Echoes of Ethan

Nova Scotia is Canada’s oldest province and lies within Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people. The province’s rich history and identity have been profoundly shaped by its four founding cultures: the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotian, and Gaelic communities. Today, Nova Scotia is home to diverse cultural communities, each with its own distinct identity, history, and symbolism. The flags representing these communities are powerful emblems of pride, resilience, and heritage.

Flag of Nova Scotia

This is the official flag of the Province of Nova Scotia.
The flag was authorized by royal warrant from King George V in 1929, making it the first flag in the overseas Commonwealth to receive such recognition. It is also the oldest provincial flag in Canada.

The flag is based on the ancient arms granted to Nova Scotia in 1625. Its design features a white field with a blue saltire (St. Andrew’s cross), inspired by the national flag of Scotland but with the colours reversed. At the centre is a gold shield bearing a red lion rampant within a double red border—this is the Royal Arms of Scotland, symbolizing Nova Scotia’s Scottish heritage.

The Mi’kmaq

For over 13,000 years, the Mi’kmaq have lived in and cared for the lands known as Mi’kma’ki—a vast territory that includes present-day Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, eastern New Brunswick, parts of Newfoundland, and the Gaspé region of Quebec, as well as portions of northeastern Maine. Mi’kmaw culture, language, stories, music, and art are deeply rooted in their relationship with the land, waters, and all living beings. This enduring connection to the natural world continues to shape the identity and worldview of the Mi’kmaq today.

Today, Mi’kmaq people live throughout Nova Scotia. As of 2020, there were 17,895 registered Mi’kmaq in the province, with approximately 63% (11,202 individuals) living on reserve. Nova Scotia is home to 13 Mi’kmaq First Nations, with Eskasoni First Nation being the largest Mi’kmaq community in both the province and the world. In 2022, the province officially recognized Mi’kmaq as Nova Scotia’s first language and committed to supporting its preservation and revitalization for current and future generations.

Mi’kmaq Grand Council Flag

This is the flag of the Mi’kmaq Grand Council (Santé Mawió’mi), the traditional and spiritual governing body of the Mi’kmaq Nation. It is the most commonly flown Mi’kmaq flag across Mi’kma’ki.

The flag features a white field symbolizing the purity of creation. A red cross represents humanity and the four directions. The red sun symbolizes the forces of the day, while the crescent moon represents the forces of the night. These sacred symbols reflect Mi’kmaw worldviews and the balance between natural and spiritual forces.

Mi’kmaq National Flag

The Mi’kmaq National Flag was first raised in Listuguj, Quebec, on October 4, 1900, and later in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1901.

The flag features three colours—white, red, and blue—representing the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This reflects the deep Catholic influence among the Mi’kmaq since the 18th century.

In the centre are two smaller flags.

• The left flag contains the words Mi’gmaq, S.A., and L’nug. “Mi’gmaq” (or Mi’kmaq) comes from nikmaq, meaning “my kin” or “my family.” “S.A.” stands for Saint Anne, the patron saint of the Mi’kmaq since 1730. “L’nug” (or L’nu’k) is the word the Mi’kmaq use to refer to themselves as a people.

• The flag on the right features a red Latin cross and the letters N.A.M.T. an acronym for “Nin Alasotmoinoi gil Mento Tooe” (I am a Catholic, you are a devil, get out).

The Acadians

Acadia is a cultural region in the Maritimes, home to approximately 300,000 French-speaking Acadians. The name “Acadia” comes from the historic French colony of the same name, which was part of New France and included parts of present-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

The Acadian people lived in this region until the mid-18th century, when the British carried out the Expulsion of the Acadians (Le Grand Dérangement), beginning in 1755. Thousands were deported, but some Acadians escaped by fleeing to remote areas of the territory. Their descendants eventually reestablished communities in these regions, giving rise to modern-day Acadia.

Flag of Acadia

This is the Flag of Acadia, which represents the Acadian community of the Maritimes. It was created by Father Marcel-François Richard and officially adopted on August 15, 1884, during the Second Acadian National Convention held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island.

The design is based on the French tricolour (blue, white, and red), symbolizing the Acadians’ roots in France. A gold star appears in the upper left-hand corner of the blue field. This star, known as Stella Maris (Latin for “Star of the Sea”), represents the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Acadians. It serves as a symbol of guidance, hope, and protection for Acadians around the world.

The Nova Scotia Gaels

Approximately one-third of Nova Scotians are descendants of Gaelic-speaking settlers from Scotland and Ireland who arrived between 1773 and 1855. These settlers referred to themselves as Gàidheil—people who speak Gaelic and share in Gaelic culture.

By 1867, Gaelic was the third most spoken language in Canada. Today, it is estimated that there are between 1,000 and 2,000 Gaelic speakers and learners in Nova Scotia, making the province home to the largest Gaelic-speaking community outside of Scotland.

The Nova Scotia Gaelic Flag

This flag represents the Gaelic community in Nova Scotia. It was developed and introduced in 2008 by the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs.

The salmon symbolizes the gift of knowledge, a central theme in the Gaelic storytelling traditions of Nova Scotia, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. The stylized “G” stands for the Gaelic language, while the ripples represent the language’s influence as expressed through a vibrant culture of song, story, music, dance, customs, and beliefs. The blue used in the flag matches the blue of the Nova Scotia provincial flag and coat of arms, linking the Gaelic identity to the broader heritage of the province.

The African Nova Scotians

People of African descent have been a vibrant and integral part of Nova Scotia’s history for over 400 years. Nova Scotia is considered the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada and is home to the largest Indigenous Black community in the country, meaning communities whose roots in the province stretch back generations, not through recent immigration.

These early Black settlers and their descendants form what is now known as the African Nova Scotian community. They established and continue to live in 52 historic Black communities across the province. Some of the most well-known include Shelburne, Africville, East Preston, North Preston, Beechville, Cherry Brook, Annapolis Royal, Halifax, Sydney, and Springhill.

African Nova Scotians have made lasting contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the province and continue to play a vital role in shaping its future.

The African Nova Scotian Flag

The African Nova Scotian flag represents the heritage, resilience, and culture of African Nova Scotians. It was created by artist Wendie Wilson and officially unveiled in 2021. The flag incorporates colours and symbols that hold deep significance for the community. The red symbolizes blood and sacrifice, gold represents cultural richness, green stands for fertility and growth, and black represents the people. The wave at the bottom centre of the flag symbolizes the ocean and movement, honouring the journey of African Nova Scotian ancestors through the Middle Passage during the transatlantic slave trade.

On the centre-left of the flag is a stylized half-heart, a version of the Sankofa symbol from Ghana, which conveys the importance of learning from the past to build a better future. Within the heart is a yin-and-yang-like motif that represents the balance between heartbreak and awareness. The entire design is framed by an incomplete circle, symbolizing the things that are still missing but yet to come, representing hope, healing, and continued progress for the African Nova Scotian community.

Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton is a large island in eastern Nova Scotia and a district of Mi’kma’ki known as Unama’ki. Because of its distinct geography, rich history, and strong cultural roots, Cape Breton has maintained a unique identity that is often seen as separate from mainland Nova Scotia.

Its relative isolation—Cape Breton was not connected to the mainland by the Canso Causeway until the 1950s—and its former status as a separate colony from 1784 to 1820 have helped preserve its diverse cultural heritage. The island is deeply shaped by the enduring presence and influence of the Mi’kmaq, as well as strong Gaelic and Acadian traditions, all of which continue to define Cape Breton’s cultural landscape today.

Flag of Cape Breton Island

This is Cape Breton’s most recognizable and commonly used flag, although its origins are unclear and it is not the official flag of Cape Breton Island. The design features a Canadian pale of forest green and white, with a green saltire and a yellow circle in the centre. The circle contains the words “Cape Breton Island” at the top and “Canada” at the bottom, surrounding a green stylized map of the island.

The official flag of Cape Breton Island was designed by Kelly Gooding in 1992 as part of a flag design contest. This flag symbolizes dignity, strength, pride, and beauty. It features a white field with four vertical stripes in the colours of the Cape Breton tartan. These colours represent different aspects of the island’s heritage: green for the lush landscape, black for the coal mining history, yellow for golden sunsets over the Bras d’Or Lakes, and white for the beauty of winter snow. A blue stripe symbolizes the sea, from which the island appears to rise. Overlaid on the design is a green eagle in the shape of Cape Breton Island itself.

While this official flag was adopted through a resolution at Province House and received the seal of then-Premier John Savage in December 1994, it was never widely embraced by the public. The unofficial green-and-white flag with the island map remains more commonly flown and recognized today.

Together, these flags serve not only as symbols of cultural pride but also as reminders of the deep histories, contributions, and enduring presence of the Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotian, Gaelic, and Cape Breton communities. In a province shaped by both resilience and renewal, these emblems reflect a shared commitment to honouring the past while building an inclusive and respectful future. By recognizing and celebrating the diverse identities that make up Nova Scotia, we strengthen the fabric of this land, one woven with stories of survival, self-determination, and belonging.