Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs – The Assembly will be working with their communities to revive traditional and ancient Mi’kmaw customs by looking to our language for guidance. The Assembly is exploring Mi’kmaw concepts found in Wmɨtkik and Nmɨtiknen. Wmɨtkik is an old Mi’kmaq word, not commonly used today, that may hold the Mi’kmaw concept of how the lands and waters that we are connected to (the territory from which we are from and live) is to be harvested (hunted, fished and gathered) in a manner that respects the resources and all our relations who live or harvest there (Msit No’Kmaq) . Nmɨtiknen holds the concept of territory and the process of how we make decisions together, and much more.

Chiefs in the Kespukwitk District and their respective communities – Acadia, Bear River and Annapolis Valley First Nations – will begin the development of a Nmɨtiknen approach to the stewardship of the Kespukwitk district of Mi’kma’ki. These three communities will be working together, alongside the Mi’kmaq Grand Council and other Mi’kmaw communities on this important work. Together they will be looking into developing a traditional approach to managing the resources and recognizing conservation and protection of all the resources.
As recognized and affirmed by s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Mi’kmaq have inherent rights of self-determination and self-government, including the right to self-regulation and to manage our internal affairs and relationships.