by Hailey Isadore, Junior Communications, KMKNO

As Mi’kmaq we have always said the Indian Act says who is an “Indian”, not who is Mi’kmaq. An important part of our nationhood and self-determination is saying who we are. It is for this reason that the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs directed the Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office to develop a process on this issue. At the same time, Mi’kmaq across the province have heard or raised concerns about individuals self-identifying as Mi’kmaq or Métis. The issue of Mi’kmaq identity is a sensitive topic as it discusses who we are; there are concerns that these individuals may be interested in things like harvesting and tax-exemption.

For over ten years we have conducted research and, after several rounds of community engagement sessions, you have instructed and guided us on the creation of a process that is uniquely Mi’kmaq. You have told us that, “only the Mi’kmaq can say who is Mi’kmaq”, and that “only the Mi’kmaq have Rights in Nova Scotia”. With that, we took immediate action to develop a process that defines who we are, by ‘rules’ created by our people and built in a Mi’kmaq way.

After carefully going through all the information collected, we are now putting the finishing touches on the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Enrollment Process. This process lays out the requirements, based on traditional Mi’kmaq values, that one has to meet to be considered a Mi’kmaw of Nova Scotia, and the make-up of who will be on the ...