Nature Conservancy of Canada donates 108 acres to Mi’gmaq Land Trust

Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 19, 2022

Nature Conservancy of Canada donates 108 acres to Mi’gmaq Land Trust 

The Mi’gmaq as represented by Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc. (MTI) and Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), in New Brunswick are proud to announce that 108-acres of land in Shemogue, NB, located in Sikniktewaq, district 6 in the unceded Mi’gmaq territory of SE New Brunswick. With this generous donation, we know these lands, waters, plants and animals will be protected for the next seven generations. These properties will be placed in the Mi’gmaq land trust, Keki’namuanen Msit Wen Wlo’tmnen Nmaqami’kminu. 

Keki’namuanen Msit Wen Wlo’tmnen Nmaqami’kminu was established in 2020 and now protects over 1000 hectares of sacred land in New Brunswick. The land trust’s purpose is to conserve land in accordance with Mi’gmaq values, maintain the land's ecological integrity, conserve biodiversity, and promote Mi’gmaq heritage, culture, and language. 

“Shemogue in Mi’gmaq is Simogwik which means Simon’s place. The Shemogue area is a mixture of wetlands and forest, with a diverse population of birds, and both small and large mammals. With its bounty of waterways and access to both the Northumberland Strait and the Bay of Fundy was both an important communal area and a well-traveled trade route. We are extremely grateful for NCC’s generous donation” says Chief Rebecca Knockwood, Amlamgog (Fort Folly) First Nation.

As a part of the federal government’s Pathway to Target 1 Challenge program, First Nations in New Brunswick have support to establish a network of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA).  IPCAs are indigenous led conservation initiatives over lands and waters where Indigenous governments have the primary role in protecting and conserving ecosystems through Indigenous laws, governance, and knowledge systems. This donation will help toward that effort and will help Canada and New Brunswick meet goals of increasing protected areas in the country by 30% by 2030.