Mainland Mi’kmaq Marine Spatial Planning Program March 31st, 2020 Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq 57 Martin Crescent PO Box 1590 Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 5V3 http://cmmns.com/ 2 Progress Report prepared by: The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq Progress Report prepared for: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Disclaimer: This document contains confidential information and is not to be used for legal purposes. Contact: Angeline Gillis Associate Executive Director The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq PO Box 1590 Truro, NS B2N 5V3 Tel: (902) 895-6385 [email protected] 3 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................. 4 List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Objectives............................................................................................................................................................... 7 Oceans Symposium: “Mawita'mk Wjit Apaqtl - Gather for the Oceans” ...................................................... 8 Presentations ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Group Discussions ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 Mentimeter Activities ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Panel Discussions .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Graphic Facilitation ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 New Hire and Training ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Key Insights and Deliverables............................................................................................................................ 15 Workplan ............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................................... 17 4 Acknowledgments Thank you to all rightsholders and knowledge holders who participated in this project. The Knowledge you shared is invaluable and we are grateful for the incredible contributions you have made. We would also like to extend our gratitude to all guest presenters who shared their expertise, Fisheries and Oceans Canada for their support, and Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq colleagues whose assistance was greatly appreciated. 5 List of Abbreviations AAROM: Aboriginal Aquatics Resources and Oceans Management CCG: Canadian Coast Guard CEMS: Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping CEPI: Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative CMM: Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq CRF: Coastal Restoration Fund DFO: Fisheries and Oceans Canada GIS: Geographic Information System IK: Indigenous Knowledge MCG: Mi’kmaw Conservation Group MERP: Marine Environmental Response Program MK: Mi’kmaw Knowledge MMRP: Marine Mammal Response Program MPA: Marine Protected Area MSP: Marine Spatial Planning MSPLO: Marine Spatial Planning Liaison Officer MoU: Memorandum of Understanding OPP: Oceans Protection Plan TC: Transport Canada TOR: Terms of Reference 6 Overview The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) is a tribal organization that has served its members since 1986 and currently employs a staff of 100+ employees. The CMM’s mission statement is, “to proactively promote and assist Mi’kmaw communities’ initiatives toward self determination and enhancement of community.” The Mi’kmaw Conservation Group (MCG) is the aquatics division within the CMM. The MCG is a member of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Atlantic Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) program (2011-2023). The MCG works under the direction of the CMM’s Board of Directors and, the MCG Advisory Board (i.e. Community Fishery Managers and Traditional/Local Knowledge Holders) for the environmental management and conservation concerns of eight mainland Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia. These Mi'kmaw communities are: Acadia First Nation, Annapolis Valley First Nation, Bear River First Nation, Glooscap First Nation, Millbrook First Nation, Pictou Landing First Nation, Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and Sipekne'katik First Nation. As expressed in the MCG’s mandate, "Restore the concept and practice of Netukulimk in Nova Scotia’s watersheds," the MCG strives to promote the concept of Netukulimk. This concept is based on showing respect to the lands by taking only what is needed and wasting nothing. Mi’kmaw people are stewards of the marine environment surrounding Mi’kma’ki (Atlantic region). From partaking in commercial fishing or Netukulimk activities, the Mi’kmaq understand that all life is sacred, from the smallest rock to the largest creature. By referring to the ways of Msit-No’kmaw (“All my Relations”), it is understood that every living and non-living being must be treated with respect. Integral to this worldview is the responsibility of not harming or damaging the environment for the sake of the next seven generations. In January 2020, the CMM was informed that the proposal for the Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Program under Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was officially approved. As a result, the “Mainland Mi’kmaq Marine Spatial Planning” project was established. The design of this project was influenced by the number of marine related projects that have developed over the past few years at the CMM. Since the MCG’s establishment in 2012, most of the technical and field work had been riverine based. However, a marine focus started when a need was identified for technical work on commercial fisheries. After the identification of this need, studies were conducted on Marine Environmental Response Planning (MERP) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Within the past two years, the CMM has become involved in several initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), such as the Coastal Restoration Fund (CRF), Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping (CEMS) and the Marine Mammal Response Program (MMRP). Additionally, the CMM member communities have received support to build capacity in marine Search and Rescue and received training for Environmental Response. One of the more recent developments, is the acquisition of funding to obtain a vessel, which can be dedicated to marine research. Thus far, most of the marine projects are focused on the Maritime Region. However, there is potential to do more work in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Region since some of the CMM member communities reside in proximity to that area. The “Mainland Mi’kmaq Marine Spatial Planning” project is a multi-year project (2020-2023), therefore it is an opportunity to build technical capacity to engage in MSP activities and increase collaboration on marine related files. Moving forward, the workplan will be guided according to the values and interests of the CMM member communities. 7 Objectives MSP activities can be broad in scope and they usually involve multiple partners. By definition, “Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a public process of allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives that are usually specified through a political process” (Ehler & Douvere, 2009). In general, MSP is about organizing how different uses of the marine environment are co-managed. A focus can be placed on various types of interests, whether that be cultural activities, recreational activities, the conservation of species, marine safety or fisheries management. Based on this understanding, the “Mainland Mi’kmaq Marine Spatial Planning” project was purposely designed to be flexible. This means that the activities and workplan will be derived from the CMM’s member communities’ priorities and interests. For the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the following objectives were outlined for the project: • Coordinate at least one meeting or workshop to scope the interests of the CMM’s member communities and discuss the workplan for fiscal year 2020-2021; • Research potential training opportunities or activities related to marine spatial planning; • Fulfillment of liaison role with Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Marine Spatial Planning Program; • Submit a report on the workplan for fiscal year 2020-2021. To meet these deliverables, an Oceans Symposium was hosted by the CMM, interviews were conducted to hire a “Marine Spatial Planning Liaison Officer” to lead this project, and targeted