Paddling to the past: Building birchbark canoe brings history to life for First Nation youth

Several young people in Membertou First Nation are getting together almost daily during the summer to build a traditional birch bark canoe — and for some, it’s personal. Above, from left, are: Samara Paul; Anastasia Kabatay; and Miracle Johnson. Paul and Kabatay are related to Edward Kabatay, one of the paddlers of the Expo ’67 expedition that saw two canoes paddled by Mi’kmaq men from Cape Breton all the way to Montreal in a 31-day voyage. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton Post By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post A young Membertou woman has a good reason to be s…