by Jackie Drinnan When I was eight years old, my grandmother Ellen Simon and I were picking blueberries in a field in Wagmatcook, near where the school is today. We were always out picking something, whether it was berries or medicine for the family. We were always together and she always taught me something new … Read More
Wisqoq or Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh) is a very rare tree in Nova Scotia, with fewer than 300 mature trees identified by UINR staff. The wood is very unusual–when pounded, it splits into thin sheets along its growth rings. Baskets are woven from slats produced by pounding a wet block of wood until it … Read More
by Elder Albert Marshall Cape Breton Mi’kmaq Elders have added our voice to the many environmental groups, fishermen’s unions and ordinary citizens opposed to Texas company Hunt Oil’s seismic testing in Sydney Bight. The testing covers an almost 1000 square kilometer area and is as close as 10 kilometers off shore. The Mi’kmaq community was … Read More
A Story by Charlie Dennis This is in reference to my story in the last issue of Martin about the Oysters and my old friend Gabriel. If some of you took a guess (or were stumped!), the important tool was Cod Liver Oil. You are probably wondering “What the?!” Why would a person use oil … Read More
Congratulations to the winners of the UINR/Georgia Pacific Schlorships. The fund is to promote and encourage education and careers in the field of Science and/or Technology […]
The Pitu’paq Partnership is moving forward with their comprehensive plan to address sewage in the Bras d’Or Lakes. Â They have been working on a Green Municipal Fund application which would complete feasibility studies for sewage management in key area of the Bras d’Or Lakes. These would include Sampsonville, East Bay, Potlotek (Chapel Island), Waycobah, Dundee, … Read More
The Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources is developing a comprehensive report describing the state of the Bras d’Or Lakes that can be used as reference for governments, managers, resource planners, academia, the tourism sector and the general public as a citable source of quality, relevant and current information on multiple aspects on the Bras d’Or … Read More
The Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative (CEPI) is formed of Mi’kmaq, community, industry and government partners who have come together to devise a management plan for the Bras d’Or Lakes. With two successful workshops under their belt, CEPI has been given clear direction from both government and community on priority issues and the means to address … Read More
UINR organized a series of open houses in March to inform the five Unama’ki Mi’kmaq communities of our plans to develop a management plan for the Bras d’Or Lakes watershed. George Paul facilitated the community meetings and his presentation determined what types of activities that UINR should be focusing on. Issues such as science research, … Read More
The word moose comes from the Algonquin Indians“ mooswa meaning “twig-eater” or “the animal that strips bark off of trees.” Through the years, it eventually changed into “moose.” For Mi’kmaq people the moose is an important animal. supplying us with food and other things for our survival. Moose meat is a source of nourishment during … Read More
UINR is hosting a Youth Moose Camp in which four youth from the five Unama’ki Mi’kmaq communities will be selected to experience a tradition that has been with our people for generations. Participants will go through four days of workshops, participate in a community hunt and host a supper celebration for their community’s elders. For … Read More
The current moose population in Inverness and Victoria Counties is estimated at a healthy 5,000 with a possible high of 7,000 moose. A project using radio collars that emit signals back to researchers allow the tracking of moose to determine their population, migration patterns and the general movement of the moose population. This research project … Read More