Today, L’nuey – Epekwitk’s Mi’kmaq Rights and Reconciliation initiative – is celebrating its first anniversary!

L’nuey was officially launched last year at Maw-Lukuti’kw, the inaugural Epekwitk Mi’kmaq Nationhood Gathering on September 28th.

L’nuey is now reflecting on a successful first year – despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – as it seeks to protect and advance Aboriginal and treaty rights here on the Island.

Some highlights of the year include:

• The Proclamation of Treaty Day on October 1, 2019, which was celebrated with a ceremony and flag-raising on the grounds of the Provincial Administrative Building.
• The hiring of Mi’kmaw Executive Director, Jenene Wooldridge to lead the development of the organization.
• A successful inter-governmental best practices mission to Aotearoa–New Zealand, along with the Government of Prince Edward Island, to study Crown-Maori relations.
• The launch of a Mi’kmaq signage project, which we called “PEI Mi’kmaq on the Map”. This project included the permanent installation of Mi’kmaq placename signage at nine locations across the Island.
• The creation of a report on the Epekwitk Mi’kmaq Visioning Process, which is the outcome of visioning sessions and engagement with PEI’s Mi’kmaq community held across the Island.
• The launch of a podcast series called “Juku’e”, as a way to keep the community informed, engaged, and empowered during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Ni’n aq No’kmaq process to engage the Mi’kmaq community to determine who is considered to be an Epekwitk Mi’kmaq rights holder or “heirs”, as referenced in the Peace and Friendship Treaties.

“L’nuey has always been an initiative by the PEI Mi’kmaq, for the PEI Mi’kmaq,” said Chief Junior Gould of Abegweit First Nation. “So continuous community involvement will be crucial to L’nuey’s on-going success.”

“These are L’nuey’s first steps in a long journey that we must embark on as a nation,” said Chief Darlene Bernard of Lennox Island First Nation. “This is a journey that leads to self-determination, wellbeing, and prosperity for the Mi’kmaq now, and for future generations.”

Join L’nuey in celebrating its first year of work, as it continues to move towards a better tomorrow.