Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia

Elder Patsy Paul-Martin, of the Eskasoni Mi'kmaw Nation, opened and closed the NIEDB’s quarterly 2-day meeting in Millbrook First Nation, Nova Scotia. Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation welcomed the NIEDB to the territory.

The session on the first day provided an opportunity for the NIEDB to meet with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) Atlantic Regional Office, the Department of Fishers and Oceans, as well as the Atlantic Economic Development Advisory Committee.

The NIEDB also met with Ian Smith and Cheryl Copage-Gehue of Clearwater Seafoods, Chris Googoo of Ulnooweg and facilitated a community-based fisheries discussion which further highlighted the challenges and obstacles still faced by many local First Nations communities. The participants of this panel were: Tyler Sack (CMM Fishers), Jonathan Lowe (Milbrook First Nation), Todd Hoskin (Ulnooweg), Theresa Carter (Glooscap First Nation) and Justin Martin (Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn). Vanessa Mitchell of the Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariat attended and observed the discussion.

On day two, the board discussed Indigenous procurement with the Transformative Indigenous Procurement Strategy team at ISC.

The NIEDB spoke with John Paul of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat, Blaire Gould of Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, James Stevens of Millbrook First Nation, Rose Paul of Bayside Development Corporation, and Robert Bernard of the Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network. Additionally, the Board met with James MacKinnon, Susheel Arora and Chief Wilbert Marshall of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority.