In the spirit of transition, now is the time for harvesters to consider the importance of hunter reporting to help strengthen Mi’kmaq management initiatives around one of our most valuable natural resources–moose.

Over the past number of years, Mi’kmaq harvesters, community members, Elders and youth alike have expressed a desire for more community input into the management of our hunting activities; management of moose ecosystems; and the overall management of the herd. These initiatives, successfully garnered through a series of community meetings, spirited discussion, and a renowned Mi’kmaq Symposium on Moose, have led to more involvement in management practices. This has led to a renewed Mi’kmaq re-emergence in natural resource management–at a time when Mi’kmaq are naturally retaking our roles as stewards over our natural resources–especially as it pertains to moose and moose habitat.

Harvester reporting is the next big step. Why is reporting so important, you may ask. The answer is simple. Mi’kmaq information around the resource and the reporting of moose kills and sightings are key pieces of the management puzzle. Mi’kmaq input in this regard is a missing piece.  It outlines the needs of the communities and greatly determines population trends in harvesting areas.  Reporting serves to protect the rights of the harvesters by protecting the health (and ecosystems) of the moose.  Certainly, the herd is healthy; however with limited abundance in certain areas, our information is especially helpful if we develop a system that formalizes our observations in the field.

It is optional for our harvesters to even sign their name on the form and one could just fill in the other fields including your community; sex of the moose; date of harvest; time and location of harvest; animals taken; animals seen. Forms can be picked up at your local band office, Kwilmu’k Maq-klusuaqn Negotiations Office (KMKNO) in Millbrook.  They can also be downloaded here: Moose Harvesting Form 2011. Forms will also be handed out in the Highlands. Please give it a try, and perhaps if you decide to fill in your name, you may even win a prize.

Completed forms can be passed in at your local band office, UINR in Eskasoni, KMKNO in Millbrook or to any members of your community Hunter Advisory Groups.  Please have a safe, enjoyable, and successful harvest.

This initiative strengthens our roles responsibilities in resource management, Mi’kmaq governance, and the implementation of Mi’kmaq treaty rights. In partnership with KMKNO, the Moose Management Initiative continues to promote a strong Mi’kmaq stewardship model in natural resource management.

The release in August of Tiamuwel Netuklimkewe–Unama’ki Moose Harvesting According to Netukulimk was an historic moment for the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. It showed that we accept the responsibility as stewards of the resource and that the time has come to assert our rights.

Clifford Paul, Moose Management Coordinator explains, “The release of the guidelines resulted in improved conditions for families to hunt in the Cape Breton Highlands, making the annual hunt more safe and enjoyable. More youth and Elders are getting together to organize their own hunts. People are beginning to see the relationship between the Mi’kmaq and the resource is a very positive thing in the community. This relationship is something that we all want to preserve and protect for future generations.”

“The Government of Nova Scotia has applauded our efforts and through our work on these guidelines, we demonstrated that the Mi’kmaq people have a positive role to play in management. This work sets a blueprint for other management issues such as land use, forestry and fishing. This Mi’kmaq-led process, working with our communities to achieve consensus, is an example of self-government in action.”

Years of research and consultation went into the publication of the guidelines, but their release is the beginning and not the end of a process. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done on issues that are not fully developed in the present guidelines. For example, some people feel that the issue of non-native accompaniment needs to take into account the reality that non-native family members may be needed to assist in the harvest.

Issues relating to Mi’kmaq people making a moderate livelihood from the resource, along with the issue of sustainability need further discussion. Another issue is ecotourism as a responsible way to ensure that the resource is always strong. Shooting the moose with a camera and not a gun could have signifiant implications for the sustainability of the herd.

Another concept that needs to be developed is the use of the entire moose–from using the hide for clothing, drum making and other leather work to using antlers and bones for beads and jewellery–these are possibilities that we are just beginning to explore.

Enforcement is an important component in the transition from voluntary compliance to Mi’kmaq law. Clifford explains, “We see the existing DNR Mi’kmaq liaison officers as a good start towards enforcement. Our communities want to see more Mi’kmaq on the enforcement side of things. As UINR’s Natural Resource Officer program develops, we expect to have officers in place with the authority to enforce these and other Mi’kmaq management laws.”

“The Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network is another crutial component in the enforcement picture. We need some way to deal with offences. Discussions with the Network are ongoing and we will build on the relationship we began over the past few years to strengthen this.”

“People are recognizing Mi’kmaq jurisdiction and authority. We want people to talk about the guidelines and let us know where they need to be improved. The guidelines are a result of the collective vision of our communities–hunters, elders, youth, grandparents and community members.

Education is the important next step in the process.  We will be visiting every Mi’kmaq community in Nova Scotia over the next few months to get their feedback. We intend to have another collective gathering in the Fall of 2010 to continue the process and have set a target of the 2011 hunt to release the next guidelines that will be Mi’kmaq law.”

clifford@uinr.ca

After years of consultation, research and planning, Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs released Mi’kmaq guidelines for moose hunting in Cape Breton.

Tia’muwe’l Netuklimkewe’l–Unama’ki Moose Harvesting According to Netukulimk was created by the Mi’kmaq people of Nova Scotia and is an important step for Mi’kmaq self-governance over our traditional resources.

If you don’t have a copy of the Guidelines yet, you can pick up a copy at the UINR office in Eskasoni, or you can download a copy at our website: www.uinr.ca The UINR website also has background information on the initiative.

Clifford Paul, Co-ordinator of the Moose Management Initiative expresses his thoughts on the guidelines: With these guidelines, Mi’kmaq are maintaining our ancient commitment as stewards of a very valuable resource–the moose.  These guidelines are a way to continue this relationship far into our future. It is a Mi’kmaq-led and ancient system of allowing the moose to continue for the benefit of the next seven generations.

Eric Zschelle, negotiator with Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn, explains the guidelines’ significance to Mi’kmaq self-governance: The Assembly saw this as a chance to pursue self-government and self-management. UINR had been exploring joint management with DNR and Parks Canada for a number of years, but governments were not willing to extend discussions into governance issues. The Made-in-Nova Scotia Process presented an opportunity to take this discussion further and expand the role of the Assembly and the governance project, to involve all Mi’kmaq communities of Nova Scotia.

clifford@uinr.ca

However, in the 1800s, moose disappeared from Unama’ki and this ancient relationship came to an abrupt end that lasted for almost 100 years. Cape Breton Mi’kmaq were separated from a very valuable resource and all it offered.

In the 1940s, Parks Canada brought 18 moose to the Cape Breton Highlands to give tourists a large mammal to see in the Park. The moose liked it here. Lots to eat, room to roam and they flourished and spread. In the absence of their major predators, wolves, Unama’ki became a moose haven, especially after the spruce budworm devastation of the 1970s. With a massive clearcutting of damaged softwood, hardwood shoots began to grow, offering ideal browse conditions for moose to thrive.

The 1970s and 80s were a also a time of heavy litigation in the courts, with Mi’kmaq hunters being charged and treaties tested. Late in the 1980s, the Mi’kmaq proved that our treaties were valid, proving to Canada and the rest of the world that Mi’kmaq treaties still existed and were in
force. These litigation victories coincided and grew with the moose population–10,000 animals from the original 18. A real population explosion!

With the traditional relationship between Mi’kmaq and moose reestablished, the Mi’kmaq felt it was time to become managers and stewards of
the resource, to manage the hunt for our children and their children–the next seven generations. Mi’kmaq Elders advised that with these rights come great responsibilities. They saw the importance of balance, conservation and preservation of the herd and said the time had come for self-management.

In response to Elders and community members concerns, Grand Council asked Charlie Dennis to take on moose management as part of his duties. With Parks Canada, he established two committees and began to develop draft guidelines. This process reached a stumbling block–Mi’kmaq could not govern our people while off reserve where the hunting takes place.

It was clear that we were dealing with Mi’kmaq rights and, in the early 2000s, the issue was brought to the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs. As a result, Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMK) established the Moose Working Group and moose management became an important first issue to establish Mi’kmaq rights and unify the concerns of the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities.

In 2006, Clifford Paul was hired as Moose Management Coordinator. His role at UINR is to engage Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities in active discussions around moose issues and promote discussions on the management of the Cape Breton moose herd and hunting practices. Clifford’s philosophy is simple. We come to your community with a blank book. You tell us what is right and what you feel is important and we will listen.

Over the next couple of years, Clifford and a team of advisors from KMK visited every Mi’kmaq community in Nova Scotia to talk moose. He heard a deep concern for conservation and protection of the herd so it will available for future generations. A more respectful relationship is required and, as stewards of the resource, communities’ communal rights take priority over individual rights.

Clifford visited each community several times, gathering information and seeing common themes arising at every meeting. In September of 2008, Mawikwamk Wjit Tia’muk–Mi’kmaq–Gathering on Moose was held in Wagmatcook, bringing together delegates from across Nova Scotia to look at some of the issues important to moose management. The two-day event reached consensus on three issues:

1. Non-native accompaniment
2. No-hunting time/A Mi’kmaq hunting season
3. Hunter advisory groups

A fourth issue, selling moose, did not achieve consensus and further discussions are needed.

Out of this session, draft guidelines were developed and brought to the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs for review. Changes were made and now Tiamuwel Netuklimkewe–Unama’ki Moose Harvesting According to Netukulimk was approved.

The Guidelines will be officially released on August 17 asking Mi’kmaq hunters for voluntary compliance over the next two years. Over this time, Clifford and his team will again visit communities to talk about the Guidelines, answer questions and work out more details for the future.

Clifford explains, The Guidelines are just one tool in the management plan. The Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network is developing the legal regulations and at the same time, we are moving forward with our Natural Resource Officer Program.

The key component in our management plan is the Mi’kmaq response to these initial Guidelines. It is a living document and through the hunters’ and communities’ feedback we will once again regain stewardship over this important resource.

clifford @uinr.ca

Tiamuwel Netuklimkewe–Unama’ki Moose Harvesting According to Netukulimk will be released on August 17 at a press conference in Wagmatcook. Following the official release, it will be available in every Mi’kmaq community and can be downloaded at www.uinr.ca.

The voluntary guidelines focus on 5 main areas:

• Safety
• Community Authority and Hunting Advisory Groups
• The No-Hunting Time
• ID and Non-Mi’kmaq Helpers
• Hunter Reporting

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.

UINR has the responsibility to create a moose management plan for the moose in Unama’ki. UINR is mandated to implement this plan with the support of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council and the Unama’ki Council of Elders. Further development and long-term acceptance of this initiative is supported by Mi’kmaq leadership and by resolution of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Chiefs.

UINR works closely with the Mi’kmaq community and its leadership, along with representatives of the federal and provincial governments, to develop a plan that is supported by the Kwilmuk Maw-klusuaqn, Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative.

The Moose Management Initiative developed as a result of a partnership between UINR, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, and Parks Canada.

Dan Christmas, a conference facilitator explains, “The Mi’kmaq have treaty and aboriginal rights to hunt and we have taken an important step in determining how, as a Mi’kmaq government, we wish to exercise these rights to harvest in a manner respectful of the moose, other hunters and the environment.”

Clifford Paul, Moose Management Coordinator with UINR continues, “As a result of two years of community education and discussion around the moose hunt, we found there was consensus on many issues and  several topics needing more discussion. The Mi’kmaq Chief and Councils, as well as the Grand Council sent delegates to the Gathering to address these issues in order to reach consensus and instruct technical staff on the drafting of the guidelines. We anticipate that the guidelines, once completed and approved, will be implemented for the 2009 hunting season. We expect the guidelines will be initially adopted on a voluntary basis.”

Dan Christmas concludes, “This is the first attempt by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs at creating a community-based, grassroots oriented mechanism to address treaty rights implementation and future governance. By being involved in the creation of these processes, community members will become integral players in their future.”

clifford@uinr.ca

From UINR Marten – Vol.4. Issue.4 – Winter 2008

The Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre will host Mawikwamk Wjit Tia’muk–Mi’kmaq Gathering on Moose on September 25 and 26.

Chiefs and Councils from Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq communities each selected four delegates to participate in the Gathering with four additional delegates selected by Grand Council. Delegates have experience with moose hunting issues, genuine concerns regarding the moose population and harvest, and understand how collaboration can instill the concept of Netuklimk to create M’kmaq Moose Management Guidelines.

Delegates will go back to their communities and share the thoughts, discussions and consensus of the Gathering in a clear, concise way. The objective of this Gathering is to reach consensus from community delegates on four main topics:

Non-native accompaniment on the hunt;

Selling of moose meat and products;

The acceptance of a two-month, no hunting season in the height of the summer;

Creation of Hunter Advisory Groups to aid Chief and Councils in administration and education of community members.

If the gathering can reach consensus on these four topics, technical people will then draft the Guidelines. Once delegates are satisfied that the draft represents the view of the Gathering, it will be provided to Chiefs and Councils and the Assembly for discussion and approval.

At first, the Guidelines will be voluntary and it will be the task of the Assembly, Chiefs and Councils, UINR, KMK and hunters to discuss and promote the Guidelines in the community. Eventually, we can turn the guidelines into enforceable Mi’kmaq law.

Netukulimk is the use of the natural bounty provided by the Creator, for the self-support and well-being of the individual and community. Netukulimk simply means achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity or productivity of our environment.

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.

“Our elders maintain that, with rights, come responsibilities. By developing a Moose Management Plan, the Mi’kmaq Gathering on Moose will put into practice the responsibilities that accompany our treaty rights” says Clifford.

clifford@uinr.ca

From UINR Marten – Vol.4. Issue.3 – Autumn 2008

There is a lot of work and responsibility involved in a moose harvest, and it takes great effort to ensure our youth are taught these things in a proper way. The Millbrook Youth Hunt has been setting the standard for Mi’kmaq communities with successful harvests in the last several years.

Moose meat harvested from their hunts is used for a community–with Millbrook Elders being the guests of honour. Youth from the community are paired up with community hunters and Elders for a weekend camp in the Cape Breton Highlands. The success of these camps cannot just be attributed to a successful harvest of moose. Most often, it is the quality time spent at the camp and the interaction between Elders and youth that makes the experience a success.

Students from Waycobah First Nation School have also been accessing the resource. They had very successful harvests this year. In fact, two grade five classes were involved in a successful harvest early last Fall.

For our younger Mi’kmaq hunters, training in Mi’kmaq ethical moose hunting practices is of paramount importance. The Moose Working Group acknowledges the efforts of the people that take the time to teach our youth proper safety and share their knowledge of moose harvesting.

clifford@uinr.ca

From UINR Marten – Vol.4. Issue.1 – Spring 2008

To bring some of that ancient knowledge back into the Mi’kmaq communities, the Moose Working Group and UINR hosted a Moose Hide Preparation Workshop. Traditional hunter Danny Paul acted as host to 11 participants from Unama’ki who completed training in traditional tanning of moose hides.

Ojibway/Cree Elders, Walter and Doris Bonaise, provided instruction using traditional teachings. With much laughter and hard work, participants gained over 80-hours of instruction and are now certified to instruct their respective communities.

The workshop received visits from over 200 people including Elders, students, well-wishers, and the curious. Many commented that bringing back the ancient skill is the right thing to do.

“History was made while an important skill was brought back to our communities” participant Shaylene Johnson noted. “I took time from my classes to learn this ancient knowledge that has been so close to being lost to our people.”

Shaylene is right. Mi’kmaq have been separated from the resource. “Prior to our landmark Supreme Court decisions, it was illegal for Mi’kmaq to hunt moose” Moose Management Initiative Coordinator Clifford Paul noted. “Traditional knowledge about moose was lost with each generation.”

“A strong friendship was created in the training–so much so that they identified the need for future workshops to include outdoor survival, birch bark canoe-making, and even the establishment of a Mi’kmaq encampment for future training” Clifford Paul said. “This is the beginning of something special–something spectacular.”

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clifford@uinr.ca

From UINR Marten – Vol.3. Issue.4 – Winter 2007