Cowboys share different stories, eat different food and wear clothes that are different from the stories, food and clothes of desert or big city people.

People who study culture split all culture into two groups—material and non-material. If you look around your classroom or pull out the things you have in your pocket, you will see examples of material culture such as clocks, books, pens, money, chewing gum or a comb. Material culture means things people make or use. We can see them. Non-material culture refers to the things from our culture that we can’t see. Examples of this are spoken language, music, beliefs and ways of behaving.

In Inverness County in the 1800s, the Scots and the Acadians had languages, music, histories, traditions and pastimes that were different from each other. We can still see some of these differences today. For example, Scottish music is more popular than ever. Young people from Inverness County have learned from older masters of the fiddle and piano. They have changed the music a little, but it still sounds Scottish. Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie McMaster and the Rankins have all done this.

One part of Chéticamp culture that people there still enjoy is Mi-carême (pronounced mee kar em’). This is a fun-filled event that takes place during Lent. Years ago, young people put on homemade masks and costumes and visited people nearby. They sang and danced while their hosts tried to figure out who they were. Today people of all ages take part. They travel by car, but they still play music wherever they go.