Work Through Time: Cape Breton Stories of Land & Sea

Aknutmaqn wjit etlitasik Sqana’qw Sipuk
nemitumk ta’n telo’ltisnik
mimajuinu’k Whitney Pier.
Aknutmaqn wjit mekite’tasik lukwaqn,
Witaptimk aq
Mawikwamk,
wjit mulinji’juey aq natawa’qatekemk aq peji-jileyumk
aq wsitqamu metua’sik,
aq lukwaqney wutan.

Etli tasik koqoey.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Tujiw 1900ek, ta’n telo’ltimk aq telipkwatekemk Unama’kik wettaqne’wasik sqana’qewey lukwaqney api’s Sipuk. Na’sik maw-wettuo’mumk sqana’qewey Whitney Pierk. Ketloqo, ta’n tel-nenmumk staqa meski’k lukwaqney wutan wettaqne’wasik telitumk sqana’qewey, aq te’s wenaqa’sik kisna nisiaq sqana’qewey mesitoq ta’n telo’ltimk ki’s ula kaskimtlnaqnipunqek.

H.M. Whitney, Pastunkewa’j, milesuinu, nikana’toq Dominioney klmuejuapskey mtmo’taqney tujiw 1893ek, kisite’tkis tlitasiktn sqana’skw Sipuk. Unama’ki welteksip tlitasiktn sqana’skw mita wejuowk etekl klmuejuapske’kati’l aq limestone weja’tasik, qasawo’q ta’n weji-pqutkitten kaqi kisa’tasik sqana’qewey. H.M. Whitney ilutk ta’n tl-lukwetten, Dominion Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) poqjitoqsip ta’n sqana’qewey etlitasik Sipuk 1899ek. Mawi amskwes puktewtek kuta’tasiksip Kesikewiku’s 31, 1901ek.

Ankmayiw weji-nenmumkis ta’n sqana’qewey etlitasik sipuk wjit tetuji kejikawey Pastunkewey lukwaqney aq wesku’tasiksip msit tami kmitkinaq. 1901ek Halifax Herald-iktuk, Nikanpukuit A.J. Moxham wesku’tkis telitumk sqana’qewey, telues, “Kanata nike’ mawi-espe’k tami ta’n sqana’qewey etlitumk. L’pa ma’ ksipu’tuat.”

Klumuajuapsk etlapaluj.
Unknown. 77-69-203. Beaton Institute, Cape Breton University.

Metla’sipunqekl pemiaql, Sipu ala’toqsip mawki’k lukwaqney kjikmukewe’l Saqamawewa’ki’l, aq newte’jk ta’n ne’siskl mawa’tasikl ta’n sqana’qewey etlitumk Kanata.

Ne’kaw tapuiskimtlnaqnipunqek, Sipukewaq sqana’qewey eltu’tij aknimujik wjit tetuji-kejikawey lukwaqney ewe’wasik. Mackie Retarded Cooling Press, 1930’sek maw wl-nenasik, na’sik eteksipni’kl pukwelki’kl pilue’kl, nkutey nike’ mu nujkima’nuk valve teluisik “tuyere” wjit puktewi’kann kisitoqsip George Beaton. 1956ek Puktewi’kann etl-lukutijik kisi-kuto’tu’tis 49,000 tons sqana’qewey jel mu “off-heat”inuk, me’ mna’q kespu’tmuk wen.

Ta’n etlitumk sqana’qewey etek awsma upmetuk Whitney Pierk metoqa’timk Sipuey Pitue’k. Miaw lukwekek, eteksipnl kaskimtlnaqn kmu’ji’kann aq meski’k maqamikew alsutmi’tis. Tujiw 1901ek etlitasik qasawo’q, a’qata’tasikl ingotsl aq billetsl, loqwa’taqnn (atel 1905ek), qasawo’qapi aq pleku’l (atel 1901ek) newtanqekl (atel 1918ek).

1905ek, etekipnl 400 Otto-Hoffmane’l puktewi’kann wjit klmuejuapsk etoqtasit newkl nujkimesuek puktewi’kann kelnmi’tij 1200 tons, newtiska’ql 50 tone’l pantetekl nisoqamkiaql puktewi’kann 35 mtijn telki’k “bloomingey” mulin, mulin etlitasikl taqmoqtekl, loqwa’taqney mulin, mulina’tasikl; ta’n qasawo’q etli-ilika’tumk aq wasoqa’tekekowe’l. Qalipikemk, ewtapilo’tasimk aq piluey metue’k lukwaqnn mu nuta’nuksip tetuji piley etlitekemkewey. Piley lukwaqney etekip sqana’qewey etlitumk nkutey nike’ piksa’q kisna wasoqa’tekek-iktuk weji-lukwekl wenaqo’tekekewey, mulina’tasijik ka’qnk, asuatijo’tekemkewe’l aq puljaynl. Na’sik me’ ne’kaw nuta’pnik lukewinu’k pma’tunew mulinji’jl. “Bullwork” nkutey waqama’tumk puktewi’kann kisna wenaqo’tumk qasawo’qapi, ne’kaw pitn-iktuk elukwatmumkisnl aq nuta’pnik melkikna’tijik aq melkna’tijik lukewinu’k.

The Coke Ovens Fire Department.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

1909ek, DISCO aq Dominion Coal Company toqa’tumkipnl, kisitasikip Dominion Steel Company (Dosco). Mi’soqo 1920ek, Sqana’qewey Sipuk telui’tasik British Empire Steel Corp. (BESCO) pemi-ajki’ksip. Ika’tumkis piley “Bloomingey” Mulin 1903ek, loqwa’taqney mulin 1904ek, mulin etlitasikl taqmoqtekl 1910ek, aq newtanqekewey mulin 1918ek. Aq elp eteksipnl ta’n qasawo’q etli-ilika’tumk, puktewi’kann aq mulina’tasikl. Piley nujkimesawek puktewi’kan ika’tasiksip aq tapusijik pile’k etl-toqtatmumk klmuejuapsk. Ne’kaw wetnu’kwatmi’tis koqoey ta’n wije’wk telamu’k qasawo’q aq klmuejuapskw ta’n wejiaq tett. Kisita’sultijik pantetek puktewi’kann maw-wla’sik, tlia’j na milamuksultijik Bessemer Convertork wetnu’kwalusnik. 1929ek apaji tlui’tasiksip mtmo’taqney DOSCO.

Sqana’qewey Sipuk weli-pkwatekeksip etlia’q tapu’kl matntimkl wsitqamu’k. Sipu weja’tumkis sqana’skw wjit pilue’l aq wejiaq koqoey etoqtatmumk klmuejuapskw ke’sk amskwe’sewey matntimk wsitaqamu’k etlia’q.

Sqana’qewey newtanqekewey mulin panta’tasiksip 1918ek na’sik kaqia’q matntimk kepjoqa’tasiksip, tujiw il-panta’tasiksip ta’puewey matntimk aq elp maqa’tumkisnl pantetekl puktewi’kann. Kaqia’q matntimk nisiaqsip lukwaqnn, tela’tekek awsamsa’qewey lukwaqney DOSCO mu tetpnmukl aji kejikawe’l sqna’qw etlitasikewe’l Ontario.

Ki’s na pemi-aji teklankuamk koqoey wejiaq etltoqtasit klmuejuapsk kaqia’q ta’puewey matntimk tujiw apj na nu’kwa’qipnek Dominion Tar Companyek 1940ek.

Production of 50 ton ingot at Sydney Steel in 1950.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Qatayuk 1950’sek, pile’k Kopper Beckere’k puktewi’kann ta’n etl-toqtasit klmuejuapskw aq nujkimesawek puktewi’kan ika’lusnik aq pile’k alsusitk ika’lusnik – Eleke’wa’kik tle’k, Hawker-Siddely. Na’sik mu kisi-mlkiknewa’tu’tiksip sa’qewey lukwaqney etek mita pem-nisiaq telankuamk sqna’qwey wsitqamu’k aq mi’kma’kikewey kaplno’l telua’tisnik “mu eyknuk ta’n tl-wlapetten etlitasik sqna’qwey Sipuk jel ewla’luek teli-amasek atankuamkl etekl.”

Black Friday”, Wikewiku’s 13, 1967ek Hawker Siddily ekinua’tekeksip kepjoqa’tasik sqana’qewey Sipuk. Wskwijinu’k mu welte’tmi’tiksip. Ji’nmuk, e’pijik aq mijua’ji’jk, ekina’masultite’wk, ktapekiewinu’k, alasutuo’kuo’ml aq kaplno’l naspultijik mawita’snik telua’tisnik, “Save Our Steel.”

Na wejiaqsip: SYSCO, wtmtmo’taqney kaplno’l Mi’kma’kik. Mu wela’sinuk lukwaqney, kepjoqa’tamk aq meno’lujik wenik, aq elui’tmasimk il-lukwatasiten koqoey wije’tultikl. Klapis, 1987ek, il-lukwasik aq apsa’tumk SYSCO, mu pekije’nukek, kepjoqa’tasikl etl-toqtaluj klmuejuapskw, nujkimesuek puktewi’kann aq maw kespi-puktewsawek pantetek puktewi’kan. Kaqia’q sqna’qwey etlitumk sipuk.

SYSCO mulinji’j tujiw 1990ek, na’tamiaw 900 lukewinu’k etl-lukutijik. Lukwaqn wejiaq qame’k etlankuamk loqwa’taqnn. Aq toqa’tumk electric arc/ ladle metallurgy/computerized mill technology aq ntawa’qa’taqatijik lukewinu’k. Mi’kma’kik kaplno’l ekinua’tekep ketu’ ntui’ske’tij SYSCO 1992ek.

Lukewinu’k etl-lukutijik Sqna’qwey

Machine shop workers, 1950; Dominion Iron and Steel Corporation, Sydney N.S.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Ta’n tel-wl-pmiaq etlitasik Sqna’qwey Sipu wejiaq lukewinu’k. Mawelkik etl-lukutipnik ke’sk matntimkl, 6000 mawelkik etl-lukutisnik. Epijik, ne’kaw etl-lukutijik mtmo’taqnewo’kuo’mk. Na’sik, ke’sk etlia’q ta’puewey matntimk, na’tamiaw 700 e’pijik etl-lukutisnik etlitumk sqana’qewey. Ta’nik etl-lukutijik etlitumk sqna’qwey wel-nenujik wjit tel-mawikwa’tij aq mekite’tmi’tij kisitu’tij tlia’j na nesana’q wtlukwaqnuew, wenik weji-ajkno’ltijik kisna nepu’tijik aq kesnukwa’lukwi’tij weji-lukutijik.

Aknutmaqney wjit ta’n tel-mawikwa’tijik lukewinu’k weji pqutamkiaq 1903ek ta’n tujiw DISCO nisa’toq telawtik pekwatumk. Mu welte’tmi’tiksip lukewinu’k aq elmipunqekek tewliketa’snik na’sik mu kespu’tueksipnik. Sma’knisk pejo’lusnik aq mu pasik nisa’tasinuksip telawtik pekwatumk elp ejikla’tumkis Lukewinu’k Mawikwa’timk.

Sma'kinisk Kuntewiktukewaq.
Unknown. 83-6299-13599. Beaton Institute, Cape Breton University.

Tlia’j na etekipnl lukwaqne’l mawikwa’timkl (nkutey nike’ saqpa’ntiejk aq nuj-seknika’tijik) mu l’nim wetnu’kwatasinuksip l’tasiktn mawikwa’timk mi’soqo 1920’sek ta’n tujiw ki’s app ketu’ nisa’tumkek telawtik lukewinu’k pekwatu’tij. Me’ kiskuk wesku’tasik tewliketa’mkek 1923ek nuji-kla’qa’lua’tijik aq sma’knisk pejita’pnik aq el’utasiksip ta’n etlitumk sqana’qewey. Matntultimkis aq pe’skewe’l kiskaja’tasiksipnl wjit tli-ikatten etlitumk sqana’qewey aq wutmo’taqnuew.

Mawi amskwesewe’l nesiskekipunqekl, a’qatayik lukewinu’k se’k tleyawultisnik aq lukwaqn tel- nastua’tasik ta’n tel-akutmumk wjit tapuiska’qewey kaskimtlnaqnipunqek. 1910ek, “Commission on hours of Labour” teluesnik Ktaqamkukewaq aq se’k wejita’jik aji-penoqo’tasijik aq ta’n wenik tleyawultijik tett. Ta’n wenik se’k wejita’jik iknmuksi’tis mawi ewlamu’k lukwaqn – etltoqtasit klmuejuapskw, nujkimesuek puktewi’kan, kisna “bull work” nkutey waqama’tumk puktewi’kann kisna wenaqo’tumk qasawo’qapi.

Jack Andrews, John Berezuk 14 Farris Street. Etlukwejik steel plantiktuk.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Mita natawa’qa’tekemkewey lukwaqn mu mesnmi’tik se’k wejita’jik lukewinu’k mu kis-nasita’qsipnik mawikwamkewe’l ta’n etlitumk sqana’qewey. Na wjit mu ewi’tuksi’k mawikwamkewey wesku’tasik. Mu kisa’muksikipnik mawikwa’tinew aq e’tmatmnew ta’n telkaqnik etl-lukutimk mawi-ewlamu’k lukwaqn. Aq ta’n wen nikana’lajik tel-nmiut nesana’t se’k wejiet aq wettaqne’wasit Bolshevism.

Aji-ilpalikate’n kutapsunn aq jikla’si
Mu menuaqtasiwun tett,
La’titesnuk ta’n kaskimtlnaqn elta’jik te’sikisk
wessimuktmi’tij kewisinumk aq wenmajita’simk
La’titesnu’k aji kwilmu’k maqamikew
ta’n kitk mlakej aq mijipjamuejapu pemitkl
Aji-ilpalikate’n kutapsunn ela’ti’k Sipu
mita New Morris kis tlimit!

St. John’s Daily News, 1903

Ketloqo se’k wejita’jik keknue’k ta’n teli-apoqntmi’tij lukwaqney mawikwamk tujiw atel panta’sikek etlitumk sqna’qwey.

A Dominion Iron and Steel Limited cheque from 1957.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Mawi-amskwes ewikasik wjit lukewinu’k aq alsusultijik tela’matultijik 1900ek ta’n tujiw nuji-kla’qa’lua’tijik DISCO ketu-pija’la’tijek tapusijik “Italianaq kis-matna’titl alsusilitl. 1930ek “Italianaq” lukewinu’k tewliketa’snik menueke’tij ajawtik pekwatumk aq aji-klu’k etl-lukwemk. Ta’n tujiw mtmo’taqney ketu’ piskwa’lajek pile’k lukewinu’k, Italianaq kiskatpukueta’snik, ala’tu’tijl “pukmaqnn, pikl, qaliputi’l aq qasawo’ql” aq newte’jit “pema’toq mekwe’k mtawekn”.

Lukwinu'k etl lukutijik steel plantuk.
The Whitney Pier Historical Society.

Nuji-kla’qa’lua’tijik ejiklta’tisnik, pukwelkik pukmaqna’la’tijik aq newte’jilijl kisna tapusijik pija’lusnik. Eykik Italianaq mu app lukwaqn mesnmi’tiksip na naqtmi’tis Sipu aj-kwilmi’tis se’k lukwaqnn.

Slavicaq” lukewinu’k ala’tu’tis mawa’tumk koqqwaja’tekemk aq alsusuti weja’tu’tij ta’n tleyawulti’tij. Na’sik mita “Red Scare”, eyki’k tewaqalusni’k Ukrainianey Catholic Church 1920’sek. Nasita’snik Orthodox Ukrainian Church. Aq naspultisnik Ukrainian Labour Temple. Eyki’k nikana’tu’tij mawikwamk wjit Slavicaq ta’n mu app lukwaqn iknmuksi’tiksip kisi-tewliketa’mkek 1923ek aq eykik apatkimusni’k ta’n tleyawulti’tij miaw-ewle’juaqnikek.

Lasui’paq, tlia’j na mu pukwelkik etl-lukutikipnik sqana’qewey etlitumk, apoqntmi’tip tel-mawikwamk, ika’tu’tijl ta’n wenik nikana’tu’tij tel-mawikwamk tl-kina’mua’titaq. Eyki’k lasui’paqi’k “1905ewaqi’k” ta’n wiaqpultisnik Russian Revolution 1905ek. Miaw ewle’juaqnikek, Lasui’paq malsank apoqnmua’tisnik lukewinu’k ta’n entu’tis lukwaqnmuew.

Ta’n tujiw menaqaj iloqamuj sqna’qwe’k lukewinu’k tami se’k, sqna’qwe’k lukewinu’k Sipu nkutey tel-kaqi’sk tewliketa’jik, na’sik Sipukewaq lukewinu’k tel-nenujik wjit teli-melki-ikatmi’tij tel-mawikwamk.

Ula aknutmaqney amskwes ewikasiksip From the Pier, Dear! Images of a Multi-cultural Community tewa’tu’tis 1993ek Whitney Pier Historical Society.

© 1993, Whitney Pier Historical Society

Afterword

Work Through Time Project Team

Tujiw ula aknutmaqne’l kis-wikasikek “From the Pier, Dear!” 1993ek, pukwelk pilua’sik wjit SYSCO, Sipu Sqna’qwey etlitumk aq wutanl etek kikjuk Sipu aq Whitney Pier. Kaqia’q sqna’qwey lukwaqney Unama’kik, tela’tekek koqoey piley tel-lukwemk aq etlankuamkl wsitqamu’k pilua’sikl. Ne’kaw 1990’sek, kaplno’l Mi’kma’kik wetnu’kwatkis kisi-ntui’sketun etlitumk sqna’qwey, (we’kaw MinMetalsaq China ketu’ ntui’skmas) na’sik elmi-kespiaq mu wela’sinukek. Na 2001ek sikoqi’katasiksip aq pukwelkek we’kaw Bloom Mill, si’stewey aq l’uiknekewey nujkimesuek puktewi’kann aq tekpeka’luekewey sikoqta’siksipnl. Elmi’knik amujpa ila’tumk wsitqamuey nkutey Sipuk “Tar Ponds” aq wesku’tasik ta’n tl-we’wten ta’n maqamikew ta’n kaqamikip etlitumk sqna’qwey. Me’ ktu’ kitmn aq ktu’ kjijitu’n aknutmaqney wjit sqna’qwey Lukwaqney Whitney Pier, lie Related Materials Section.

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