The Relocation of Black Point, a Small Gaelic Fishing Community in Northern Cape Breton Island

468 Pages·2002·39.55 MB·English

Engineered Consent: The Relocation of Black
Point, a Small Gaelic Fishing Community
in
Northern Cape Breton Island
Lorraine Vitale Cox
Submitted in partial funllment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
at
Dahousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
July, 1997
(c) Copyright by Lorraine Vitale Cox, 1997
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DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
The undersigned hereby certify that they have read and recommend
to the Facuity of Graduate Studies for acceptance a thesis entitled
"EngineeredC onsent: The Relocation of Black Point, a small Gaelic fishing
community in Northem Cape Breton Island" by Lorraine Vitale Cox in
partial fufilhent of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy.
Dated
External Examiner
Research Supervisor
Exarnining Cornmittee
Dedication
This -.-~ork is for the families who used to h e i n Northem Cape
Breton Island in srnail cornmunities from Black Point to Lowland
Cove. The people in Northern Cape Breton, made m m f or me and
my farniiy and taught me what it means to live in a com~unity.
This work is &O for my family
for my
mother Rose and my father Frank,
who taught me about perseverance and about working with the
heart and hand as well as the minci,
for my sisterfiend Mary,
who taught me about dignity and dreams,
for my mate Demis,
who taught me about intuition,
and who fills rny life with sweet music and whales, and
for my sons, Searnus, Jesse, and Silas, who taught nie to know
what love is.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
List of Charts and Tables
Abstract
Introduction: Robgue-Roperty Values
Chapter 1: A Mord Inheritance
Chapter 2: Rites of Passage
Chapter 3: The Coming of the Road
Chapter 4: Moving on Down The Road
Chapter 5: The Houses Are AU Gone Under The Sea
Epilogue: Resistance- The Threat of a New Relocation
Appendices:
Appendix A: Genealogy Charts
Appendk B: Land Charts and Maps
Appendix C: Naming Patterns
Appendix D: Oran Don Chuainear -A Poem
Appendix E: The Deche of GaeIic in Nova Scotia
Appendix F Gaelic Swey
Appendix G: A' Phoit Dhubh -A Traditional Pot StiU
Appendix H: Age-Sex Composition- 1968
Appendix 1: Occupations and Ages- 1968
Appendix J: Photographs
B ibliography
List of Tables
Tables Page
Ethnic and Religious Background of the Households in the Bay
District (18 7 1) Table 1- Page 30
Land Ownership in the Bay Table 2-Page 3 1
Comparison of Production in the MacKinnon Brothers
Households in 1871 Table 3-Page 32
Comparison of the Household Production of the MacKinnon
Brothers in 187 1 Table &Page 33
Participation in the Fishery Table 5-Page 36
Boat Ownership of the Households in the Bay District
Table 6-Page 37
Roduction of Butter in the Bay District
Table 7-Page 38
Fish Roduction of Above Average Butter Roducers in the Bay
District in 1871 Table %Page 40
Comparison of Household Roduction of Three Families in the
Bay District in 187 1 Table 9-Page 41-42
Comparison of Crop Roduction of Three Families in the Bay
District in 187 1 Table 10-Page 43
Butter Roduction of Above Average Cod Fishitg Households in
the Bay in 187 1 Table Il-Page 44
Population in Selected Districts of Cape Breton 1870-1880
Table 12-Page 48
Religious Denominations of Households in the Bay District in
187 1 Table 13-Page 5 1
Cousin Marriage in a Free Church Gaek Family in 19th Cenhrry
Cape Breton Table 14-Page 57
vi
Population in Selected Districts Victoria County 187 1- 194 1
Table 15-Page 190
Population Changes in Bay District 187 1- 194 1
Table 16-Page 190
Agriculhuzil Pmductivity Victoria County 188 1- 189 1
Table Il-Page 19 1
LaxI Leaders :A The Web of Relations
Table lû-Page 276
ARDA Funds For The BIack Point Relocation
Table 19-Page 328
Abstract
This work is the stov of the birth, the iife and the death of Black Point, a
smd Gaelic fishing community Ui Northem Cape Breton Island. The
community of Black Point was born in the 18Ws when the MacKuinon family
ernigrated to Northem Cape Breton and it died about 100 years later as the
result of a relocation projet implemented by the provincial governrnent in
1968. For the last few hundred years relocation projects have ken associated
with progress, improvement and developrnent The Black Point relocation was
one aspect of a larger development process that continues to transform the area.
This process entails the rationalization of both its naturd and human resources,
although what is rational from the state perspective is often quite irrationai from
the community and family perspective. This work is a study of how some
people have resisted the process and persisted in maintainhg their own ground,
which are the grounds of their family and community culture. It is an inquiry
into how these grounds are eroded and how people are persuaded to accept the
terms of a developrnent process that they do not necessarily own.
viii
I would like to thank ail of the people in the community who told me their
stories and listened to mine and who helped me with this work especially Angus
Dan and Christie Anna MaciSinnon and the members of their family.
I would also like to th&
the members of my thesis cornmittee, Edgar Friedenberg, Daniel W. Machnes,
and
Donald Claimont
and also my fnend
Ed Beizer for taking the time h m h aymaking to help me wiîh things like
commas and elipses.