NSMTC receives $150k to study pesticide exposure in New Brunswick moose
Unceded Mi’kma’ki Territory, NB – The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) has received $150,000 through Indigenous Services Canada’s First Nations Environmental Contaminants Program to study whether legacy DDT and current glyphosate use are affecting moose (tia’m), a traditional food for Mi’kmaq communities in New Brunswick.
The project, titled Legacy and Novel Pesticides in Moose from New Brunswick and Implications on Traditional Hunting and Communities, will test moose liver tissue for DDT, glyphosate, and their metabolites in the Miramichi area and Acadian peninsula. It will combine lab testing with community knowledge to help understand whether contaminants are entering this traditional food source and what further action may be needed to prevent contamination.
A culturally important species
Moose are a major part of Mi’kmaq food systems in New Brunswick and are tied to Mi’kmaq rights. Harvesting moose supports food security and is an important cultural practice for Mi’kmaq communities. Results from the project will support clearer conversations with leadership, harvesters, families, and partners about moose, traditional food, and pesticide concerns in New Brunswick forests.
Pesticide concerns and risks
DDT was last used in New Brunswick in 1968, but recent research has found high levels of legacy DDT in fish tissue and lake sediments in north-central New Brunswick. Glyphosate is still used in forestry today to control hardwoods and broadleaf plants.
Moose feed on hardwood foliage, aquatic plants, and other vegetation. Testing moose liver tissue will help NSMTC better understand whether these contaminants are present in the terrestrial food web and whether detected levels raise concerns for wildlife or human health.
Sample collection
NSMTC expects to collect 40 liver samples from Wildlife Management Zones 7 and 8, two important harvesting areas with different histories of pesticide use. Sample collection will take place during the 2026 and 2027 fall hunts. NSMTC will work with Chiefs, Elders, community representatives, harvesters, academic researchers, and partners as the study moves forward.
Guided by Etuaptmumk
The project will use Etuaptmumk, or Two-Eyed Seeing, to bring Indigenous Knowledge and western science together. Moose liver tissue will be tested for DDT, glyphosate, and their metabolites through accredited analytical laboratories based at Canadian universities, with support from academic researchers.
The project will also gather knowledge from Elders, Knowledge Holders, hunters, and community members about moose behaviour, hunting areas, habitat changes, traditional food use, and pesticide exposure concerns. A nutritional dietary survey and human health assessment will look at how moose is used as a traditional food, how often it is consumed, and what testing results may mean for community health.
Next Steps
The project will begin with planning and community engagement ahead of sample collection during the 2026 and 2027 fall hunts.
Community input will help guide how information is gathered, understood, and shared.
Results will be brought back to communities and leadership to support future conversations about moose, traditional food, and pesticide concerns in New Brunswick forests.
Quotes
“Our right to harvest moose is inherent. This project is about making sure concerns from our communities are taken seriously, especially when they involve traditional food and what is happening in our forests. We are going to look at this through Indigenous Knowledge and lab testing, and make sure what we learn is brought back to our community members.”
– Jim Ward, General Manager, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
“Hearing that DDT was still present in lakes near where our communities harvest moose was very concerning and prompted us to begin research to determine whether this legacy pesticide, along with the modern herbicide Glyphosate, are adversely affecting our traditional food sources.”
– Ethan Augustine, Biologist, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
About the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
The NSMTC is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the health, sustainability, and economic prosperity of its Member Nations. The NSMTC primarily serves the Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), Oinpegitjoig (Pabineau), Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Metepenagiag (Red Bank), L’nui Menikuk (Indian Island), Tjipõgtõtjg (Buctouche), and Amlamgog (Fort Folly) while extending support to 25 additional First Nations across Atlantic Canada. The council provides service delivery, technical support, and capacity-building in water and waste management, housing and infrastructure, post-secondary education funding, training and employment, community development, clean energy opportunities, environmental stewardship, and health service coordination.
View the Proposal
To read the Legacy and Novel Pesticides in Moose from New Brunswick and Implications on Traditional Hunting and Communities proposal, visit:
https://nsmtc.ca/proposal-for-legacy-and-novel-pesticides-in-moose-from-new-brunswick-and-implications-on-traditional-hunting-and-communities/
Media Inquiries
For media-related questions, contact:
Vanessa McLaughlinCommunications Officer, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
vanessamclaughlin@nsmtc.ca | 506.210.1705