In this and future issues, we will introduce you to the people behind Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. In this issue we feature Albert Marshall, Elder Advisor. Albert is the leading environmental voice in Unama’ki Cape Breton. He is advisor to the UINR Board of Directors and is a highly regarded spokesperson for Mi’kmaq natural … Read More
Organized Youth Hunts 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 … Read More
The Pitu’paq partnership continues to work diligently on issues of environmental concern. Of increasing interest to the partnership is the health of freshwater systems. Although our planet is covered with water over ¾ of its surface area, less than 1% of that water is available to us in the form of accessible fresh water. As … Read More
In the Mi’kmaq legend of Kluskap and the giant bullfrog, the source of water is from the belly of the frog. Kluskap identified the frog as the culprit who was hoarding the village’s water and squeezing it, he was able to release the community’s water supply. Sometimes, legend has a way of being confirmed in … Read More
Here are two guys that you can’t miss seeing walking around the Coast Guard College in Point Edward! Phillip Prosper, 33 and Tim Cremo, 32 are the first Unama’ki Mi’kmaq Natural Resources Officers to be accepted in a new pilot program, a collaboration between UINR and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The new … Read More
Another Winter is here, and while climate change has given us less snow and warmer weather, there’s no change to the short days and long nights that come with the season. At one time, our people really benefitted from the deep snow. We were able to travel on it easily with our snowshoes and toboggans, … Read More
Potlotek Elders say that if an ambitious hydropower plant proceeds, it will affect a traditional eel fishing area for this First Nation community. Cape Breton Explorations Ltd.’s plan to erect up to 44 wind turbines has passed the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s zoning process. This approval includes pumping water from Lake Uist to a reservoir … Read More
Still reeling from the MSX virus in Bras d’Or Lakes oysters, the species has received another blow with the discovery of Malpeque disease in the waters of St. Ann’s Harbour and Orangedale. There are no human health concerns related to Malepeque but, since 1915 when the first symptoms were recorded, there have been significant losses … Read More
A new pilot program, a collaboration between UINR and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), has been put in place to train two Mi’kmaq DFO officers, who, upon completion of their training, will be assigned to the Unama’ki region to work with UINR on issues of concern to our Mi’kmaq communities. Training is anticipated … Read More
From UINR Marten – Vol.3. Issue.4 – Winter 2007
A Story by Charlie Dennis Tribute to Frankie Francis–Friend & Cousin In our Fall issue, Charlie Dennis described Frankie’s many business ventures that varied according to season. In late fall, Frankie would fish for eels in the Lakes’ mudflats, drawing from the knowledge he had picked up from the Elders. After fishing for eels, and … Read More
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, … Read More