Welcome to the Pictou Landing First Nation department of Lands and Economic Development. If you wish to speak with a member of our team, please use the links below.
Dear Community Members,
The Pictou Landing First Nation, with the approval of your Chief and Council, is developing a Land Use Plan (LUP) for our community. A land-use plan is the process of planning a scientific and orderly allocation of land, community resources, facilities, and services with a view to maintaining and improving the physical environment and the economic and social conditions of the community.
In other words, it is a means to managing our lands, environment and resources. As an example of some land uses, it may include residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, community facilities, recreational, environmental/green space, and traditional use areas.
A LUP process involves the following 4 phases: 1) Pre-planning; 2) development; 3) implementation; and 4) monitoring and evaluation. In total, to complete all four phases will take about 2-3 years.
Right now, we are at the pre-planning phase which involves what I call “the data gathering stage.” At this stage we are looking for feedback from the community as well as gathering data on our lands such as location, topography, historical uses, and other bits of information.
Over the course of next few weeks and months, we hope to collect information and feedback from you. At a later date, we will present our findings and present that information to you at a community session sometime in the near future.
Last week, we piggybacked on the Boat Harbour meeting to test our survey questionnaire to see how it was received. Since then, we have modified it and now the survey is a little easier and quicker to complete. For those of you who haven’t had a chance to take the survey we will have our new survey at our “Annual General Assembly” and hope you can find the time to fill out the survey and have a chance to win a prize.
We will also have the option of an on-line survey (Survey) for your convenience. We are still working on this. Please come and visit Hillary and Shawnee at the AGA for more information.
As community members, we all have a say on matters related to our reserve. We must collectively decide how best to manage and protect our land and resources. The LUP will collectively express our vision for the future. Admittedly, this is an exercise in Nation building and a process that will hopefully lead to good governance.
It is true that our ancestors have lived in this area for thousands of years and have wisely taken care of the land and water for future generations. In fact, the land is our connection to our ancestors. And just like what our ancestors did, we must now do the same to help future generations to prosper and grow.
Please help us out by providing us with your wisdom. If you can, please fill out a survey.
Thank you
LUP Team
