News Release Archive

EDUCATION/CULTURE--TWO CAPE BRETON PROJECTS RECEIVE GRANTS
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Two innovative community-based research projects will get under
way in Cape Breton thanks to the Nova Scotia Museum Endowment
Fund. The funding totals almost $37,000 for these and nine other
research projects made possible across the province.

Through a partnership including the Nova Scotia Highland Village
and the University College of Cape Breton, Scott Buchanan will
continue research into the lives of Scottish immigrants who
settled in Nova Scotia. His fieldwork in 1997 will be in western
Cape Breton and northeastern mainland Nova Scotia.

Francis Sylliboy of Eskasoni will research and document
information on Mi'kmaq poet Rita Joe, who recently received the
National Aboriginal Achievement Award in Calgary.
Candace Stevenson, executive director of Nova Scotia Museum, said
this research is made possible through the generosity of the
people who donate money to the museum's endowment fund.

"As a result, the museum can carry out special activities -- in
this case, important research on a wide variety of Nova Scotia
topics that enable us to learn more about our past, present and
future. We are then able to build on what is already known and,
through the Nova Scotia Museum's 25 sites, share this valuable
and interesting information with all Nova Scotians."

Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison commended the
museum's board for making research projects a priority.

"For a relatively small investment, Nova Scotians are learning
more and more about important aspects of our natural and cultural
history and our way of life in communities across the province,"
Mr. Harrison said. "As one example, archeological research at a
Black Loyalist settlement in Birchtown, Shelburne Co., uncovered
information that will assist protection efforts of this important
heritage site."

The Nova Scotia Museum board of governors have approved more
projects this year than ever before in six different categories:
archeology, black history, Mi'kmaq history, music, paleontology
and rare species. Individual grants range from $2,000 to $4,000.

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Contact: Donna MacDonald
         Education and Culture
         902-424-2615

NOTE TO EDITORS: A complete list of the 11 research projects is
available by calling 902-424-4492.

trp                 May 28, 1997 - 1:30 p.m.