“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 … Read More
Early records estimate that over a thousand marten lived in Unama’ki in the late 1800s. For many years considered to be extinct here, we now know that there are considerably less than 100 martens in Unama’ki. A combination of over-trapping and loss of forest habitat forced the remaining marten into remote areas of the Highlands … Read More
Angela Morris samples scales from Bras d’Or Lakes gaspereau. Her work is part of an ongoing monitoring of the stocks in the Lakes. The gaspereau fishery in Unama’ki is monitored and regulated. This year’s management plan includes a reduction in fishing time with a goal to reduce the catch by 20%. The objective is to … Read More
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 … Read More
In our last issue (Spring 2006) we introduced you to the Species at Risk of extinction in Unama’ki. Missing from those photos was the Gaspe Shrew (Sorex gaspensis). At press time we were still unable to come up with an illustration of this elusive creature that lives in the Cape Breton Highlands. No one we … Read More
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 … Read More
Siwkw – Spring is in the air! After all the mild winter weather, it is great to see the pussywillows announcing the return of Spring, the most important season of all. Spring represents a new beginning for all of earth’s creations. That is the focus of this, the third issue of UINR Marten–new beginnings. Of … Read More
by Charlie Dennis For many years, my good friend Gabriel, or Kaplie’l in Mi’kmaq, fished oysters in Malagawatch Pond. I met Kaplie’l back in the late 1950s. My grandparents and dad used to go to Malagawatch for a visit or get supplies of white maple and poplar for basket making. Kaplie’l and his brother Sa’n … Read More
UINR’s resident cartoonist and financial guardian, Annie Johnson, recently attended the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) National Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba (yes, Winnipeg, in February, -45 degree windchill). Although cold, it was a wonderful learning experience, bringing together aboriginal financial officers from all across the country and offering workshops for all levels of learning, from … Read More
Not likely. All these species are at risk of extinction in Unama’ki. Species at Risk are animals, plants, and other organisms that are at serious risk of extinction, usually due to human activities which pose a threat to the species or their habitat. In Nova Scotia today there are over ten thousand wildlife species: 5 … Read More
Eskasoni resident Blair Bernard has joined UINR as coordinator of our Natural Resource Officer (NRO) Program. Blair is responsible for establishing the program’s goals and setting up an aboriginal food fishery. UINR’s goals for the NRO Program are to develop a strong coordination role and regulatory authority, and negotiate strong training agreements while developing meaningful … Read More
