Excerpt from Natural Resource Canada News Report 2021
Canada’s Forest Sector is a vital source of jobs for Canadians and provides economic, social, and environmental benefits across the country. The sector leads innovation through clean technologies, building on a strong foundation that includes a world-leading sustainable forest management system…
… the adoption of transformative technologies and product diversification, increases the forest sector competitiveness and supports economic prosperity…
Investing in innovative forest sector technologies provides greener solutions that tackle climate change…
Source: News release, May 12, 2021, Ottawa, Ontario, Natural Resources Canada
What We Believe
At International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated, we agree with working toward the discovery of innovative Forest sector products and technologies with a focus on collaborative solution provisions. To that end,we are developing services to enhance rural economic development and excellence in sustainable use of Forests.
International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated embraces in friendship the Aboriginal People together in Canada and around the world, as brothers and sisters co-existing with the Forest with respect, joining in gratitude with all those who truly appreciate the benefits the Forest provides to mankind: responding with hearts that nurture.
Our summary Corporate Responsibility Statement encompasses our mission:
Research Together for Forests Forever.TM
Image by Johannes Plenio
Indigenous People in Canada
There are three main groups of Indigenous peoples in Canada, with First Nations being the most populous, followed by Métis and Inuit people. There were over 1.8 million Indigenous people in Canada in 2023 accounting for 5% of the total population.
Source: 2023 Indigenous -peoples- statistics-Canada
Aboriginal People in Mi’kma’ki-Unama’ki –
People of the Northeastern Woodlands
The Mi’kmaq (also Mi’gmaq, Lnu, Miꞌkmaw, or Miꞌgmaw); are a First Nations people of the Northeastern Woodlands, indigenous to the areas of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces, primarily Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec as well as Native Americans in the northeastern region of Maine- traditionally named Wabanaki, The traditional national territory of the Mi’kmaq is named Miꞌkmaꞌki (or Miꞌgmaꞌgi). There are 66,748 Mi’kmaq people in the region as of 2023, (including 25,182 members in the more recently formed Qalipu First Nation in Newfoundland. ( statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-06-14).
The Mi’kmaq people have their own language and traditional place names. In Prince Edward Island, the spelling Miꞌkmaq (singular Miꞌkmaw) is used, while in Nova Scotia, they call their territory Mi’kma’ki-Unama’ki.
The majority of First Nation people in Nova Scotia are from the Mi’kmaw Nation. According to the National Household Survey ( 2011), the Aboriginal population makes up 2.7% of the total population of Nova Scotia almost 34,000 people of Aboriginal identity – of which approximately 22,000 are First Nation. Cape Breton Island (Unama’ki) has the highest proportion of Aboriginal people: 6%.
Source: 2023 Indigenous -peoples- statistics-Canada.
Wabanaki
Unamak’i -Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada has Boreal Forest Region, Taiga, and Wabanaki (Acadian) Forest regions.
The Wabanaki Confederacy is a North American First Nations and Native American confederation of five principal Eastern Algonquian nations: the Abenaki of St. Francis, Mi’kmaq, Maleceet, Passamaquoddy. and Penobscot.
Wabanaki is portrayed in grey and represents the home Forests of the Northeastern Forest People as shown on the map.
Source map of Northeastern Woods people circa 1500 with underlay of current boundary lines.
https://www.pinterest.ca/seanoconaill/mikmaq/
What Does a Teaching Forest Do?
A Teaching Forest is a gift from the Creator.
It is a place to learn how to contribute to the community through mentorship. A Teaching Forest provides spiritual, cultural, and traditional ways of perpetuity. Elders teach the young and pass on wisdom in a Teaching Forest. A Teaching Forest is also a place of healing and connectivity to inner strength. It is a place to work, teach, mutually participate in outdoor programs and collectively showcase the talents and abilities of community members. It is a place to create, express, and allow community empathy and Celebrate Life!
The Goal
To nurture confident, capable, empathetic youth by offering an opportunity to reconnect with the Forest – a place for discovering strength of character and well-being. A place of work opportunity and livelihood provided by Nature.
Through reigniting the strength of family and mentorship and the opportunity for leadership of elders to guide youth, we aspire to positively prepare youth and adults to exhibit leadership skills for the present and future.
Forest Accessibility for All.TM
Source of Image: Royalty Free Image confident youth
Wisdom is shared through intergenerational time spent. Great-Grandparents, Grandparents and Parent’s relationship with their Great-Grandchildren, Grandchildern, and Children- matter. Providing an outdoor Forest for families to unite in recreation is a service to the community.
Governance by Women
Because women are the givers of Life, they are held in high regard in the Mi’kmaq community. The mother is considered the head of the family. The role of men in the Mi’kmaq society has traditionally been that of hunter. Women have been responsible for raising children, gathering food, making clothing, basketry, and crafts. The unwritten law amongst the Mi’kmaq is that women direct the affairs of the community.
“It’s a matriarchal society. I always believe in that because we are the keepers of the language. and oral traditions, the history, the prayers. We teach our children to follow behind us.”
-Murdena Marshall
Source: https://www3.nfb.ca/sg/65480
Image Source: dreamstime.com royalty-free
Leadership and Women
International Research Teaching Forests is founded by a woman. We believe that women are nurturers of Family and Land. We promote and encourage all women to be strong, capable, and willing leaders. We stand behind women in science and non-traditional trades, working harmoniously toward the greater goals of love, life, peace, good health, and care for our environment and sustainability: socially and economically.
Who will Lead and Build this Business?
Knowledgeable elders, enthusiastic youth, experienced business builders, and professional coordinators/planners will create the Teaching Forest Field Station. Additional guidance and input from Internationally-based experienced leaders, professional engineers, contractors, and additional specialty technical advisors will be called upon as required. Overall Governance, as possible, will be women.
Our Growth Formula:
Local Capacity + Partnerships =
Healthy Ecosystem, Equitable Society, and a Vibrant Community.
Business is an economic driver and anchor of community providing:
1) Leadership
2) Employment
3) and Community Enrichment
Glendale’s History of Collaboration
Glendale operations have a history of collaboration with the people of the community of Wagmatcook (Waq-mit-kuk) – one of the five Mi’kmaq First Nations located in Cape Breton Island. (Unama’ki).
Members of our communities have worked together in harmony in the Maple Forest through the development of a maple syrup production training program – knowledge sharing of Glendale maple syrup production techniques using leading-edge technologies and equipment based on the standards of a Federally inspected food plant and best practices developed and provided through successful maple research conducted by Uihlein Maple Research Center.
International Research Teaching Forests Incorporated is to continue this spirit of collaboration developing specialized, inclusive programming to continue to provide positive mentorship and employment opportunities in rural community, while gaining international connectivity and expanding knowledge and appreciation for sustainable forest benefits use.
