Guide to Powwow Country: Experience Cape Breton

Experience Cape Breton

Cape Breton’s five First Nations - Membertou, Eskasoni, Chapel Island, Waycobah and Wagmatcook – are working together to ensure authentic when it comes to experiencing the Mi’kmaq culture and way of life. Tourism ventures on the small island range from the economic support of local, Native arts and crafts artisans to the support of summer cultural festivals and pow-wows. As well, the leaderships of the Wagmatcook, Waycobah, and Membertou First Nations have supported the development of community centres within their Nations, with the centres playing a direct role in providing tourism services via museums, art galleries, cultural exhibits, arts and crafts production facilities, gift shops and restaurants. For all leaders, the emphasis of Aboriginal products and services is on the authentic portrayal of Aboriginal culture and history. Heritage presenters and product producers must be knowledgeable, sincere, genuine and of Aboriginal descent. There was recognition that the uniqueness of each community and its tourism offerings was a cultural strength for the entire Mi’kmaq cultural tourism venture, with such diversity serving to attract the interest of those non-Aboriginals seeking to learn more about Mi’kmaq culture and identity, history and current life. cultural tourism initiatives ranging from the Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre through the Eskasoni Pow-Wow to the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre. The Wagmatcook Culture and Heritage Centre sees traffic well over 80,000 tourists driving through the community of via the Trans Canada Hwy 105 on their way through to the famous Cabot Trail and to Baddeck, home of Alexander Graham Bell.