Ottawa to fund First Nation forestry management in Nova Scotia

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi announced $873,600 for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) and Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. The funding is allocated from Canada’s Softwood Lumber Action Plan.

“This project is important because it is reshaping the way Mi’kmaq will be involved in natural resource management. This initiative creates economic opportunities in Nova Scotia while providing sustainable growth options that help pave the way for other First Nations embarking on this journey” Sohi said in a news release.

According to the release, the funds will support Mi’kmaq implementation of an approach to forestry in the province known as Netukulimk, which ensures forest development is consistent with Indigenous values, and creaes jobs in Indigenous communities.

“CMM is very appreciative of the support received from NRCAN over the last three years in making today’s announcement possible,” Angie Gillis, senior director with the CMM, said in the release. “The support received for the Mi’kmawey Forestry Initiative will not only pave the way for the stewards of our Nation in the Forestry Sector, but it will also create innovative opportunities by modernizing the practice and concept of Netukulimk in the management of our lands for our future generations.”

Nova Scotia’s Minister of Lands and Forestry, Iain Rankin, said the province supports the direction of the Mi’kmaq to, “develop further capacity as they apply their own management concepts and become leaders in ecological forest management.”