Cape Breton's Magazine

judge an Indian-made canoe." And Labrador said, "That's the way with me. I got first prize', but I'm not going to make any more Indian-made canoes." He said, "You've got a real Indian-made canoe, but they can't tell the difference. Nobody here knows how to judge an Indian-made ca? noe." And Jim Glode said that was the last time an Indian-made canoe was brought in. I suppose you could find the records.... Was that true? It must be true. But Jim Glode used to say, he said he never made a canoe after that--never made--not to take in an exhibition. But my grandfather, Henry Sack, and Peter Glode, and John Noel-- they made canoes. I don't know if John Noel was still making canoes, but I remember my Uncle Henry Sack...showed me the place where they--he said, "There's where my father and Peter Glode used to make canoes--right in that spot--level, level spot." Well, they'd finish a canoe, and then they'd paddle it down to Mill Village.. There was a mill there then--I remember the little old mill, what's left of it. And then from there they'd--maybe about two miles, a little over two miles, to Shubenacadie Village. Then they'd bring it to Halifax, and sell it for $20. Goodness, how long it took to gather that much birchbark, and all the spruce roots, and the balsam, and the pitch--pine pitch-- well, there wouldn't be so much spruce, but spruce gum. Not too much fir pitch, because it didn't harden up enough. But the pine and spruce pitch or gum. To seal all that. Brings it all the way to Halifax to get $20 for it. I saw my grandfather, several times he'd say--he was getting old. He said, "You and I've got to make a canoe. I want to show you how to make a canoe." But we always had a farm; we were always too busy to get birchbark--it'd be just about haying time. (We had) all the gardens to look after. Like I said, my father--his ways were not Indian ways. And then Mr. Bill Paul--he was the chief a long time in Shubenacadie --William Paul? He invited me several times--during the wintertime he'd tell me, "Well, come spring. Max, you and I's got to make a canoe. We'll make a canoe." But always, come springtime, I'd be too busy putting in crops and looking after the cattle. Never did get around to it. This interview took place in Halifax on March 9, 1984. The older photographs are from the Max Basque Collection, Nova Scotia Museum, and from Max Basque's personal collection. l/lax Basque's Story WIN Continue in issue 52 Fraser's Dell & Convenience Fresh Daily Home Baking Deli * Meats * Cheeses ONE STOP CONVENIENCE Union at Amelia ?? GUCEBAY • 849-2090 La Fleur du Rosier Acadian folksongs collected by Dr.'Helen Creighton Includes musical notation for each song and English translations ot all lyrics. Introduction by Dr. Ronald Labelle. Universite de Moncton. "ffttlOtcJltd. l- • M.'' J I' J Jl|J; J Jl U dai-R fon-Uim le que je ' '.'' J; m '' • Computerized Wheel Balancing • Alignment & Brakes • Complete Road Service • Shocks 539-5670 265 PRINCE ST. • SYDNEY La Fleur du Rosier is available in local retail stores or from: University College of Cape Breton Press P.O. Box 5300 Sydney, Nova Scotia Bl P 6L2 Tel. (902) 539-5300 Ext. 146 Hard Cover: $39.95 Soft Cover: $24.95 29