MCG was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Annie Paul of Indian Brook (Sipkne'katik Band). Last winter, Annie was kind enough to open her home to us and share her talent for creating wooden flowers out of wisqoq (black ash). When we asked Annie if she had any flowers that we could photograph she smiled and said , 'I'm so sorry dear, but I've given them all away." She pointed to a photo on the wall of the Pope receiving a bouquet of her flowers and asked that we photograph that instead. We will remember her as a humble and generous lady. We [...]

We had an AWESOME day in Pictou Landing doing a stream clean up. How awesome you ask? We'll let Phillip Paul tell you. He was our MCG Stream Dream Team All-star! Click HERE to see the video!

MCG was saddened to hear about the passing of Libby Meuse of Indian Brook (Sipekne'katik Band). Earlier this year, Libby opened her home and shared with us her knowledge of Black Ash and it's traditional uses. Many of the things she told us helped shape our "Wisqoq in Mi'kma'ki" educational materials. It was a privilege to spend time with her.

We have moved the smolt wheel approximately 1 km downstream on the Stewiacke River to the following coordinates  477,481 mE; 5,001,018 mN. The previous site did not have enough water flow/velocity to allow the wheel to operate properly so we decided to move it. Stay tuned as we continue to keep you updated on our adventures with the smolt wheel! Did you know? A portion of the collected salmon will be retained in the Live-gene-bank program to maintain the genetic lineage of the Stewiacke River Atlantic Salmon. The rest are sampled for weight, length, and genetics before they are released back to the [...]

MCG Staff are working on installing a smolt wheel in the Stewiacke River. The wheel gently guides fish into a live well where they can be measured and weighed. Once the technicians have recorded the data, the fish are released to continue on their journey. This is the first time MCG has put a smolt wheel on the Stewiacke River so we are excited to see what we find over the next six weeks. Stay tuned! Recreational boaters on the Stewiacke River should use caution when heading downstream from the Stewiacke River Park (E478806, N5001642). Stay safe friends!

In the summer of 2013, MCG undertook an ambitious tree planting project in our MCG member Communities. Together with the help of funding partners and some great summer students, MCG planted up to 9 black ash and several hundred white spruce trees in six communities. As part of this project there was an education component that brought youth together with Elders or Community Knowledge Holders. We were able to witness several demonstrations of traditional basket making and other uses of Black Ash. This winter we re-visited those folks and recorded their thoughts on traditional uses of Black Ash. The images [...]

I have seven new furry deer friends in my yard. The arrived shortly before the holidays and have remained for my family to watch, and wonder at, out our kitchen windows. Every day they come and munch on the branches of our apple tree and nibble at the cedar hedges. As the snow gets deeper, and deeper AND deeper, I have become more worried about my new friends. Do they have enough to eat? Should I put out some apples? Some grain? Some hay? When I posed this question to a family member who has a lot of forestry experience, the answer surprised me.  [...]

  By Clayton Coppaway – MCG Jr. Research and Education Officer On a blustery and rainy National Tree Day, the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group (MCG) and Millbrook Fisheries hosted a tree planting event in Millbrook First Nation. MCG and Fisheries technicians led a handful of brave participants to plant 585 trees and shrubs next to the Pow Wow grounds in Millbrook. This event was organized as part of MCG’s and Millbrook Fisheries efforts to plant trees and shrubs along the banks of Lepper Brook and McClures Brook to help increase the number and kinds of tree species in those areas. The trees will [...]

Send us pictures of your big catch, or the stream or river where the big one got away.

This month, I began research on Lepper Brook, at the request of CMM and community members in Millbrook (especially Councillor Vernon Gloade).