Research & Education

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) continues to distribute its three Wills and Estates Publications: How to Write a Will How to Settle an Estate How to Write a Power of Attorney & Personal Directive To obtain a copy of Mi’kmaq Wills Package: For Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq contact The CMM by calling (902) 895-6385.

(To contact the First Nations Health Services Coordinator, view our contacts under the staff section).  The First Nations Health Services Coordinator is responsible for the delivery of translation and navigation services to all Atlantic First Nations and Inuit community members, and their families, who request support while receiving and/or are about to receive medical treatment […]

The Health & Social Services Department was newly formed in Spring 2020, through the implementation of The CMM’s strategic plan. The support and services of the Health unit were previously captured under Community Programs & Corporate Services. Continued investment in health, including the expansion of Jordan’s Principle Child First Initiative and further investment in Mental […]

The Post-Secondary Assistance Program has been funding students through university and college since 1988. Students from Annapolis Valley, Bear River, Glooscap, and Pictou Landing First Nations are welcome to apply for financial support from The CMM to help with tuition, books and living costs. First Nations Post-Secondary students in Halifax can visit the Native Counseling […]

An environmental program dedicated to assisting Mi’kmaw Communities reach their goals for cleaner, greener and more sustainable communities. Mi’kmawey Green Communities Program is administered by the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. Through pilot projects, community engagement, and working with leadership, MGCP works to assist Mi’kmaw Communities to reach their goals to become greener, cleaner and more […]

The MMNN is a First Nation owned, community focused monthly newspaper with a particular expertise in Mi’kmaq culture. The objectives of the newspaper are to celebrate and lift people up/lift their spirits with an emphasis on positive stories and success stories in the Mi’kmaq community, to archive and record history, to educate, and to provide […]

With the hiring of a CFLC Officer at the MCG (November 2012) the MCG is now able to have a representative for member Communities at a number of industry meetings.  The CFLC communicates any/all changes to fishery related matters to Fisheries Managers and leaders of MCG’s member Communities.    In turn, these individuals are also providing […]

Land Claims & Research Since 1987 The CMM has investigated Aboriginal land claims for our six of our member First Nations communities. The Specific Claims Research Department currently conducts research on Specific Land Claims. Comprehensive Land Claims within Nova Scotia are currently not part of our mandate and are being addressed through the Made-in-Nova Scotia […]

The maintenance management technician, as part of and in addition to the ACRS inspections, provides the Bands with prioritized lists of maintenance recommendations. These recommendations will include non-ACRS assets such as oil tank replacement schedules and building maintenance advice. This program is expanding to incorporate energy efficiency initiatives such as those provided through external organizations […]

(For More information on Jordan’s Principle or to speak with a coordinator, please visit our staff section). Jordan’s Principle is a child first initiative that helps to provide funding to help ensure that First Nations children, living on reserve or ordinarily resident on reserve, with a disability or a short-term critical condition that affects their […]

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) refers to the physical and neurodevelopmental health problems that can occur in children from their biological mother drinking alcohol when pregnant. The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder program supports communities accessing earlier FASD diagnosis, and earlier intervention for preschool-aged children with FASD and their families. The program focuses on intervention, prevention, […]

To provide mental health and wellness services to 7 of the member communities including the following: helping clients navigate the provincial and federal mental health systems, offering emotional support to clients, professional letters of support to gain access to services, individualize client care plans and providing mental health workshops for community. (By choice, Paqtn’kek is […]

The CMM conducts Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Studies (MEKS). A MEKS is a study of historic and current Mi’kmaq land and resource use. An evaluation is completed to determine any impacts a potential project may have on the use of that land. Information obtained from personal interviews and land mapping aids in protection and management of […]

Elections are fundamental to the democratic governance of our First Nation Communities. Elections enable voters to select leaders and to hold them accountable for their performance in office. The Electoral Office was created for the benefit of The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq’s (CMM) eight-member communities. The office will provide Electoral Services including: Band elections including […]

Legal Services The CMM Legal Advisor provides in- house legal services to the CMM and its five affiliated entities, Mi’kmaq/Maliseet Nations News Association (MMNN), Eastern Woodland Print Communications (EWPC), Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre (MDCC), and Mainland Mi’kmaq Developments Inc. (MMDI).  The in-house Legal Advisor represents and protects the interests of the CMM and its affiliated […]

The Mi’kmaq-Nova Scotia -Canada Tripartite Forum was formed in 1997 as a partnership between the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada. The Tripartite Forum aims to strengthen relationships and resolve issues of mutual concern affecting Mi’kmaw communities. The CMM administers the Tripartite Secretariat which assists in the daily […]

Through the Community Economic Development Opportunities (CEDO) initiative, The Economic Development Advisor administers the Community Economic Development funding for participating Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) member bands. The Economic Development Advisor works closely with the Mi’kmaq Project for Innovation and Collaboration (MPIC) team and other relevant stakeholders to share Economic Development information, resources and opportunities with the CMM […]

Mainland Mi’kmaq Development Inc. (MMDI) was incorporated July 9th, 1991 under the Canadian Business Corporation Act. MMDI fosters economic development and business skills amongst Native Peoples. MMDI is pleased to offer commercial fishing gear tagging services to include all Commercial Fishers in Atlantic Canada; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. MMDI […]

Today the Bay of Fundy Watershed, which was once so familiar, has changed due to commercial use, population growth, pollution and global warming. The Mi’kmaw Conservation group will endeavor to take on these and other challenges to fulfill their mission… To Promote and Restore the concept of Netukulimk in the Bay of Fundy Watershed. Netukulimk […]

ACRS is the primary inspection tool used by Indigenous Services Canada  (ISC) to monitor First Nations O&M performance objectives and provides a process that identifies asset deficiencies levels In collaboration with CMM member communities, every three years CMM hires an external consultant to inspect only on-reserve community assets that receive ISC operations and maintenance (O&M) funding such as buildings, roads, bridges, […]

The Department of Aquatic Resources & Fisheries Management oversees the Mi’kmaw Conservation Group that operates programs and initiatives for our member communities. These programs focus on Species at Risk/Invasive Restoration Species, Monitoring, Restoration, Oceans and Marine, and Fisheries Management Technical Files.

MCG is currently working on a project to help water operators in our Communities assess if their water utilities are vulnerable to climate change. But what does that mean? It means protecting our drinking water today for our children’s tomorrow. This program is focused on assessing three MCG Community’s water utilities and their ability to […]

The GIS Technician is responsible for developing and maintaining a GIS database for use in mapping the geographic data in the Bay of Fundy Watershed.  This database is of importance to MCG for a number of reasons, however, the primary objective for MCG is to collect as much Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge with respect to sites […]

The Lands Program administers and manages land transactions for The CMM’s seven member communities. The program provides quality land management advice and administrative support pertaining to reserve additions, pre-reserve designations and lands referendums. The Lands Management Program is available to member communities for updating land encumbrances, facilitating community land issue settlements, updating community mapping, researching […]

CMM administers contracts with Special Care Facilities throughout Nova Scotia to support First Nation Clients formerly residents on reserve.   This year CMM continues to bring the AAC program into Compliance with AANDC Funding Authorities.  CMM will continue to maintain visits to all clients, and will continue to be a bridge for guidance and support for […]

The MCG is developing programs on issues involving species-at-risk and participating in programs such as habitat restoration. Through our programs and services we help to promote Netukulimk – taking what you need today and leaving some for tomorrow – in the Bay of Fundy Watershed.     Youth Mentorship/Capacity Building     Research     […]

The Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI) delivers a range of primary prevention, screening and treatment programs in partnerships with Tribal Councils, First Nations organizations, Inuit community groups, and Provincial and Territorial governments. The goal of the ADI is to reduce type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal people by supporting health promotion and primary prevention activities and services […]

The Indian Residential School Health Support Program aims to ensure the health and safety of all former (IRS) Indian Residential School Survivors before and during all phases of the IRS Settlement Agreement including from the independent assessment process and Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration Events, regardless of status or place of residence and offers Professional […]

The GIS Technician is responsible for developing and maintaining a GIS database for use in mapping the geographic data in the Bay of Fundy Watershed. This database is of importance to MCG for a number of reasons, however, the primary objective for MCG is to collect as much Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge with respect to sites […]

WHAT ARE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS?  There are multiple definitions for cumulative effects. Two examples include: “Changes to the environment caused by a variety of activities over time”[i] “Change in the environment caused by multiple interactions among human activities and natural processes that accumulate across space and time”[ii] Simply put, cumulative effects consider all of the ‘things’ […]

The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq is pleased to offer internal and external communications to various parts of the organization, its board and its members.  For more information on Communications services provided by the CMM, please contact us!

We are a self-sufficient Native owned and operated print communications company with particular interest and expertise in serving the First Nation community and related government agencies. Our relationship with our client-base and our understanding of aboriginal culture have helped Eastern Woodland Print Communications become the primary supplier for Native print communications or promotional needs in […]

Click here to access forms and applications » The CMM Membership program assists band members with applications for registration and membership. The CMM membership clerk issues Indian Status cards within the policy and guidelines set out by the Department of Indian Affairs. All status Indians are registered through the Indian Registry. This confidential database holds […]

CMM participates in the Atlantic First Nation Housing & Infrastructure Network. The Manager of the LENR unit attends the meetings in order to keep CMM communities well-informed on housing developments and provide an accessible venue for community input. With the end of the Canada Economic Action Plan Program to improve First Nations housing, the demand […]

Connecting with Our Past Mawitaik ta’n tett wejitaik Picture an ice-age landscape with mastodons, caribou, and giant beavers wandering over the tundra that covered Mi’kma’ki more than 11,000 years ago. Imagine communities of people who lived at the base of the Cobequid Mountains for as long as a thousand years. This begins the story of […]

Mi’kmawey Forestry is a revised version of the First Nations Forestry Program that was funded by Natural Resources Canada from 1994-2011. Since then, new funding opportunities have become available to revive the program through numerous sources that include Government agencies, private industry and other non-government organizations. These organizations assist with funding the program, building capacity within […]

Since its inception in 1986, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq has maintained a strong fiscal accountability framework. With approximately twenty funding agencies and a variety of funding arrangements, The CMM is regarded as a leader among native organizations across the country. The organization is audited annually by independent audit (Grant Thornton), and has meticulously met […]