From the writings of 19th-century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to a recent study conducted by scientists at Harvard University, it is generally agreed upon that music can very well be considered the universal language among humankind. And that’s something we can certainly relate to here on Cape Breton Island, where a love of music bridges cultures from many different parts of the world. Another thing Cape Bretoners can relate to, with our populations of Mi’kmaw and Gaelic speakers in particular, is the threat faced by these languages here and around the world. UNESCO’s designation of 2019 as the International Year for Indigenous Languages, and the United Nations’ subsequent declaration of 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, highlighted the crucial role these languages play in social integration, development, and identity, but also the rate of their extinction. Tonight you’ll hear Mi’kmaw, Scottish Gaelic, and French as well as Irish, Welsh, and Manx in this opening concert as we celebrate Indigenous languages and the universality of music.

Nearby meals are Grand Anse Roast Beef Dinner and Homemade Fishcakes and Beans Supper.