CULTURAL PRESERVATION
CULTURE AS A TIME MACHINE
CAPE BRETON ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
Travel provides a unique opportunity to look both ways: to a place’s origins and to its future. On Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, you can experience Acadian culture first known in the area in the 18th century and preserved into the 21st century by residents in Chéticamp and Isle Madame.
What's
changing
Regions with deep cultural roots can lose traditions over time as local populations age and newcomers arrive. Collaborations between cultural organizations and tourism experiences have vital roles in preserving and celebrating local heritage through living history, food and events.
What's already
possible
On Cape Breton Island, Acadian cultural ties remain strong, particularly in the community of Chéticamp along the Cabot Trail. With demographic shifts in the population, local organizations have joined to preserve the area's cultural identity.
Seizing
the opportunity
In the 1700s, Chéticamp became home to displaced Acadians, deported residents of what was New France (areas of Atlantic Canada and the neighboring state of Maine in the United States), whom the British allowed to settle on Cape Breton Island. Acadian culture has endured there for more than 250 years, supported by students being required to learn French to maintain the area’s linguistic heritage. To preserve Acadian traditions year-round, organizations like the Conseil des arts de Chéticamp, Société Mi-Carême and La Société Saint-Pierre host cultural events and festivals. They also collaborate with local businesses and services, such as daycares and economic development organizations, to extend cultural connections to every part of the community. Visitors can experience local heritage through food, events, traditional crafts or museums, like Les Trois Pignons. For almost 50 years in August, the Festival de l’Escaouette has featured Acadian dance performances and includes activities that celebrate Acadian culture for visitors and locals.
Standout
tactic
Dance has long been a cornerstone of Acadian culture in Chéticamp, and since 1997, La Swing du Suête has been dedicated to passing down traditional dances to the youngest generations. La Swing du Suête performs at cultural events throughout Canada and internationally, sharing Acadian culture with a broader audience and helping the Acadian diaspora reconnect with its roots. Former dancers often return to teach younger generations.
How
it helps
Since many of Cape Breton Island’s Acadian cultural organizations began to pool resources and marketing, they have seen increased participation at public events. The community is also working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to become a “Welcoming Francophone Community” for new immigrants, which could help the region attract a bilingual workforce.
Diving
deeper
How can traditional cultural practices be adapted to modern times and audiences while preserving their core essence? Is it possible for a place’s original culture to be transferred to a changing population?
Increasing
impact
Cultural hubs, like Cape Breton Island, can harness digital tools to showcase heritage, traditions and events to a global audience. This strategy could keep the culture vibrant as it bridges the gap for the diaspora, allowing them to reconnect with and rediscover aspects of a culture they may have lost.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
