Hidden Gem: Friends United Gallery in Richmond County, Nova Scotia

 

Friends United Culture Centre’s Gallery is a hidden gem in the landscape of Richmond County, Nova Scotia. This gallery is nothing like you will find anywhere else in Cape Breton, maybe not even in the rest of Nova Scotia, maybe not even in any of the Maritime Provinces. This gallery is state of the art, housing the incredible artwork of our first nations artists.
Friends United came about because of one man’s insight and dream of bring the art work of our indigenous people to the world. Giving the First Nation’s amazing artists a platform to present their work. German born, Rolf Bouman, immigrated from Germany to Canada in 1986, in his opinion the first nations people were impoverished and underappreciated. He also felt that there was still a prejudice attitude towards first nations people, which cause hard feelings between the first nations and the rest of North Americans. So he set out to work towards correcting this, and giving these talented artists a place on the world stage, drawing attention to their art work and culture.
After many years of determined work and efforts, he secured long term funding to establish the Friends United Initiative in 2009. Through this initiative First Nations artists have been able to present their works to the world and gain well deserved exposure and recognition. This has enabled them to become ambassadors for their people and role models in their communities. Many have become very successful entrepreneurs through the business education programs and funding that they have received through the Friends United Initiative.
Rolf Bouman and Friends United desire to see the elimination of misconceptions and prejudice towards the First Nations people and to promote equality, and respect among all people, cultures and races, by sharing the spiritual and deeply meaningful stories of the artists displayed through their work.
But don’t take my word for this, come to the Friends United Gallery located in Richmond County and view the amazing display of art work, created by some of the most talented artists in Nova Scotia and Canada. Let the work touch your soul and gain a whole new appreciation and insight into the art of our First Nations Peoples.
The directions to the Friends United Cultural Centre, from St. Peter’s is take route 4 through River Bourgeois and on to Grand Anse and continue until you see a sign for Holgers Lane, turn left onto Holgers Lane and the Centre will be on your right. This hidden jewel of Richmond County is the glimmering light that shines on our native culture, and needs to be shared with the world.

One of our Best Traditional Desserts of Summer - Blue Berry Grunt

If you asked by husband what was one of Nova Scotia's best summer time desserts he would say  Blueberry Grunt. Coming from Blue Berry territory in Cumberland County, I wouldn't expect him to say anything else. Growing up with the blue berry fields in your back yard, blue berries were an easy and delicious choice of berry to use in desserts. Here in Cape Breton, we would go out as children and pick a large dish full of blue berries. One of the kids in the area, always knew where the best blue berry field were. So this gave us something to do and got us out of the house, so our mothers could do their house work. I would say Cape Breton Blue Berries were just as good and those on the mainland of Nova Scotia. But that is just me!

For this dessert you will use the following items.
Filling
1 quart blueberries or 4 cups of berries. (We are lucky in our area, to be able to buy local grown berries from a farm in Grand River.)
1/2 cup sugar ( if you like your dessert a little sweeter, you can add up to a cup of sugar)
1 teaspoon lemon juice. 
1/2 cup water.

 In a pot put berries, sugar, lemon juice and water, cover and boil gently until there is plenty of juice.

 

Dumplings

2 cups of flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar ( you can use up to 2 tablespoons depending on the sweetness you like)

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon shortening

Sift dry ingredients ( flour, baking powder, salt and sugar) in a bowl. Cut in the butter and the shortening and add enough milk to make a soft biscuit dough. Drop a spoon full of dough onto the hot blueberries in the pot until you have covered the blueberries. Cover pot tightly and do not check it for 15 minutes. Serve hot in a bowl or on a dessert plate. I like to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Eat and enjoy. You can try mainland berries and Cape Breton berries and see which you like the best. Either one will be delicious.

 

 

My Favorite Dessert Home Made Butter Scotch Pie

Butter Scotch Pie
Ingredients
1 cup packed light brown sugar...
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

Directions
Over Medium heat, combine brown sugar, cornstarch, salt and milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken, about 20 minutes. Make sure to watch closely.
Whisk in egg yolks; continue to cook and stir until filling is thickened.
While pudding mixture is cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Remove filling from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla.
Pour filling into prepared pie crust. Bake in preheated oven until top begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Served with a serving of fresh whipped cream, then sit back and enjoy 

Harbour Wars Come to Richmond County

Fishermen Compete to Claim the Title of Best Fishing Harbour.

 

Harbour Wars- Challenge of the Fishermen- August 24, 2019 :

Do you enjoy eating delicious fresh fish? Have you ever wondered what skills it takes to be a great fisherman? For the answers to these questions make sure to come to the Richmond County’s newest event, “Harbour Wars”, held on August 24^th, from 10am to 6pm, at Little Harbour in L’Ardoise, Cape Breton.

This exciting new one-day family event will feature a friendly skills competition among Richmond County fishermen and women. This event was established as a fundraiser, in hopes of raising money for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation Cancer Patient Care Fund. Fishermen have been invited from around the county to raise to the challenge of proving their fishing area has the most skilled fishermen and best harbour. Come to Little Harbour and see how the competition unfolds and who will be hailed the top team in Richmond, taking home $1000 and bragging rights as the top fishing harbour in Richmond County.

The Harbour Wars competitions are the crown jewels of the event. Be prepared to witness some great battles. The event has five competitions for which the competing teams of four will receive points for their performance, in each meet. At the end of the day, the points will be tallied and the team with the most points will be declared the winner.

Gather your team and get set to take part in the Cod Fish Shuffle, a filleting competition,

an old fashioned dory race, an obstacle course jammed with all things nautical with lots of challenges along the way, will see teams race to complete the obstacle course in the fastest time, and finally a fishermen’s Tug of War. Which team will have the skill and endurance to complete all these challenges and obtain the most points, and win the sought after title of “Best Fishing Harbour” in Richmond County for 2019.

In addition to the skills competition, there will be a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, and amazing entertainment. There will also be a beer tent, and for those who love seafood, a concession stand featuring fresh local seafood and hotdogs for the kids will be on site. There will also be Harbour Wars Logo T-shirts and hats for sale.

This is a great fundraiser for a very worthy cause, so make sure to come out cheer on these hard working and highly skilled fishers of the sea, and join in the fun of summer in L’Ardoise on August 24.