The Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council as a regional Aboriginal Peoples Advocacy Group, has the expertise and capacity to undertake a range of “pilot or regional” programs or initiatives. These programs and initiatives are agreed to by the Member Councils and the results or reports flowing therefrom are reflective of all three Council postures or positions, as well as that of MAPC.
Sometimes, in the context of international subjects, MAPC will be mandated responsibility by the Member Councils, or National Organization, or Traditional Leaders, to follow a subject, make attendances, draft submissions, present same, and report on the outcomes by informal brief or by public paper.
Many of the publications available in the publications section on this web site are the result of specifically mandated projects, programs or initiatives undertaken by MAPC on request.
Atlantic Salmon Comparative Assessment Project
The Comparative Assessment of Ecological Conditions for Atlantic Salmon in the Northern Minas Basin Rivers, colloquially the “Atlantic Salmon Comparative Assessment Project” is a multi-year initiative funded through the aquatic Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), to investigate the survival of the endangered inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Atlantic salmon fry in Critical Habitat rivers (Debert, Folly, Great Village, Portapique, and Economy Rivers) in the Cobequid Bay, of the Northern Minas Basin, Nova Scotia.
Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness (EMSA) – MAPC MAIS PROJECT
The Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council submitted the MAPC/MAIS Project to Transport Canada, a partner to the Government of Canada’s one point seven billion dollars Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) to test the “Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness” (EMSA) system.
Clocean Engager
The Maritime Aboriginal Peoples Council along with the Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariate have created a full-time position to inform Council Chiefs, Board of Directors, and interested members of our traditional ancestral homeland Mi’kmaq Community about a number of ocean related topics. The Clocean Engager’s main role is to help develop capacity and expertise to support dialogue and regional engagement to advance discussions on collaboration and partnership for marine safety and environmental ocean protection.
Marine Spatial Planning Project
The Marine Spatial Planning project was created to advance the involvement of the Maritime Aboriginal People’s Council, along with the Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariate in Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) activities. The MSP lead will provide input into the development of Maritime and Gulf bioregional or local marine spatial plans and their tools, including the further development of Marine Protected Area networks and other existing marine integrated planning frameworks and will be engaged in MSP discussions and activities, including academic, technical, policy, and the use of various existing and emerging MSP tools.
Fish Habitat Harmful Alteration, Destruction,
and Displacement (HADD) Project
The Fish Habitat Harmful Alteration, Destruction, and Displacement (HADD) project was created to advance the involvement of the Maritime Aboriginal People’s Council, along with the Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariate in the authorization and consultation of projects that could result in the HADD of fish and fish habitat in the Maritimes. The HADD Coordinator will review HADD authorization requests received by DFO from project proponents to ensure proper measures are being taken with concern to the wellbeing of fish and fish habitat. The HADD Coordinator stays up to date with the latest knowledge, research, and updates to the Fisheries Act that pertain to fish and fish habitat.
Five Watersheds Project (complete)
Rehabilitating and Restoring Unique Landscapes
Within Five Nova Scotia Watersheds Along the Bay of Fundy
The “Five Watersheds Project”, is a multi-year Coastal Restoration Fund Project – a program component of the multi-year Oceans Protection Plan (OPP), of the Government of Canada.
The five-year project will address issues of coastal erosion and physical barriers to fish passage in the (1) Chiganois, (2) Debert, (3) Folly, (4) Great Village, and (5) Portapique Watersheds (the Watersheds), within the Cobequid Bay of the Inner Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. From that information, the Project will identify areas of habitat concern and create a restoration plan with a focus to ameliorate fish passage barriers caused by aboiteaux and erosion.
In-Situ Egg Incubation Project (complete)
The Inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Atlantic Salmon ‘In-Situ’ Egg Incubation Projectis a multi-year initiative, funded through the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) by the Canadian Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), to provide additional information to DFO and the iBoF Atlantic Salmon Recovery Team about critical habitat of the Endangered iBoF Atlantic Salmon on the Chiganois, Debert, Folly, Great Village and Portapique Rivers of Cobequid Bay, of the Northern Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, and to continue research on incubating salmon eggs in natural, wild conditions (in-situ) as a barometer of stream health and potential reintroductions of iBoF Atlantic salmon.