Partners

Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq

Representative: Tim Bernard

The CMM is Tribal Council incorporated in 1986 as a not-for-profit organization under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia. Starting with a team of two staff members, twenty years later the organization is supported by more than sixty employees. The mission statement best summarizes the objectives of the organization:

“To proactively promote and assist Mi’kmaw communities’ initiatives toward self determination and enhancement of community.”

From its main office located in the Millbrook First Nation, The CMM delivers a variety of community programs and advisory services to first nations communities in Nova Scotia. The staff consists of a team of professional First Nations experts who bring unique Mi’kmaw perspectives to current issues.

As a not-for-profit organization, The CMM receives financial support from various government departments (federal and provincial), as well as from the private sector. The CMM uses this funding to support programs and services primarily to its six member communities.

• Annapolis Valley
• Bear River
• Glooscap
• Millbrook
• Pictou Landing
• Paqtnkek

The governing body of The CMM is made up of the Chiefs of the six member communities.
In 2006 CMM celebrated their 20th anniversary. Click here to view the 20th year celebration slide show.

Saint Mary’s University

Representative: Trudy Sable, PhD

The mission of Saint Mary’s University is to offer undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs; to engage in research and disseminate its results; and to serve the community from the local to the international level.

Core Values: In achieving its mission, the Saint Mary’s community is guided by core values of academic integrity, the pursuit of knowledge, responsiveness to community needs, openness to change, concerns for a just and civil society, commitment to environmental sustainability, and fiscal responsibility.The University is committed to accessibility, diversity and provision of a positive and supportivelearning environment through the effective integration of teaching and research.We recognize the importance of the contribution and growthof each individual in the University’s success.Through promoting the importance of critical enquiry, leadership, teamworkand global awareness, we aim to prepare students for responsible and rewarding lives and to remain engaged with our Alumni worldwide.Saint Mary’s welcomes mutually beneficial partnerships and strategic alliances with all levels of government,with other educational institutions, non-government institutions and the private sector.

Nova Scotia Museum 

Representative: Roger Lewis

Nova Scotia Museum (NSM) is the corporate name for the most decentralized museum in Canada – 27 museums across the province, including over 200 historic buildings, living history sites, vessels, specialized museums and close to a million artifacts and specimens. These resources are managed either directly or through a unique system of co-operative agreements with societies and local boards. The NSM delivers its programs, exhibits and products to serve both local residents and tourists in Nova Scotian communities. Over 620,000 people visited last year, making it a huge part of the province’s tourism infrastructure.

The NSM is created by the Nova Scotia Museum Act, a provincial legislation. Through its museums, collections, research, exhibits and programs, the Nova Scotia Museum provides Nova Scotians and visitors to the province with an opportunity to experience and learn about our unique social and natural history.

The NSM mandate includes:

• collecting, researching and documenting Nova Scotia’s natural and human history
•  providing exhibits, programs, buildings and publications for self-directed learning
•  helping Nova Scotia tourism by developing and maintaining high quality museums

A Board of Governors, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Communities, Culture, and Heritage oversees operation of the 27 provincial museums and offers a Nova Scotia Museum Research Grant Program that annually provides up to $4000 to researchers.

Local boards operate the 17 locally managed museums on behalf of the Board of Governors, and 10 museums are directly managed.

Two directors, reporting to the Executive Director of Heritage Division, have responsibility regarding the operations of all 27 provincial museums. The Director of Museum Operations is responsible for Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Museum of Natural History, and the provincial collection of artifacts and specimens and the Director of Nova Scotia Museum sites oversees all other provincial museum sites.

The Nova Scotia Museum’s history spans almost 140 years. It is one of the oldest provincial museums in Canada, established in 1868. Throughout its existence, the NSM has been a national leader in its commitment to decentralization, public education, and community partnerships, and an innovator, making Nova Scotia’s rich heritage accessible to Nova Scotians and worldwide audiences via the internet on the Nova Scotia Museum website.

Tripartite Forum & Cultural and Heritage Committee

The Mi’kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum was formed in 1997 as a partnership between the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada, to strengthen relationships and to resolve issues of mutual concern affecting Mi’kmaw communities.
The purpose of the Culture and Heritage Committee is to promote an environment in which Mi’kmaq/Nova Scotia/Canada can come together in cooperation to discuss common issues, explore options, and recommend actions with respect to culture and heritage.

Initial Partners

Parks Canada, Atlantic Canada

Representative: Rob Ferguson (Replaced in 2013 by Yves Bossé)

“On behalf of the people of Canada, we protect and present nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations”

Mi’kma’ki All Points Services (MAPS) 

Representatives: Jennifer Copage, James Michael, Paul Prosper, and Michael Weiler, Associate Directors

In 2009, the Union of Nova Scotia Indians (UNSI) established Mi’kmaq All Points Services (MAPS) to serve the numerous research needs of Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia. MAPS is a Non-Profit Society whose mandate is to, “Provide assistance, guidance, and support to Mi’kmaw Bands, First Nations groups and organizations on the collection, protection, preservation and promotion of Mi’kmaw history, traditions and culture that fosters First Nations capacity and resources in areas of education, research, environment, resource management, community land use and development…”. It further seeks to develop partnerships and foster research networks to support its mandate.

Other Partners listed on our Social Sciences and Humanities Research Grant Aboriginal Grant include:

Kwilmu’kw Maw’lsuaqn Negotiation (KMKNO)

The Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative is the group that represents the negotiations on behalf of the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada. The Initiative was developed by the Mi’kmaq, for the Mi’kmaq. Through these negotiations, we hope to finally implement our Rights from the Treaties signed by our ancestors in the 1700’s.

Mi’kmaq Association for Cultural Studies (MACS)

Representative: Deborah Ginnish

“Mi’kmaq Association for Cultural Studies was initiated in the fiscal year 1973-1974 through the efforts of the Union of Nova Scotia Indians, which is an official and incorporated political organization for the Indian Bands of Nova Scotia.In August 1974, MACS received its incorporation certificate from the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, Nova Scotia, under the file Number 1110, fulfilling Section 3.2 (c) of the DIAND Criteria Department Management, Policy and Procedures.

MACS is controlled by the Board of Directors comprised of chiefs of their designated councillors. During the fiscal year 1982-83, the Grand Chief of the Mi’kmaq was accorded a seat on the Board as an honorary member. Annually, the board selects a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson who assists the Executive Director in the day to day operations of the program. According to the constitution, the Board meets at least four times in a given fiscal year.

OBJECTIVES

According to our Constitution , the objectives of the association are:

(a) To promote, maintain and protect the customs, language history, tradition and culture of the native Mi’kmaq people.

(b) To facilitate and promote understanding and awareness to the cultural heritage of native Mi’kmaq people amongst the general public through education.

(c) To teach, develop and promote the culture, language and history of native peoples of Nova Scotia, Canada and generally native people around the world.

(d) to develop mehtods, processess and programs by which the objects noted in paragraphs a,b, and c, may be obtained.

(e) To establish and maintain the Mi’kmaq Association for Cultural Studies relating to the native history, culture with emphasis on subjects realting to the native history, culture language and traditions of the Mi’kmaq people.

(f) To acquire by way of grant, gift, purchase, beqest device or otherwise, real and personal property and to use and apply such property to the realization of the objects of the Society. “