Unama’KIDS’ coordinator Selena Cremo with students from Eskasoni and Wagmatcook

Apistane’wj is the Mi’kmaq word for the American marten, the subject of a new play put together by UINR’s Unama’KIDS. UKids coordinator Selena Cremo worked with direction from Maura Lea Morykot, well-known teacher and performer, to put together a story on the endangered marten and attempts to reestablish it in Unama’ki.

They researched the story, helped write the script and constructed all of the puppets at workshops through the winter. This spring they presented the show to their fellow schoolmates. Apistane’wj travelled to all five Mi’kmaq communities and was well-received by everyone who saw it.

Helping with the production was ECMA award winner Jamie Foulds who worked on the recording, editing and soundtrack for the production. The Unama’KIDS had a real blast at Jamie’s Soundpark Studios doing the recordings!

If you missed Apistane’wj, stay tuned. We’re working with the Unama’ki College at CBU to do a video production that we will show on UINR TV and your community channel.

UINR’s Unama’KIDS involves grade six students from five Mi’kmaq communities. They learn about natural resources and the environment. This year, Environment Canada funded us through its EcoAction program.

selena@uinr.ca

Membertou and Shipyard Elementary Unama’KIDS

Potlotek Unama’KIDS

Maura Lea Morykot lends a hand in puppet making

Community Aquatic Monitoring Program– CAMP is a project where communities monitor the health and marine productivity of their local aquatic ecosystem.

From May–September, we monitored six sites around the Bras d’ Or Lakes using protocols developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Long-term monitoring of fish and crustacean species, water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen profiles, vegetation and quality of sediment samples will help us determine if changes in the aquatic community structure are taking place, identify the cause, and take action to mitigate any negative impacts.

Classroom and field training took place in early May with coordinator Jim Weldon. Participants included Keith Christmas (Membertou), Rodney Alex, Shauna Gould and John T. Johnson (Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife), Robert Livingston (Stewards of River Denys Basin), Shelley Porter (CEPI), Shelley Denny, Dean Denny, Angela Morris and Allison McIsaac (UINR). Also in attendance were Lorne Penny and Stephanie Rose from DFO in Sydney. Eskasoni’s Grade 6 class was recruited to help and topics discussed ranged from respecting species to species behaviour.

UINR hopes that this program will lead to other community-based monitoring activities on the Bras d’Or Lakes. CAMP is funded by UINR and the in-kind contributions of human resources from the Mi’kmaq communities of Unama’ki.

shelley.denny@uinr.ca

Over the last year the Unama’KIDS were involved in lots of different projects on natural resources. One of the highlights was participating in the release of American Martens in the Highlands last fall. This was a memorable hands-on experience where the Unama’KIDS got to see this elusive endangered species up close.

Over the next year, the new batch of Unama’KIDS will particiate in projects relating to natural resources and our environment in Unama’ki.

serena@uinr.ca

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.

In an effort to increase Mi’kmaq involvement in enforcement, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and UINR established a pilot that trained two Mi’kmaq DFO officers, who have been assigned to the Unama’ki region to work in collaboration with UINR on issues of concern to our Mi’kmaq communities.

Here are the winners: Georgia Pacific/UINR ($1,000): Lindsay Marshall, Membertou; Janice Basque, Waycobah; Angela Morris, Eskasoni

Stora Enso/UINR ($1,000): Lindsay Marshall, Membertou; Janice Basque, Waycobah; Angela Morris, Eskasoni

Stora Enso/UINR Forestry ($5,000): Angela Morris, Eskasoni

These scholarships are awarded yearly and students are advised to check our website for details on upcoming awards.

From UINR Marten – Vol.2. Issue.4 – Winter 2006

Science Wtisi is a project under development with Cape Breton University and UINR. The Science Wtisi could provide space, resources, encouragement, and energy for many things: observations of the sky (via a planetarium), basket making, science camps, tutorial services for all levels K-12 and through university, professional development for educators and diverse service providers, brain-centered learning, summer schools, nature-based learning, medicinal plant instruction, architecture as a manifest understanding of Mi’kmaq culture and science, ecofriendly methods of housing and heating, and cultural continuity.

The Science Wtisi is envisioned as the requisite supportive, nourishing environment in which to encourage and grow a new generation of aboriginal (and other) scientists versed in broad approaches and well placed to tackle the challenges of their age. It is also the environment envisioned as essential and necessary to professionally and culturally assist and encourage those Mi’kmaq people already pursuing a science path in their education or career. UINR very much sees the Science Wtisi as essential for aboriginal success in science today, as well as for the next generation.

From UINR Marten – Vol.2. Issue.1 – Spring 2006