by Hannah Martin Nuji Kelo’toqatijik Earth Keeper Network Project Coordinator
On June 24th, four Mi’kmaq Earth Keepers –Anastasia Nevin (Bear River First Nation), Savanna Francis (Pictou Landing First Nation) and myself, Hannah Martin (Millbrook First Nation), with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, alongside of Evan Simon (Membertou First Nation) with the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources, travelled on a calm, sunny, hot day by helicopter, 300km east of mainland Mi’kma’ki to the 40km crescent moon of sand we call Sable Island. Thanks to over a year of planning by The CMM, KMKNO and Parks Canada, a research trip was set for our team to embark on a week-long research contract with Parks Canada.
During our time there, I had the privilege to lead our all-Mi’kmaw crew and spend quality time with three brilliant, thoughtful, deeply knowledgeable, and passionate young professionals in the environmental field from The CMM/UINR; the first L’nu crew of its kind to visit Sable Island in history. I now have the privilege to call these folks not only my colleagues but dear friends and kin. Our team and I were fortunate to work collaboratively with staff from the Sable Island National Park Reserve, especially Dan Kehler, the Sable Island Park Reserve Ecologist, who was our research lead and expert on the island. Thanks to Gregory Stroud, Parks Canada Operations Coordinator, and other Parks staff who made this trip and collaboration possible, we had the opportunity to learn and to grow as young professionals in the field of environm ...
Tags: Bear River First Nation, COSEWIC, Evan Simon, featured, Land and Spirit of Sable Island, Membertou First Nation, Mi'kma'ki, Mi’kmaq Earth Keepers, Pictou Landing First Nation, Sable Island, Savanna Francis, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources
