Annual Report 2018
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ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Bringing understanding of aquatic issues impacting its member communities by harmonizing the strengths of Mi‘gmaq knowledge with Western scientific approaches. GMRC.CA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Our Staff John Vicaire Craig Isaac Executive Director Aquatic Research Technician John has been working at the For the past 12 years, Craig Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource has been working as an aquatic Council since the organization research technician with was formed in 2006. He has GMRC, working across several lived most of his life in Listuguj different projects and with and currently resides there different species in the river with his wife and two children. systems. Another important John’s educational background task Craig undertakes is includes Social Services, conducting Mi’gmaq Ecological Business Administration and Knowledge (MEK) in our he is currently working on an member communities. “I really Executive Master Business (EMBA). John has a passion enjoy being on the water, that is why I enjoy this job so for photography, hunting and the Mi’gmaq language. much. My whole family has all worked with fisheries, “What I love about working at GMRC is the amazing team there is always that connection to the water.” Craig we have and also being able to conduct research using maintains a strong connection to his culture and is a Two-Eyed Seeing, developed by Dr. Albert Marshall.” grass dancer. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of grass dancing and can be found on the powwow trail with his daughter during the summer months. Brenda Martin Jessica Gideon Financial Administrator Aquatic Research Technician Brenda Martin is from Eel River Jessica graduated from Saint Bar First Nation. She started Mary’s University with a working in finance at the Bachelor of Science and moved Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource back to Listuguj when she Council in 2009. As the joined the GMRC team as an financial administrator, Brenda Aquatic Research Technician. is responsible for day to day She is a team player and offers financial entry and monitoring, her knowledge, experience and payroll, budget preparation assistance to other members and balancing expenses in our of the GMRC staff. She is keen projects. Prior to working at on learning new skills and has GMRC, Brenda was employed with the Eel River Bar band most recently completed a course in unmanned aerial for over 30 years as the financial administrator. Brenda flying (UAV). Jessica is the proud mother to her boy and is a member of the Horizon Health Network board, she girl twins. sits on the Order of New Brunswick Advisory Council, and the steering committee for New Brunswick Climate Change. 2 • GMRC.CA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Board of Directors Everett Martin Darcy Gray David Peter-Paul Chief, Eel River Bar Chief, Listuguj Chief, Pabineau T. (506) 684.5277 T. (418) 788-2136 T. (506) 548-9211 F. (506) 684-6282 F. (418) 788-2058 F. (506) 548-9849 Lloyd Arsenault Dr. Carole-Anne Gillis Project Assistant Research Director Lloyd Arsenault is a carpenter Dr. Gillis brings her passion by trade, but has quickly and expertise in researching grew into his role as project aquatic species and habitats assistant. Lloyd is a hard to the GMRC team. She grew worker and stays focused on his up along the shores of the task. He graduated from NBCC Restigouche River and believes in 2017, and also has some it has inspired her career university experience. Lloyd path. Carole-Anne describes enjoys being physically active her passion to specialize and challenging himself both in science as being, “to be physically and mentally. He useful to my community and describes himself as, “an eager learner, curious about watershed.” Carole-Anne has been actively working in many things, such as the work I am currently a part of. I our membership communities since 2014. She feels a normally work with people, and consider myself a team sense of fulfillment in working at GMRC. player. I am easy to get a long, and open to learning new things from my peers. Personally, I am always Charlene LaBillois looking forward to new opportunities that may present Communications Officer themselves, and also hope to learn as I go through the Charlene brings a wealth process.” of experience to her role as GMRC’s communication officer. After graduating from Pascale Gosselin NBCC Woodstock’s journalism GIS Technician program, Charlene began Pascale joined the GMRC team in working at CBC TV and Radio 2016 as the GIS technician. She as a reporter. She was the graduated from Laval University Yellowknife correspondent with a Bachelor of Science in at the Aboriginal Peoples Geography, and a Master of Television Network (APTN), Science in Physical Geography and also worked at CTV Atlantic as a reporter. During with a major in permafrost and her career, she has worked at the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi hydrology. Between the years of Secretariat (MMS), the North Shore Micmac District 2009 to 2013, Pascale worked Council’s AAROM, and Eel River Bar First Nation before with the Inuit community of joining the dynamic team at GMRC. She believes her Pangnirtung, Nunavut studying role at GMRC is the perfect fit, because she can combine permafrost. She has knowledge her passion for photography along with her knowledge working with ArcGIS, Air of working as a communication officer and her love photographic interpretation, of the river and bay. Charlene can be found outdoors GPS and has a strong ability to communicate science throughout the year enjoying nature with her three orally and in writing. She is excited to bring her dogs. She recently became a proud foster mother to two knowledge and expertise and work with Eel River Bar, boys. Listuguj and Pabineau. Pascale is from Matane and is the proud mother to a daughter and newborn son. GMRC.CA • 3 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 “We believe in a holistic approach to research and natural resource EXECUTIVE management.“ JOHN MURVIN VICAIRE DIRECTOR‘S Executive Director NOTES As a learning organization we feel it’s important to provide strive towards increasing that value. opportunities for staff to engage in continuous learning and We also began working with the ERB habitat team in improvement. In 2018 the organization continued building providing assistance with different activities. A pilot capacity in research, mapping, habitat restoration, and project was established to repopulate eelgrass beds in the personal development. The staff participated in training Eel River estuary. Eelgrass in the estuary provides habitat that covered: river management, advanced drone ground for fish, filters the water, fosters biodiversity, and prevents school, GNSS (global navigation satellite system, first aid & erosion (among other things). The recovery of the eelgrass cpr, graphics design, facilitation skills, conflict resolution, beds are an important step in restoring the estuary to its ESRI story maps, pathways to coping, and eDNA training. former health. We believe in a holistic approach to research and natural The organization was active in its communication activities resource management. Using the principles of Two-Eyed in 2018. A website refresh brought an updated look and feel Seeing, developed by Dr. Albert Marshall and Murdena to the GMRC website. The new site is optimized for mobile Marshall, we can ensure that we approach issues through a screens and will provide a better platform for delivering unique lens. By merging the latest technology and applied content. The website will host two new key communication research methods with Indigenous ways of knowing, we products that have been developed: GMRC Story Maps and can provide unique solutions to common issues. the Salmon Life Cycle game. The story maps, 3 in total, provide knowledge and insight on: Atlantic salmon biology, The Fish Friends program continues to be successful Mi’gmaq relationship with salmon, and Mi’gmaw territory. in providing knowledge and understanding of wild The salmon life cycle game was developed in partnership Atlantic salmon in the elementary schools of our member with First Mobile Education based in Fredericton. The communities. In 2018 students from Alaqsite’w Gitpu, salmon game, (available in Mi’gmaq, English, and French) Mi’gmaq Immersion (Listuguj Education), L.E.R (Dalhousie), teaches users various aspects of Atlantic salmon biology as and Terry Fox Elementary (Bathurst) came together to well as on Mi’gmaw relationships with salmon. release salmon fry back into the Eel River. Our goal with the program is to enrich students with information about In closing, we look forward to 2019 and all the opportunities the salmon as well as to inspire students to further pursue the year presents. We look forward to training and personal studies in salmon-related fields. development, we look forward to building capacity and acquiring equipment, and we look forward to providing There was an increase in collaboration between GMRC more value to our member communities. and field technicians in its member communities through research and training services. In 2018, GMRC worked closely with the LMG scientific team on its activities and also provided staff to assist with lobster research. It is a goal of GMRC to provide value to its member communities and we are happy, not only to continue doing that, but to 4 • GMRC.CA ANNUAL REPORT 2018 The aim of this project was ATLAS Project to engage and inspire our communities through an Focuses on interactive platform. Story Maps The Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Council (GMRC) created three interactive story maps highlighting our traditional territory and our relationship with salmon. The maps were constructed using Esri Story Maps software and intertwines a two-eyed seeing approach. Two-eyed seeing shares views from the indigenous perspective along with western science. The aim of this project was to engage and inspire our communities through an interactive platform.