A Road Trip with Yvette Rogers • Episode One - Unama'ki

The Island we know as Cape Breton has been known for thousands of years as Unama’ki, which loosely translates to “Land of Fog”, the ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaq. This episode features an interview with Jeff Ward, General Manager of the Membertou Heritage Park.

[@elenavanbc]

this series is a beauty. A wonderful video to start the others. Thanks for posting.

[@LuLuBelle2000]

Thank you for this beautiful piece. It is wonderful that our First Nation and our French Acadian families were one together. I am the 12th great granddaughter of Francois Gautreau son of Honore Gautreau of CB. And we live on!

[@deniseelalahoho50]

Oh where in CB? In Cheticamp or Isle Madame?

[@LuLuBelle2000]

Hello! Honore came over with Champlain and De Mons in 1603. I believe they lived in Port Royal. From there the family eventually ended up in CB, I am assuming because of the Gran Derangement. My ancestors escaped the deportment. They fled north and east, PEI, possibly Newfoundland also hid with the Mi'kmaq. My Great Grandfather, Frederick Gouthro was born in Frenchvale. His father was Leo Gouthro and most all were born there too. There is a Gouthro Rd and Gouthro Lake in the area. Frederick married into a Scotch family. Most of their children, including my grandmother Mary Louise Gouthro were born in Christmas Island on the Bras d'Or. How about you?

[@erikm8372]

I live in California… I play Cape Breton and Irish fiddle. But I wish the United States had this same level of reverence for the American First Nations communities. It’s somewhat different, it seems, as opposed to the history of sharing and cultural interflow between Acadians, Métis, French, many First Nations, Scottish, Irish, and more.. all really through the fur trade, mainly in Canada. I’m not saying things were or are always perfect, nor am I saying cooperation and sharing didn’t happen in early American history, as the fur trade and other interactions did extend down here, as well… but we have some shameful blemishes on our history, of displacement, conquering, and far worse atrocities… and what do we have to show for that now… look at Pine Ridge and other similarly affected reservations. It kills me inside.