Discover Our Culture
We take great pride in preserving what makes our varied historic cultures unique and fascinating. The traditions of our Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotian and Gaelic influences live strong in our everyday. Throughout your travels in Nova Scotia, learn and experience how the deep roots of our founders continue to shape our present and future.
The Mi’kmaq people are native to this rugged, sea-swept peninsula. Their art, music, language and spirituality are just a drum beat away.
The spirit of l’Acadie also echoes deep in our culture, a legacy of the intrepid French settlers who first arrived and settled in Nova Scotia in the seventeenth century. The French were followed, not always harmoniously, by the British, who brought over tens of thousands of Gaelic-speaking settlers from Ireland and Scotland.
New England Planters, Black Loyalists leaving the United States of America after the War of Independence, the Maroons of Jamaica… all continue to contribute to Nova Scotia’s distinctive voice and character.
Our artisans are located throughout Nova Scotia, crafting unique art inspired by our history, cultures and natural landscapes. The Cabot Trail has an established artisan loop that features mediums such as pottery, silver, glass, wood, photography, leather and kiltmaking, and the South Shore is home to handcrafted pewter, potters, rug hookers and stained glass artists.
Our culture is written in the lives of our people. It’s also written in our stage plays, movies, music and art.
Discover Nova Scotia's Cultures
Mi'kmaw Culture
For ten thousand years, this rugged, sea-swept peninsula has been home to the Mi’kmaq people. Mi’kmaw and First Nations people have enriched this province with their legends, art, music, spirituality, history, and language.
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Acadian Culture
The spirit of l’Acadie runs deep in Nova Scotia. As one of the province’s four cultures, there are vivid reminders to this day of the intrepid French settlers who first arrived in Nova Scotia in the seventeenth century.
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African Nova Scotian Culture
The story of Black Nova Scotians is a rich tapestry. It’s a story of many diverse groups – Loyalists, Maroons, Caribbeans, Refugees and others – sewn together through a common African ancestry.
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Gaelic & Celtic Culture
Gaelic, a Celtic language and its rich culture have helped shape Nova Scotia’s identity. Centuries ago, Gaelic speaking immigrants from both Ireland and Scotland came by the tens of thousands and made Nova Scotia their home. In both instances, these settlers called themselves Gàidheil (ones who speak Gaelic).
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