Mary Louise Bernard, a Mi’kmaq elder from Wagmatcook First Nation, and park interpreter at Cape Breton Highlands National Park, told us the story of the discovery of maple syrup from the Mi’kmaq oral tradition. Taking turns reading, we heard the story in English, French, and Mi’kmaq.

In addition to the wonderful story, Mary Louise treated us with songs accompanied by her hand drum, and home made pan fried bread with maple syrup. The bread made from a traditional Mi’kmaq recipe and the maple syrup collected by one of her friends.