notice to Boaters Using Middle River

Apr 24, 2013

UINR wishes to inform the public to exercise caution when using the Middle River for recreational boating purposes between April 20 and June 30, 2013. 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...

Eel Video Day 8-Making a Spear

Apr 24, 2013

It’s time for today’s eel video– MAKING AN EEL SPEAR. You can watch it here. Kerry Prosper takes us through the entire process of making an eel spear, from finding just the right tree to how spears are made. Mi’kmaq youth are shown the tools and learn their place in the ancient eel tradition. Every...

Eel Video Day 7–Commercial Eeling

Apr 23, 2013

It’s time for today’s eel video– COMMERCIAL EELING. You can watch it here. The commercial fishing of eel is a controversial topic to say the least. UINR’s John Couture joins Kerry Prosper, Winston Bernard, Charlie Joe Malikewe’j, Albert Marshall, and John Sylliboy in a discussion about the commercial eel fishery from several perspectives. They look...

Eel Video Day 6-Enjoying Eel

Apr 22, 2013

It’s time for today’s eel video– ENJOYING EEL. You can watch it here. There’s a reason why eel is so popular in Mi’kmaq circles –it’s delicious! Albert Marshall, Kerry Prosper, Charlie Joe Malikewe’j, John Sylliboy, Joe Googoo and Lorraine Marshall cook up an eel feast and share their secret recipes! Every day for ten days...

Muiwatmu’k wsitqamu 2013 Give Thanks to the Earth

Apr 21, 2013