Traditional Mi’kmaq dancing and song echoed through historic Fortress Louisbourg on Saturday. The event was part of the coming-together of two rich Maritime cultures, and a lead up to National Aboriginal Day. “It’s to honour our ancestors, honour our teachings and to share our culture the best way we can," says Membertou Heritage Park manager, Jeff Ward. “We want to cross promote the stories and find different ways to tell the stories of the Mi’kmaq Nation with the communities we have in Cape Breton and Nova Scotia,” adds visitor experience manger, Lester Marchand. John Sylliboy has been working at the fortress for ten years, and says he always wanted to celebrate his own heritage at the sight. He says the fort is more than just a job for him and his people. “We don’t have many museums or monuments out there for our people and we don’t want stuff like that,” he adds, “but this provides a platform for me to talk about what our people did and where we are today, and where we are going.” This is the third year the festivities have been held at Fortress Louisbourg, celebrating the culture between the Mi’kmaq and the French. However, the historic ties go even further than that. “I would say even longer than the history of this fortress,” explains John Sylliboy. “300 years plus, we would have had relations with the fishermen that came here.” Saturday’s event was about sharing some of that history with visitors. “It couldn’t be a better education tool in the world,” says visitor Harvey Frisen. “To display how those cultures get along, and what their contributions are to Canadian history. I find it very interesting.” As many First Nations, Inuit and Metis People prepare for National Aboriginal Day celebrations, many people in Cape Breton are hoping the festivities will continue to grow, along with the ties between the Mi’kmaq and French. With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
