Accomplishments

This is a snapshot of some of the successes and accomplishments of KMK over the years.  For more information on any specific item, please feel free to contact our office.  

Archaeology 

  • The development of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs’  
    • Kekinamuek Kisuta’sek / Culture, Heritage & Archaeology Strategy
    • Culture, Heritage & Archaeology Strategic Plan
    • Principles of Mi’kmaw Ancestral Remains Protocols
    • Statement of Principles Regarding Archaeological Resources
  • The creation of formal archaeology information requests in the pre-Consultation process 
  • Halting a salvage harvest immediately once we had information that indicated it was close to a significant archaeological site.  Operations didn’t continue until proper buffers were put into place.
  • Independent Engineering Assessment for Gaspereau Dam refurbishment 
  • Archaeology on Gaspereau Dam
  • Support, participation and implementation of Debert Archaeological Standards in partnership with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaw/Mi’kmawey Debert
  • From the Ground Up – archaeology podcasts (Four episodes as of September 2020)
  • Archaeology capacity building workshops with Acadia First Nation Council & staff
  • Archaeology capacity building workshops Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources guardians
  • Coastal Erosion protection measures for Chapel Island
  • Through the work of our Archaeology Department, we have been able to advocate for starting archaeological assessment ahead of some proposed forest harvesting blocks.  We’re hoping to see further success on this in the future.

Benefits 

Memorandums of Understanding: 
  • Donkin Mine – July 2012
  • Port Hawkesbury Paper – October 24, 2012
  • Pieridae Energy – August 23, 2013
  • Maritime Link – November 13, 2013
  • Shell Canada Limited – November 13, 2014
  • DDV Gold – May 5, 2014
  • Bear Head LNG – March 27, 2015
  • BP Canada Energy Group ULC – November 29, 2017
  • ExxonMobil Canada Properties – October 4, 2018
  • Black Point Aggregates Ltd – July 21, 2019
  • Anaconda Gold – June 28, 2019
  • Maritime Launch – June 28, 2019
  • NSPI – August 2019
Ongoing MOU Discussions: 
  • Avalon Advanced Materials 
  • Nova Innovation 
  • Black Rock Tidal 
  • Atlantic Gold Mining NS Inc (AG) 
Finalized Benefits Agreements: 
  • Kameron Coal/Donkin Mine – April 20, 2016 
  • Bear Head LNG – February 2, 2019 
  • Pieridae Energy – February 2, 2019 
Existing Partnerships: 
  • Beaubassin Wind 
  • Whynotts Wind 
  • Mi’kma’ki Domiculture 
  • Atlanticann Medical Inc. 
  • Clearwater Seafoods 

Child Family 

  • Coordinating and Hosting Guardian ad litem training  
  • Helping to build Band Designate Professional Development and a case management/data base system 
  • The development of the Netawey app – a legal information app for children in care.  
  • Hosted four symposiums, where individuals working in the field of Child and Family welfare were provided with updates and thoughts and opinions were collected to help guide the work of the Maw-Kleyu’kik Knijannaq Initiative.
  • KMK was able to establish and secure funding for community Band Designates.  We are pleased to say that through our efforts, Band Designates are now funded through core band funding for their communities.   

Culture 

  • Development of the Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study Protocols 1 & 2 
  • Supporting the Assembly with the establishment and development of the Mi’kmaw license plate for the province of Nova Scotia 
  • Supporting the Assembly with the establishment of the Task Force on the Commemorations of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History which led to 20 recommendations being brought forward to the Regional Council and ultimately to the removal of the statute of Edward Cornwallis in the Halifax Regional Municipality.   

Energy 

  • Advocating for a moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing in Nova Scotia. 
  • Obtaining the Mi’kmaq Renewable Energy Development Fund which is a loan fund for $5million administered by Ulnooweg Development Group (from 2011 until present) for major resource and energy projects for the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw communities.  
  • Obtaining equity dollars for the Assembly’s wind companies  
  • Securing $3 million from Encana for training for community members who are looking to work in the old and gas industry; for students studying in the science and technology fields; and for Mi’kmaq entrepreneurs seeking procurement opportunities in the oil and gas sector. This funding ran from 2010-2015. 
  • Organizing solar for community buildings.  Nine Mi’kmaw communities installing 75kW solar systems on community buildings.  
  • Mi’kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project – KMK worked with federal and provincial governments and Efficiency Nova Scotia to secure $14 million in energy efficiency funding for Mi’kmaw communities.  
  • KMK acted as an intervener in Efficiency One’s Demand Side Management application to NSUARB. Through this process E1 now plans to spend $1.5 million on First Nations energy efficiency programs from 2019-2022. 
  • Energy Efficiency for Community Buildings – KMK secured funding from the Low Carbon Community Fund to fund energy efficiency retrofit feasibility studies for community buildings in Mi’kmaw communities. These assessments will hopefully lead to t retrofit program. 
  • KMK is helping facilitate a funding request to Investing in Canada Infrastructure for 100 kW net-metered solar systems in each of the Mi’kmaw communities. 
  • Low Carbon Community Fund. KMK is helping facilitate a funding request for solar design work for solar systems in each of the 13 Mi’kmaw communities. 
  • Green Choice – KMK is working with the federal and provincial government to push for Mi’kmaw participation in the commitment that any fossil fuel-based electricity generation the federal government uses in Nova Scotia will be offset by a renewable energy development by 2025 – this will be about 30 MW in Nova Scotia. 
  • Tidal – KMK is working alongside the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group with the Risk Assessment Program, an NRCan funded program to better understand the potential impact of tidal devices on fish in the Bay of Fundy. 
  • KMK worked with Sustainable Marine Energy to hire a Mi’kmaw Liaison to work with their company. 
  • Offshore Energy Research Association – KMK worked with OERA to find a Mi’kmaw Director to join their Board of Directors. 
  • Newfoundland Offshore Regional Assessment – KMK consulted with Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on the Newfoundland Offshore Regional Assessment.  KMK also helped develop a follow-up program that will include an Advisory Committee to ensure Indigenous Knowledge Systems guide the Regional Assessment. 
  • KMK identified mineral exploration happening in the Cape Breton highlands and is now demanding regulators stop permitting further mineral exploration in the Highlands. 

Fish 

  • Commissioning the Fish as Food Study by Dr. Fred Wien. 
  • Working with Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources to develop the Mi’kmaq Plamu/Salmon Management Plan 
  • Providing salmon for feast at Ste. Anne’s Mission in Potlotek for many years  
  • Developing and negotiating the Small Craft Harbour consultation and contribution agreement.  
  • Developing and negotiating Marine Protected Area consultation and contribution agreement
  • Working with Membertou First Nation and DFO to see that Donald Marshall Jr.’s nets were returned to the community. 
  • 20th anniversary Marshall Symposium 
  • Supporting communities in the development of their own Community Netukulimk Livelihood Plans, including community engagement, input, adoption of a netukulimk livelihood plan, leading to Chief and Council and Assembly resolutions to support the implementation of the Potlotek FN Netukulimk Livelihood Fishery Plan.  Work continues with some of the other communities, as requested.  
  • Consultation on a Livelihood Fishery Plan for Potlotek First Nation.
  • KMK secured funding and established positions for the community Livelihood Fish Liaisons to help with the community’s Netukulimk Livelihood Fisheries.
  • Through the consultation and rights implementation tables, we have been able to support communities who want to launch a livelihood fishery, and many are now doing that with the understanding of DFO.

Forestry 

  • The establishment of the Mi’kmaq Forestry Initiative, in partnership with the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group and Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, to set aside 20,000 hectares for forestry management under a Mi’kmaq Forestry Initiative.  These lands will be used by the Mi’kmaq to build a solid holistic foundation to move forward, in a Mi’kmaq way, into the forestry sector. 
  • We are working with the Government of Nova Scotia, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, and Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq to develop a new, more holistic, forest management guide. 
  • Currently developing a proper guideline for black ash. 
  • The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Management Plan is being developed by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Maritimes Working Group including the Mi’kmaq Forest Advisory Committee (KMKNO, CMM, and the UINR) in 2021 because Living mature/old Hemlock Forestscontinues to be compromised by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.  In 2022, a targeted stem injection on old growth was recommended to help to allow mature/old living hemlock forests to establish mixed successional species making a more resilient forest.

Governance 

  • Research and development of the Wula Na Kinu Harvester Identification Process 
  • Annual Nationhood conferences where all Chiefs, Councils and Executive Directors of all Mi’kmaw Organizations are invited to receive update on the work of the Assembly, KMK and to provide input into this work.  
  • Establishment and coordination of the Joint Meetings with Chiefs and Nova Scotia Executive Cabinet.  
  • Working with Nova Scotia Office of Aboriginal Affairs to coordinate the Chiefs and Nova Scotia Executive Cabinet to see the original Treaties.
  • Coordination of meetings between the Grand Council and Assembly.  
  • Hosting meetings with the whole Grand Council to obtain their guidance and input on a variety of topics.  
  • Research and work with community Social Development Administrators on the Social Assistance Governance Initiative and building a Mi’kmaq-led Social Policy.  

Parks 

  • The negotiation and development of the Parks Canada Interim Arrangement and Mi’kmaq Park Passes which gives the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia free access to any National Park and National Historic Site in Nova Scotia.  
  • Collaborative Archaeology (ongoing) process with Parks Canada at Kejimkujik resulting in identification of two new Mi’kmaw sites that would’ve otherwise been missed and community member participation in archaeological projects.
  • Established two advisory committees (Mainland & Cape Breton) to discuss matters that affect the Mi’kmaq. The advisory committees continue to work toward achieving and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship based on openness, mutual trust and respect.
  • Parks Canada Unama’ki Advisory (Sub-Committee) worked hard in their collaboration on the development of the Mi’kmaw interpretative centre at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. It has been one of the most popular experiences for visitors at the site. It has been so successful that the subcommittee won a 2018 Parks Canada CEO Award of Excellence under the category of Protect, Present and Commemorate for its development. The CEO award is the highest recognition within Parks Canada, highlighting the contributions and exceptional accomplishments of Parks Canada team members, collaborators and partners.
  • A strategy for managing white birch in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site.
  • Greater access to archaeological and historical artifacts for research, ceremonial and educational purposes.
  • Keys points of interest to the Mi’kmaq of NS for consideration in Parks Canada Heritage Place management plans.
  • Through KMK, the Mi’kmaq have helped co-develop the first ever management plan for Sable Island National Park Reserve in 2019.
  • The Mi’kmaq Advisory Committee, established through KMK’s work with Parks Canada, helped to name a new campground: Cap Rouge /Mkwesaqtuk in the Highlands, in partnership with Parks Canada and the local Acadian community in Chéticamp.
  • Under the direction of the ANSMC, KMKNO has collaborated with UNSI, the Wagmatcook Cultural Centre, CBU and the Office of the AFN Regional Chief of Nova Scotia & Newfoundland to secure a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Partnership Engagement Grant (PEG) to fund a multi-phased Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research (TARR) Centre Project focusing on record preservation and accessibility.

Lands 

  • Through Consultation we were able to advocate for and see Sable Island designated as a National Park Reserve.  
  • Obtaining funding in order to hiring an engineering firm to conduct a third-party review of Alton Gas. 
  • Ensuring Mi’kmaq cultural lands were included in Nova Scotia’s 12% Protected Lands 
  • Since 2009, the province has been acquiring lands, with the input of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs, in support of negotiations with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia.  Typically, Nova Scotia allocates $1million to purchase these lands.  These lands are held by the province until a negotiation agreement can be made between the Mi’kmaw of Nova Scotia and the province. Currently there is 30,844 acres of property set aside across Nova Scotia as future negotiation lands. 
  • Secured lands in Cape Breton in partnership with the Mi’kmaq Forestry Initiative, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq and Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources.  
  • KMK helped to bring the proposed sale of Digby Pines to Bear River First Nation  
  • Refurbishment of the Tusket dam  
  • Obtaining Debert culture and economic lands 
  • Obtaining lands to be held for the Mi’kmaq by Nova Scotia Lands and Forestry or held by the Lands Company (such as Sydport). 
  • Obtaining lands in Orangedale.  
  • The development of a GIS system that will create a database of Mi’kmaw use of lands and waters in Nova Scotia. 
  • The establishment of Special Use Agreement Areas where lands within National Parks are to be used by the Mi’kmaq including the development of special management harvesting agreements.  These agreements include the Moose Management Agreement for the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, and a Birch Bark Harvesting Agreement in the Kejimkujik National park. 
  • Supporting the Assembly to obtain Mi’kmaq public lands which are properties that are fee simple lands held by the Assembly’s land holding company. There is currently 3,931 acres of property in the process of, or already completed negotiations for. These lands include: Point Edward Farm (250 acres) and a property on College Street in Halifax (5662 sq ft) that was given to the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre for their homeless initiative.  
  • The establishment of Mi’kmaq culturally sensitive areas throughout Nova Scotia. Through the Assembly, the Mi’kmaq are in the process of becoming involved in the management of these lands: 
    • Bedford Barrens (30 acres) – Mi’kmaw petroglyph site 
    • Mersey River (1,858 acres) – Potential protected area identified in the 12% protected land process 
    • Lands in progress between Canadian Wildlife Services as well as Environment Canada and Climate Change 
  • Through the consultation process, we have secured properties to be transferred for the use of the Mi’kmaq in various ways.  Examples of these properties are a building on Paint Street in Port Hawkesbury and the Canso Tickle Wharf.

Tourism 

  • Cultural Tourism Strategy for the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia – Building on the growing body of research and work done to develop and grow Mi’kmaq Cultural Tourism, this strategy was developed in partnership through the Tripartite Forum and endorsed by the Assembly to foster and support a nation approach to cultural tourism within Nova Scotia. 
  • Authenticity Guidelines for Mi’kmaq Cultural Tourism – Mi’kmaw Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community leaders, artists, crafters, and tourism operators engaged to provide feedback about Mi’kmaw songs, dances, traditional stories, history, images, and other ceremonies and practices. Draft guidelines present an approach to address authenticity that considers support, protection, standards, branding and sanctions within cultural tourism. 
  • We have conducted over 60 community engagement sessions and interviews to obtain feedback on the development of a certification process for the new Mi’kmaw trademark currently in development.  

Transportation and Shipping 

  • Highway 101 Twinning Project, Windsor Causeway and Avon River Aboiteau Design.  KMK found NSTIR and NSDA’s data and reasoned against the requested bridge option to be insufficient and flawed. KMK therefore issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on a cost analysis for a bridge option and gated structure option. 
  • KMKNO coordinated a collaborative opportunity with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, Commercial Fishers, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and CBWES, to mitigate this dust issue along the Avon River through seeding. On May 13th, 2022 the team of several governmental and Mi’kmaq representatives, two tractors and several bags of seed were onsite where the seed was carefully planted for the best opportunity for success.

Wildlife 

  • Supporting the Assembly with the development of the Moose Management Guidelines. 
  • Worked with UINR to host the 2018 Moose Symposium for the Moose Management Initiative to gain insight and input from community harvesters on a variety of aspects about the harvesting of moose, including enforcement, reporting, and youth harvests.    
  • Mi’kmaq participation in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park Moose Management, where Mi’kmaq community harvesters went into the Park to help address the issue of the overpopulation of moose in the National Park. KMK covered all butchering costs for the moose harvester and together with UINR were able to provide meat harvested to community members, non-Indigenous families in need and FEED Nova Scotia.    
  • Working with UINR and the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry to set up Moose Check Stations in the Cape Breton Highlands to help build Mi’kmaw science on the health of the moose population through the collection of data and samples.    
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