Cape Breton Miners’ Museum

Lukewinu'k ikantuk etlukti'tij.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Unama’kik klmuejuapske’ka’timk aknutmaqn etli-anko’tasik. Ika’qek klmuejuapske’ka’timk aq sqna’skewey Una’ma’kik aq suliewey piskwa’q ula lukwaqne’l na pukwelkik wenik pejiwsultisnik Unama’kik.

1889ek Sipu apje’kis kjikan ta’n etlankuamk aq etli-ilite’tmumk mtmo’taqney wjit pilue’l wutanl wejuowk etel na’sik mi’soqo 1891ek, pasik tapuipunqekl pemiaql, Sipu eteksip 74ewey ta’n kis-kitasikl maw-pukwelkik wenik wikultijik. Metla’sipunkekl pemiaqek 1901ek Sipu eteksip 28ewey ta’n kis-kitasikl aq Wasikusikan 46ewey wiaq-kitmumk msit wutanl Kanata. Mi’soqo 1911ek, poqji pawa’sikek te’sultijk wejkwita’jik wjit lukwaqn wejiaq klmuejuapske’ka’timk aq sqna’skewey, Sipu 21ewey mawki’k kjikan Kanata aq Wasikusikan 22ewey. Tapuiskekipunqekl ta’n te’sultijik wikultijik Sipu aq wutanl wejuowk etekl nikwekis 40 percent.

Old Morien Loading Pier, 1880s.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Ke’sk mna’q tapuiska’q kaskimtlnaqnipunqekl, klmuejuapske’kemk apje’jkis aq mu tewji-wl-pmianuksip. Keknue’k tele’k klmuejuapske’ka’tijik, siwkw peji-lukutijik ji’nmuk wejita’jik tami se’k Unama’kik aq Ktaqamkuk, tujiw apaji-l’mita’jik kesik. Keknue’k tele’k klmuejuapske’ka’timk Unama’kik na wjit kjikan wajua’sik toqo wutanl wejuowk sikua’sikl mita elta’jik Sipu. Ktaqamkukewaq ta’puewey mawelkik etl-lukutijik klmuejuapske’katik, Unama’kikewaq mawelkisnik.

Ne’wt kejitumkek klmuejuapsk maw-nuta’t wjit lukwaqney, klmuejuapske’ka’timk aq lukwaqn wije’wmi’tij kisa’tu’tis pqujipukwelnew wenik Unama’kik aq wejiaq ta’n telo’lti’tij. Panta’tasikek “Dominian Coal Co”. 1893ek aq “Dominion Iron and Steel Corporation” 1909ek, klmuejuapske’ka’timk aq ta’n telitumk sqana’qewey ika’qsipnl piley na’kwek aq wije’wkwi’tis pemi-ajelk wen pejiwsit.

Dominion Coal Company Kelumajik wenik jukiwsultinew Kanata

In front of Coal Co. Office.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Mi’soqo 1890's aq 1900's, Kanataewey Ministl nujo’tk teliaq eymumk, Sir Clifton Sifton, e’plewa’sis kelumajik wenik jukiwsultinew mita kmitkinaq nuta’snik me’ lukewinu’k. Pukwelkik se’k wejita’snik welsitmi’tij ta’n telua’tijik Dominion Coal Co, aq Dominion Iron and Steel Corporation. Elkima’tisnik wenik elukewkwi’tijik ta’n etl-na’taqamita’mk, kelnmi’tijl wi’katiknn teluekl:

“Dominion Coal Company” etek Sipu, Kanata, ala’toq lukwaqn tan wen pkwattew tapuaykl mi’soqo naneykl te’sikiskik. Ta’n naqtmi’tij wmitkiwew amujpa lteskittaq Trieste aq na’tel wi’kitaq kisa’matimkewey wjit ta’n tl-lukutitaq aq ta’n tli-apankituaten. Amujpa nikani-apankitmumk $50.00 wjit teli-asoqma’luj puktewu’lk-iktuk.

Tetuji wla’sik wikumujik se’k wejita’jik wenik jel 1891ek mi’soqo 1911ek tel pukwelkis wen pejiwsit wutanl jel na’tamiaw 60 percent te’sisnik. 1901ek, na’tamiaw 52.5 percent Wasikusikank wikultijik aq 51.6 percent Sydney Mines wikultijik atel pejiwsultisnik newtiskekipunqekl.

Kis-tluenes pejiwsultisnik Unama’kik wjit lukwaqn, na’sik elp eykik wessimuktmi’tis ewle’juaqn.

Typical Miner's Cottage, Sydney Mines.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum

Pukwelkik Lebaneseaq pejiwsultisnik wessimuktua’tijik, Turkaq etli-alsusultiliji wmitkiwaq aq Ukraniansik wessimuktua’tijik Polishaq etli-alsusultijik. Mawelkik Ukrainianaq pejiwsultisnik 1904ek, 1907ek aq 1912ek at-lukutijik sqna’skewey etlitumk tujiw pilue’k aji-klmuejuapske’ka’tisnik Wasikusikank aq Domionionk. Eykinik Lithuaniansik wessimuktmi’tij wikumuksinew matntimk, pejita’snik mawelkik 1906 ek atl-lukutinew klmuejuapske’katik Sydney Mines’ik. Lasui’paq elp pejiwsultisnik, wessimuktmi’tij ewlo’tasimk aq ewle’juaqn wjipenuk Europe aq elp jipatmi’tis wikumuksinew matntimk. Mawelkik Lasui’paq pejiwsultisnik 1906ek mi’soqo 1912ek aq pukwelkik ewi’ka’tisnik Pie’rk aq panta’tu’tisnl malsanewe’l.

Atiknetmi’tis tlwljaqo’ltinew ta’n teliajipjutmi’tip tlo’ltinew wejkwita’tijek na’sik mu naqamasianuksip mimajuaqn Unama’kik. Mu teliaqamasianuksip telo’ltimk wjit wenik wejita’jik West Indies aq Europe nkutey wjit wejita’jik Ktaqamkuk aq se’k Unama’kik, mettua’lukwi’tis telinqalo’tmi’tij ta’n wikulti’tij aq ta’n tel-lukuti’tij. Wikumkewiku’s, 1904ek ewikasiksip wi’katikn-iktuk pukwelkik ta’n wejita’jik qame’k at-lukutijik klmuejuapse’katinew Unama’kik mu welqatmu’tikisnik aq apajiwsultisni’k kisna siawtakita’tki’k tkesnuk.

Polish Immigrants to Glace Bay, 1916. From right to left: Anthony Kubik, John Verbeski, Joe Wujeck, John Surgaruta, John Sumara, Joe Nalepka, Frank Bryzski, Joe Mleczko.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Me’sa’matultijik te’sunemiksijik aq atel poqji-kwilmmkek ta’n tl-mawo’ltiten menaqaj. Na ula atel pejiwsultimkek nuta’qsip kwilasiktn ta’n tl-mawo’ltiten menaqaj aq eykis me’sa’matultijik te’sunemiksijik. Eymu’tisnik Unama’kikewaq telita’sultisnik te’sijik pejiwsultijik se’k wejita’jik o’pla’taq ta’n telo’ltimk. Sespena’qsip aq mettu’kaqnikis. Wi’katikniknn wije’wmi’tij ta’n wenik telua’ti’tij na ewi’kmi’tis koqoey mu weltenuk wjit ta’nik wejita’jik qame’k. Kaqi’sk, aklasie’wa’tu’tisnl wisunn kwlaman msit wenik newte’ tlo’ltitaq: Le Fargue telui’tusnik LaForte, Grinevicius telui’tusnik Green aq Poirier telui’tusnik. Perry.

Bankhead which served No.3 and No.11 Collieries.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Mita pukwelkik etl-lukutijik klmuejuapske’katik kajjimenewakutmu’tijik msit wen kajjimenewi’sis. Ne’kaw ta’n teli’sultijik aq ta’n telo’ltijik melkuktmi’tis atel poqtamkia’q tapuiska’qewey kaskimtlnaqnipunqek na’sik klapis pekwankwi’tis telita’simk Aklasie’wey aji-klu’k aq kajjimenewi’simk aq kajjimenewo’ltimk. Na nekmewey aq ta’n tetuji wisqikwekl kjikanl aq lukwaqney kaqi-ksika’toq kajjimenewi’simk kjikank aq elp klapis se’k Unama’kik.

Mi’soqo 1920'sek poqji-jena’sik ta’n tel-me’sa’matulti’tij te’sunemiksijik. Tela’tekeksip Kanataewey pejiwsimkewey mtmo’taqney ajelkl teplutaqnn ika’tuasnl klmuejuapske’ka’timkewe’l mtmo’taqne’l wjit ta’n tel-pejo’la’tij lukewinu’k aq elp Amskwesewey matntimk wsitqamuey pawa’toqsip ta’n tel-pmi-ajeli’tij wenik aq lukwaqney ta’n telikwek.

Ta’n tett wikimk aq tel mawo’ltimk

Keskmtuisknek k'esk punlakitimkek, 1925ek.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Dominion Coal Company i’ko’lasnik newtinemiksultijik wenik te’s klmuejuapske’ka’tik na wenik tekweyatultijik nkutey telo’ltijik. Klmuejuapske’ka’ti’l me’ meski’knukl na weliaqsip wjit ta’n tel-mawo’timk aq teli’ka’timk. Nemituk ula teli’ka’timk Sterling etek Wasikusikank ta’n suel puktaqiyesnik kantakwejk. Tujiw Ktaqamkukewaq etl-lukutisnik aq etli-ka’tisnik kikjuk ta’puewey klmuejuapske’kati etek Dominion. Sipuk etek Pierk kisitu’tis Dominion Steel and Iron Corporation aq pukwelkik se’k wejita’jik, api’s Lasui’paq aq kantakwejk (West Indiesewaq) wikultisnik mtmo’taqne’l wenji’kuo’ml etekl na’te’l. Mita tepkiso’lujik, wskwijinu’k naqsi-nqalo’tmi’tis ta’n eymi’tij mita newtuko’ltisnik aq pa’sik newte’jilijl alsusitl ila’matulti’lijl.

Te’s newtunemiksijik pejiwsulti’tij, na panta’tu’tij wtalasutuo’kuo’muew. Alasatmaqn mawnajik wenik newte’ telo’ltijik. Pukwelki’k ta’n kajjimenewakutmu’tijik ketlamsitasultijik Klujjiewto’simkewey Alasutmaqney. Miamuj eta, mawelskis wen ketlamsitasit Klujjiewto’simkewey Alasutmaqney Reserve-77.6 percent, Dominion 70.5 percent aq New Waterford 68.7 percent teli-ktlamsitasultisnik. Platisnaq ta’puewey mawelkik teli-ktlamsitasultisnik. Platisnaq ta’puewey mawelkik pukwelkl wutanl aq ta’nik teli-ktlamsitasultijik kajjimenewakutmu’tijik.

Mi’soqo 1920ek, pukwelkl wela’tekemkewe’l aq mawo’ltimkewe’l Mawio’mie’l ne’aqasiksipn wutann etl-klmuejuapske’kemk. Nkutey nike’ “Ancient Order of Hibernians” aq “Old Fellows” aq we’kaw “Knights of Columbus” aq Loyal Orange?? Order”.Ula Mawio’mi’l apoqntmi’tis telkaqnik wutank, ika’tu’tijl mawatalultimkl, ketapekia’timk, milita’mk aq amaltu’amk wjit ta’nik apoqnmua’tijik aq msit wen wutank.

Napuiwikasit lukewinu.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Mawio’mi’l elp eteksipnl wjit te’s te’sunemiksijik wenik. Aklasie’wkw Sydney Mines kisitu’tis, “Sons of the British Isles, Literary and Provident Society”. Mawio’mi telpukuik wjit “mjijaqamijuey, menaqewo’ltimk, ankita’suaqney aq wlapetmnew naspultijik”. Wenujk New Waterford aq Reserve Mines ika’tu’tisnl “La Societe L’assumption” aq kisa’tu’tis ika’tasiktn etui’simkewey wutank kina’matnewo’kuo’m. 1918 ek Kantakwe’jk etl-lukutijik klmuejuapske’kati etek Sterling kijkuk Glace Bay panta’tu’tis “United Negro Improvement Association” aq “African Community League”.

Ne’kaw pem-we’tuo’tmumk

Newtiskeksijik tel'k unionk.
The Cape Breton Miners' Museum.

Mi’soqo 1920ek, ta’nik pejiwsultipnik aq wikmawaq 1890'sek, poqji tlo’tmi’tij tleyawultijik Unama’ki aq nekmewey wmitkiwew. Tetuji wisqikwekl wutanl wen Unama’kik 1890's aq 1900'sek poqji-naqa’sikip poqjiaq amskwesewey matntimk wksitqamu’k. Mi’soqo tujiw ki’s na nuku’ ta’n telo’ltimk keknek: pile’l tel mawo’ltimk aq teli-atlasmimk-tu’a’timk, pipukwemk aq wutank mawio’mi’l kisitasiksipnl. Aq elp kisitasiksipn lukewinue’l mawio’mi’l aq mawi-alsutasikl malsano’kuo’ml na aji-nqamasiaq mimajuaqn wjit ta’nik pejiwsultipnik aq ta’n teli-i’k Unama’kik.

Tlia’j na pemi-aji-tkle’jijk pejiwsultijik, klmuejuapske’ka’timk me’ tujiw aq me’ pekije’kek mawelkis lukwaqn. Kwlaman tepietaq lukewinu’k klmuejuapske’ka’timk Unama’kik, pukwelkik pejiwsulupnik lukewinu’k se’k wejita’jik na me’ pekije’k pemi-keknuika’tu’tij te’sunemiksimk, ta’n tett wikimk aq ta’n telo’ltimk Unama’kik.

Ula aknutmaqn wjit ta’n pejiwsultimk aq klmuejuapske’ka’timk wejiaq Unama’kikewey klmuejuapske’ka’timk etli-anko’tasik.

© 2009 Cape Breton Miners’ Museum.

Download a PDF version of this story. [file size = 416 KB]