Over a decade ago, the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat conducted several research initiatives to elaborate on the Nm’tginen.

 

One of the research studies that was conducted, was the Traditional Use Study, known as the TUS.

 

The TUS serves as a means to identify sites of traditional activity, allows us to record oral history, and gather photographs that are extremely valuable for the preservation and sustainability of our history and culture in Gespe’gewa’gi.

 

Objectives:

 

– To map all Mi’gmaq use of the territory throughout Gespe’gewa’gi.

– To provide permanent accessible documentation of our cultural usage so that it can be passed onto future generations.

– To create important Mi’gmaq maps that show the locations of Mi’gmaq place names throughout Gespe’gewa’gi.

Through the TUS we can describe where and when the Mi’gmaq hunted, fished, and gathered in Gespe’gewa’gi.

 

This study has guided the development of the Gespe’gewa’gi Management Plan, by informing us of the importance of specific areas, for example the Mi’gmaq Priority Use Watersheds.

 

This project allows us to draw directly on the knowledge of our people. It helps us document our in-depth understanding of our use of Gespe’gewa’gi, including how we manage and govern the territory.