💡 Our latest IdeaLab examines how #OpenScience can benefit all and restore forms of knowledge that have been erased or silenced in our current system. If done with & for communities, it can accelerate the decolonization of knowledge.

➡️ https://bit.ly/2WR3wRv

✍️ Written by: Leslie Chan, Budd Hall, Florence Piron, Rajesh Tandon and Lorna Williams

🔗 Also available on zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3946773

In Unama’ki and across Southern Canada, wood turtle populations have declined and the Wood Turtle is now a Threatened species. Turtles are a symbol of knowledge and wisdom because of the knowledge they gain over their very long lives—in fact the longest of any animal in Mi’kma’ki with a life span of up to 60 years.

These turtles can be in flood plains, along slow-moving streams, woodlands, fields or along the roadside near streams. They are brown to grayish brown in colour, with a woody looking upper shell with sculptured, pyramid shaped plates. Their skin has two-tones with the head and upper body being a dark brown and the throat, tail and bottom of the front legs being yellow, orange or red.

Between August and October each year, young wood turtles hatch and emerge from the nests their mothers buried underground. They are omnivores, eating insects, snails, small fish, worms, berries and even fungi.

🐢 Don’t forget to join our contest to help document turtle species like the Wood Turtle, and earn chances to win Amazon gift cards! See our previous posts for details on how to enter. 🐢

📸: Colin Osborn/USFWS

Wela’liek!
Thank you to our Mi’kmaq salmon harvesters for helping us redesign our salmon communication products.

Based on your input and constructive criticism, the new sign will replace the old salmon status signs currently posted in Eastern Cape Breton rivers such as the Grand, Middle, North, Baddeck, and Skye Rivers. We will be posting the new signs in other locations as well, such as River Denys and Frenchvale River.