Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated

Data Management and Capacity Training

SVS worked with Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Incorporated (MTI) to build up the capacity of their Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Department. MTI advocates for the rights and interests of its nine Mi’kmaq member communities located in what is known today as New Brunswick (https://migmawel.org).

SVS completed an organizational review and needs assessment focusing on process, methods, data management, and whether MTI are seeing the outcomes they want from impact assessment processes. We interviewed members of the IK Department and many others within MTI to help shape our review and provided the Operational Team recommendations for departmental functioning and capacity building.  

SVS also developed and carried out a series of training sessions for the IK Department staff over the last year. Most of the training occurred virtually, though we had some in person sessions. Topics ranged from how to manage all the data that comes with an IK study and an impact assessment, interview and data analysis techniques, community engagement and outreach planning, and how to write a strategic report. 

Recently, we supported MTI with a data sovereignty project. This involved an in-person session to organize MTI’s IK data even more effectively using GIS, establishing some strong data management processes, and training staff on the use of mapping and ArcGIS survey tools. The steps will help MTI’s entire team be able to participate more easily in upcoming impact assessments and other projects that incorporate Mi’kmaw Indigenous Knowledge.