Winter is here, but so far it’s not like any winter in recent memory. Climate change is definitely having its effect and at UINR, we are watching things very closely. One of our major concerns is the erosion at Malagwatch cemetary. We are taking an active role in preserving this culturally sensitive site that is … Read More
Georges Bank fisheries threatened Georges Bank is an important fishing area located between Cape Cod and Sable Island. Under the jurisdiction of both Canada and the United States, Georges Bank is a productive spawning area for fish, shellfish, marine animals and seabirds. Unama’ki’s five Mi’kmaq bands have commercial access to Georges Bank and fishes or … Read More
Unama’KIDS–carpenters for conservation Unama’KIDS enjoyed a full-day workshop with Paul Koziel from Nova Scotia Natural Resources, building nesting boxes for the final release of American Martens in Unama’ki. The American Marten is an endangered species here and UINR has been involved with Parks Canada and Nova Scotia Natural Resources in a project that has seen … Read More
It’s all about the people–Clifford Paul If you ask Clifford Paul, UINR’s Moose Management Coordinator, what his strongest asset is he won’t skip a beat–communication. Everything he does– from moderator of community sessions to negotiations with government departments to discussion with hunters, Elders and youth–depends on his excellent communication skills. For ten years, Clifford worked … Read More
Moose management–the next step 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 … Read More
If someone had told Lisa Young ten years ago that she would be the Executive Director of UINR, she might have thrown you out of the helicopter that she was in, doing a survey of the moose population in the Cape Breton Highlands! In those days, UINR hadn’t even started and Lisa was a young … Read More
UINR is planing a hardwood silviculture tour in the Truro area on November 10. A bus will be leaving from Eskasoni taking interested people on an all-day trip. Contact mark@uinr.ca for more information and to book your seat…Youth and Elder moose hunts have been very successful this fall in Unama’ki with community-organized hunts from Eskasoni, … Read More
Making a difference Another St. Anne’s Mission has come and gone and, thanks to the dedication of the teams of workers organized by the Pitu’paq partnership, it was cleaner both during the Mission and afterwards. Once again, students from the Nova Scotia Youth Corps were involved in the recycling and waste disposal program. They worked … Read More
Unama’KIDS shoreline cleanup Unama’KIDS got off to a productive start this year participating in the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. They joined nearly 60,000 volunteers from across the country who helped clean up almost 1,600 different sites. While picking up debris and garbage along the Whycocomagh shoreline, they counted every piece of garbage and catalogued … Read More
First CAMP in region 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 … Read More
New science projects at UINR It is going to be a busy year for UINR! We recently received support from Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk to continue our eel research in the Bras d’Or Lakes. The project will determine biological characteristics and the relationship of American Eel (Kataq) abundance in the Bras d’Or Lakes. … Read More
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 … Read More