A giant leap
A giant leap 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...
Guidelines for Cape Breton Moose Hunting released
The Cape Breton Highlands have always been known as traditional Mi’kmaq hunting grounds. In fact, a Mi’kmaq hunter recently found a 4500 year-old arrowhead there, evidence that Mi’kmaq hunted there for thousands of years. However, in the 1800s, moose disappeared from Unama’ki and this ancient relationship came to an abrupt end that lasted for almost...
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 productivity of our environment.
Two countries one forest
The following is from a speech delivered by Elder Albert Marshall in Montreal in November at the conference: Two Countries, One Forest. The forests of the earth can be viewed from two different perspectives; one being an acknowledgment and celebration of the life given to the forests through the hard labour of the living earth,...
Bras d’Or Lakes
Traditional Ecological Knowledge Workshop Proceedings For a taste of some of our findings, here are some quotes from the workshop. If the Elders before us were asked these questions about 50 years ago, they would have had all the answers. When they died, their knowledge died with them. We used to take home remedies from...
TEK respect
Elder Albert Marshall says it best. “Two Eyed Seeing” is what he calls the approach to incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with traditional scientific methods. UINR, Parks Canada, and the Government of Canada want to incorporate both TEK and western science in the pursuit of ecological integrity in the national parks. First Nations are always...
TEK Workshop
“When I was a kid I walked through eelgrass beds. They are great nurseries. You would see a lot of minnows, pinfish, and eels and watch them swim away. I want to talk to youth to let them know that eelgrass beds are important nurseries. Eelgrass has decreased a lot. It is different today.” Fifty...
Tui’knek
by Albert Marshall On a bright sunny afternoon in June of 1955, the Canso Causeway opened to the general public. There were hundreds of people applauding on both sides of the Strait. The Strait was known to the Mi’kmaq as Tui’knek. The pomp and festivities were deafening. Among the group were some Mi’kmaq, huddled together...
Mi’kmaq Youth Elder Council Planning Session
Youth and Elders from across Nova Scotia met in Antigonish this spring to explore the possibility of forming a Youth Elder Council. The day began with presentations by Kwilmuk Maw-klusuaqn (KMK) on its mandate to address land, resource, and governance issues with the federal and provincial governments. In the afternoon, Laurie Suitor from UINR and...