Mi’kmaq culture on the golf course
The Lakes already getting positive feedback from addition
The Lakes Golf and Country Club is adding some Cape Breton culture to its course with the help of Eskasoni Cultural Journeys.
Two hand-carved, wooden eagle feathers have been added to holes six and 13, which overlook the Bras d’or Lakes toward Eskasoni First Nation. The pieces were carved by William Roach, an award-winning Acadian folk artist based in Cheticamp, who also identifies as Métis.
It was an idea that Eric Young, golf operations manager at The Lakes, came up with in January based on similar cultural displays he saw while working at other golf courses internationally. The hope was to add something unique that would be a talking point among club members and tourists.
“When tourists come for the first time, we want them to see something unique,” said Young, who has been with The Lakes for three years.
“I’m happy with them and we’re already seeing positive response. People seem to love them.”
Sandra Macdonald, operations manager for Eskasoni Cultural Journeys and Goat Island, took the lead in helping decide on the design and finding the artist to do it. The spruce carvings, which are about four feet tall and sit in a painted base, are something Macdonald said they are “quite pleased with.”
“This is a marketing opportunity. It’s a beautification opportunity. It’s a partnership opportunity. It’s great,” she said.
“(The feathers) are already generating lots of comments and apparently they’ve been seen on Instagram … the more we get recognized in the non-indigenous community, the non- L’nu community, the better.”
Roach, who owns Sunset Art Gallery in Cheticamp, started focusing full time on his artwork 29 years ago and has had his work displayed internationally, in countries like France and Switzerland.
While there are no current plans to add markers representing other aspects of Cape Breton culture, such as Celtic, on other holes on The Lakes golf course, Young said he isn’t rul- ing it out.
“Even with our tags and the Cape Breton flag in our clubhouse, we’re really trying to embrace Cape Breton culture.”