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.

As Mi’kmaq we have an inherent right to access and use our resources and we have have a responsibility to use those resources in a sustainable way. The Mi’kmaq way of resource management includes a spiritual element that ties together people, plants, animals, and the environment. UINR’s strength is in our ability to integrate scientific research with Mi’kmaq knowledge acquisition, utilization, and storage.

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 our Elders that worked for our ailments, but we didn’t know what it was that we were taking and we still don’t know but it worked.

When you see a fox, people don’t like it. I don’t like when people say things against fox. They are a native species. It’s our fault for taking away their habitat. We forget how we interact with nature. We are imposing on this animal’s habitat.

Before white man, the native people would migrate depending on where the food was. They would migrate to match the migration patterns of eels, salmon and certain species. The Grand Council would organize who went where so they wouldn’t overhunt or overfish any area. During the winter they moved inland. They would eat dried stuff and hunt moose and beaver. They would keep eels and fish in pools so they would stay fresh until they would eat them.

A lot of our people think owls are bad luck. You can listen in between the hoots and there is a voice with a message from an ancestor. But it’s not bad luck. Listen to him and try to understand the message.

When I was a kid I walked through eelgrass. 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.

There is a lot less eelgrass around the Bras d’Or. I’m amazed by the infestation of green crab. I think the one most important single cause for the decline in eelgrass is the green crab.

I did a lot of diving in the 1970s on eelgrass beds. There is such a difference now. Now you only get a fraction of eelgrass beds that there once was. Eelgrass looks like there is a film of something on the leaves and fronds. It doesn’t look healthy. This occurs in many places. In Georges River, eelgrass and wharves are covered in black tunicates, blanketing the eelgrass. It’s [black tunicate] in more coves than ever before. Shallow species have died.

Legend had it that a large serpent existed in the Lakes, and people would stay away in the fall. It was later found to be an “eel ball”. This ball of eels congregated in late February in a river mouth and rolled back and forth along the channel for up to two weeks. Fishermen would make a string of holes in the ice heading upstream and each would have an opportunity to fish as the ball rolled past their hole and on to the next. These “rolling eels” are disappearing.

In River Denys, there is a big oyster growing area. It was once the most productive oyster growing area in all the Bras d’Or. This area is now under silt. This is related to the cutting of trees.

Oysters used to be a big revenue thing in Malagawatch but now you can hardly find any anywhere.

Anywhere where they allow dragging in the Lakes, it destroys everything. Dragging turns an underwater forest into a desert with one pass.

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

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 consulted during park management planning. TEK is also used in species-at-risk programs and environmental assessments and screenings.

UINR’s Cheryl Berubé is working on developing processes and protocols that are based on shared ethics and principals, respecting the intellectual property rights of the Aboriginal people.

Watch our next issue for her findings.

UINR Marten – Vol.2. Issue.3 – Autumn 2006

Fifty Elders from Mi’kmaq and other Unama’ki communities met for two days in a workshop to contribute traditional ecological knowledge to a two-eyed seeing approach for the Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative.

The workshop included traditional music, ceremonies, and extensive discussions on the natural history of the Lakes. The Sarah Denny Cultural Centre in Eskasoni played host to the collaborative effort of UINR, DFO, and CBU’s Integrative Science Program.

Clifford Paul and Murdena Marshall were among the facilitators for the event. UINR staff, along with Jason Naug and Penny Doherty from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans were also on hand to facilitate and assist. The sessions focused on Land: Animals and Plants; Water: Salt and Fresh; and Climate and Significant Areas.

Among many of the changes noted was the change in plants around the Lakes. Gooseberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, and blackberries were once abundant but have declined. Potential reasons for the decline in berries were discussed including climate change, acid rain, and the escalation in development of houses and land. It was also noted that mint and hazelnuts have declined.

The loss of plants has had an impact on the Aboriginal community. Elders noted that plants are very important for ceremonial purposes. For example, sweetgrass is used for opening prayers. Plants are often used to make medicines and salves but now it is difficult to find the plants. Elders expressed concern not only about the loss of plants in the area, but also about the loss of traditional knowledge about plants.

The second day ended with a unanimous endorsement by the Elders to have Albert Marshall represent the Elders in matters relating to the environment. This endorsement is a recognition of Albert’s passion and knowledge on issues relating to the environment and his deep traditional knowledge.

The Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge Workshop is being held to collect traditional ecological knowledge as part of the Ecosystem Overview and Assessment for the Bras d’Or Watershed (2004-05, Mike Parker). When this document went to review, it was criticized for being too Western-science-based and did not contain the two-eyed seeing approach that was required. The CEPI TEK Workshop was called in recognition of this shortcoming.

In this workshop, we are bringing elders from First Nations and other communities around the Bras d’Or Lakes. The workshop includes traditional music and ceremony as well as discussions about the natural history of the Lakes. The TEK Workshop’s goals are to  inform the Ecosystem overview and foster understanding and communication between the cultures.

The TEK Workshop will be held May 3 and 4 at the Sarah Denny Cultural Centre in Eskasoni.

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