Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources

The Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) is a non-profit organization located in the Mi'kmaq community of Eskasoni on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. UINR serves the five Mi'kmaq communities in Unama'ki–Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook and Waycobah.

UINR is responsible for Mi'kmaq natural resources and environmental issues in Unama'ki (Cape Breton). Commercial fisheries, forestry, science research, traditional Mi'kmaq knowledge, resource management and enforcement are among UINR's responsibilities.

The guiding principle that directs all of the work at UINR is a concept called Netukulimk. Netukulimk is a Mi'kmaq word that loosely means sustainability. It is about achieving adequate standards of community nutrition and economic well-being without jeopardizing the integrity, diversity or productivity of our environment.

Mi'kmaq people have an inherent right to access and use their natural resources but, along with that right, comes the responsibility to use those resources in a sustainable way.

The Mi'kmaq way of resource management unites people with the plants, animals and the environment as a whole. UINR's integration of scientific research with Mi'kmaq traditional knowledge, practice and understanding is what makes UINR unique.

UINR has signed Memorandum of Understandings to work together with many organizations including Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

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