About Us
Keki'namuanen Msit Wen Wlo'tmnen Nmaqami'kminu Inc. serves the nine Mi’gmaq communities in New Brunswick: Amlamgog (Fort Folly), Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Elsipogtog (Big Cove), Oinpegitjoig (Pabineau), Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church), Tjipõgtõtjg (Bouctouche), L’nui Menikuk (Indian Island), Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), and Metepenagiag First Nations. The Board of Directors consists of the Chiefs from four of these communities; Chief Rebecca Knockwood, Chief George Ginnish, Chief Kenneth Barlow, and Chief Terry Richardson. They are responsible for approving all regular business for the land trust including, land securement projects, funding applications, and the hiring of staff. Legal counsel and guidance are provided by Derek Simon, who Elder Gordon describes as a gift from the Creator.
Members of the Board
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Chief George Ginnish of Natoaganeg First Nation
Board Member
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Chief Rebecca Knockwood of Amlamgog First Nation
Board Member
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Chief Kenneth Barlow of L'nui Menikuk First Nation
Board Member
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Chief Terry Richardson of Oinpegitjoig First Nation
Board Member
Our Founding Members
Keki’namuanen Msit Wen Wlo’tmnen Nmaqami’kminu was founded in 2020 by Amlamgog (Fort Folly) First Nation through its Fort Folly Habitat Recovery Program, Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., through its Lands and Conservation department, and the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council. Recognizing a need for an Indigenous land trust similar in structure and purpose to Nature Conservancy of Canada and Nature Trust New Brunswick, the Mi’gmaq of New Brunswick, as represented by the founding organizations, established one of the first Indigenous land trusts in Canada to support the establishment of a Wabanaki network of Indigenous Protected and Cultural Areas (IPCA) and other conservation projects.
Our Mission
At Keki'namuanen Msit Wen Wlo'tmnen Nmaqami'kminu Inc., our mission is to protect and preserve the sacred lands within Mi'gmaq territory. We are dedicated to maintaining ecological integrity and conserving biodiversity while actively promoting and safeguarding Mi'gmaq heritage, culture, and language.
Our Vision
Our vision is a future where Keki'namuanen Msit Wen Wlo'tmnen Nmaqami'kminu Inc. stands as a guardian of Mi'gmaq territory.
Following the Mi’gmaq guiding principles of :
Netukulimk: Use of the gifts provided by the Creator for the well-being of the individual and the community.
Etuaptmumk: Two-Eyed Seeing - Learning from one eye with the strengths of Mi’kmaw knowledge, and from the other eye using strengths of Western ways of knowing ... and learning to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all. (Elder Albert Marshall)
We want to care for the land for the following essential reasons:
Environmental Preservation: We safeguard the land's ecological health and biodiversity.
Cultural Resilience: We celebrate and preserve Mi'gmaq history, heritage, culture, and language.
Sustainable Harmony: We endorse responsible Mi'gmaq traditional land use and sustainable land management.
Community Empowerment: We empower our community to actively engage in land conservation and stay rooted in our communities.
Interconnected Well-being: We raise awareness of the profound interconnection of the land, culture, and well-being.
Education and Advocacy: We use these lands to educate and advocate for land conservation and Indigenous wisdom.
Annual General Meeting
Our first in-person annual general meeting was held in Moncton, NB on October 23, 2023. The meeting served as a remarkable platform to highlight the incredible work being done in the development and establishment of IPCAs. Wela’lin to Knowledge Keeper Nicole Porter for opening the meeting in a good way. Representatives from the land trust’s founding member organizations: Fort Folly Habitat Recovery, Mi’gmawe’l Tplut’aqnn Inc., North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council and leadership from our Indigenous communities that make up the Board of Directors actively engaged and discussed several critical aspects: land acquisition, land securement funding, charitable status application, property signage, website design and technical progress. Active engagement and involvement were key to sharing successes. (see Raven Boyer’s video below )
We are very grateful to the Metcalf Foundation for believing in Indigenous Conservation and supporting organizations and National initiatives such as the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and the RAD Network.
Although the Metcalf Foundation doesn't usually fund projects in the Maritimes, we are honoured to have three years of funding from this organization to support the development and growth of our newly emerging Indigenous land trust. Wel’lieq Metcalf Foundation. Wel’lieq also to Nature Trust New Brunswick for their kind support in preparing the funding application and subsequent activities to support the work.