by Crystal Dorey, Communications Officer, KMKNO

In 2013, the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs established a Hydraulic Fracturing Committee to conduct research on the potential impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing and the effects of this type of activity on the traditional territory of Mi’kma’ki. On June 25, 2014 the Hydraulic Fracturing Committee met with Dr. Wheeler, Chair of the Expert Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing and his team, at the Assembly’s request to voice the clear opposition to Hydraulic Fracturing, and all related activities from the perspective of the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia.

The Hydraulic Fracturing Committee, which has representatives from Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO), Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM), Union of Nova Scotia Indians (UNSI) and Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR), is led by Chief Paul (PJ) Prosper, Lead Chief of the Assembly’s Energy Portfolio.
At this meeting, the Committee presented concerns on the health effects, the lack of science in reports and the unknown environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. They were also instructed, from the Assembly, to make it clear that the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia stand firm against all types of fracturing activity in our traditional territory.

Elder Albert Marshall, UINR, set the tone for the day’s discussion in his opening remarks when he stated that, “what is missing overall in [the Province’s] initiative is an opportunity for us, as Mi’kmaq people, to share our stori ...