For immediate release: October 23, 2024
New Etuaptmumk Resources for Nova Scotia Schools
Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) has partnered with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to develop resources to support Etuaptmumk learning in schools across Nova Scotia.
As part of this collaboration, UINR has developed a series of six videos to support curriculum outcomes for Netukulimk 12, a new environmental science course that recently expanded to reach schools across Nova Scotia. The videos showcase some of UINR’s ongoing work with important species and ecosystems and highlight ways that maintaining Mi’kmaw traditions, values and worldviews can lead to healthier ecosystems and to strong communities.
Guided by Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing), Netukulimk 12 incorporates the strengths of Mi’kmaq and western science. Learners develop a wholistic understanding of the interconnective systems that exist within Wskitqamu (Mother Earth).
The development of the course reflected these traditional values. The Mi’kmaw Services Branch and several other branches of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development worked closely with community Elders, educators, knowledge holders and organizations to help shape and guide the structure and the content of Netukulimk 12.
UINR, a natural resource management organization that works on behalf of the five Mi’kmaw communities of Unama’ki toward a sustainable Cape Breton, is a proud partner in the development of resources for Netukulimk. Guided by Mi’kmaw key principles and values of Msit No’kmaq, Netukulimk and Etuaptmumk, part of UINR’s work is about fostering people’s relationships with nature to better engage them in caring for our environment.
Topics in the six videos include Guiding Principles, a Salmon Ceremony, Species at Risk work, Sweetgrass Harvesting, a Community Feast, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. The video series shows students examples of traditional Mi’kmaw values in action in today’s world. Although UINR’s work is based mainly in Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island, it is hoped that students recognize that the values in the videos can be understood, applied and lived universally.
The videos are available to teachers who are teaching Netukulimk 12 on UINR’s YouTube channel for the public to view and share. French versions will be available in the coming weeks, and Mi’kmaq versions in the coming months. The Mi’kmaw Services Branch and UINR continue to work toward creating accessible resources for Netukulimk 12 and for community use.
Link to the video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-uICt2RjH2UatzhvLx-iaZapQrE0EYAD
“Mi’kmaw Elders and Knowledge Holders are playing a vital role in the education of Nova Scotian students in the understanding of how to live in harmony with the land and all that live on it. We are so grateful to those at UINR who have worked so hard to develop these videos that grow our understanding of the guiding principles of Etuaptmumk, Netukulimk and Msit No’kmaq.“
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Becky Druhan
“Our values and belief systems inform what we do, and more importantly, inform why we do things in a way that’s mindful of the land and our relationships with land. These videos highlight Mi’kmaw values in action, and will hopefully inspire students to foster their own interconnective relationships with the land and all our relations.”
UINR’s Executive Director, Lisa Young
“UINR’s Netukulimk video series has been a valuable resource in my classroom. The videos highlight key Mi’kmaw values portrayed in real-life examples, motivating my students to work toward reflecting these values in our school community .”
Heather LeBlanc, Netukulimk 12 Pilot teacher – First year of Implementation
For more information:
Link to the video series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-uICt2RjH2UatzhvLx-iaZapQrE0EYAD
Netukulimk course: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/1.7180790
Curriculum Document:
Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) is a non-profit natural resource management organization that works on behalf of Unama’ki’s five Mi’kmaw communities toward a sustainable Cape Breton.
Guided by Netukulimk and Etuaptmumk, UINR represents Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, We’koqma’q to strengthen Mi’kmaw research and governance while maintaining traditional Mi’kmaw traditions, values and worldviews.
For more information, please contact: Nadine Lefort, Communication & Outreach Manager, Unama’ki Insitute of Natural Resources, nadine@uinr.ca