Cape Breton village celebrating 250 years since its founding

The cast who will re-enact the arrival of the first settlers on at Michael's Landing in Judique, N.S., is pictured.

The village of Judique in Cape Breton, N.S., is celebrating its 250th anniversary Sunday.

As part of the event, the Judique Historical Society will present a re-enactment of the village’s founding when the first settlers arrived from St. John’s Isle – known today as Prince Edward Island.

The re-enactment shows a more accurate story of Judique’s settlement, said a news release.

“The first settlers did not come to an empty land, but to a place that, though not a permanent settlement, was an important summer site for the Mi’kmaw,” said the release.

“It shows some of the interactions between the Scottish settlers and the Mi’kmaq, and how the Mi’kmaw principles of Peace, Friendship, and Full Provision, underlay the tradition of welcoming travellers and strangers, and was crucial to the survival of the new settlers.”

Mi’kmaw elder John Silliboy will speak about the Mi’kmaw perspective on settlement after the show, followed by music, speeches and entertainment inspired by the Indigenous and settler traditions. There will be a ribbon cutting by Theresa MacDonnell, Judique’s oldest citizen.

After the show, a social event will be held at the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre with food and more performances.

The first part of the event takes place at Michael’s Landing on Sunday and 6 p.m.

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