Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (THE V ILLAGE N EWS) Nova Scotia Highland Village Society Sùil ri buaidh EXPECTATIONS OF SUCCESS

• Strategic Planning Process • Trip to Gaelic Scotland • Eilean nan Òg • Gaelic Story & Song Selection • News from 2001, Events for 2002, and more...

http://highlandvillage.museum.gov.ns.ca

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Comunn Clachan Gàidhealach na h-Albann Nuaidh - Nova Scotia Highland Village Society Volume 8 Number 1

Inside This Issue… From the Director’s Desk 4 By Rodney Chaisson The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society was incorporated on Eilean nan Òg 6 November 3, 1959 under the Island of Youth Internship Program, by Frances MacEachen Societies Act of Nova Scotia with the purpose of constructing a Our Strategic Planning Process: An Update 8 replica pioneer village at Iona. By Rodney Chaisson

The Mission of the Society is: to Turas Rannsachaidh dha ‘n Albainn 9 protect, interpret and further the Research Trip to Gaelic Scotland, by Jim Watson collection of buildings and artifacts at the Nova Scotia Highland Village 2001 Gaelic Matters 21 site at Iona; and to preserve and By Jim Watson promote the Scottish Highland and Island Culture as found in Nova Gaelic Story & Song Selection 22 Scotia. (1979). Collected by Jim Watson

In June of 2000, the Highland Naidheachd 24 Village became a part of the News from Hector’s Point Nova Scotia Museum Family (Department of Tourism & Barra SEARCH Project 26 Culture).The Society will contin- News from Hector’s Point ue to operate the site on behalf of the Province.The site is a 43- acre Museum and Cultural com- On the cover: (Main photo) Baile Gean at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore, Scotland; plex including the Highland Village (Top Inset) 2001 Eilean nan Òg interns; and (Bottom Inset) Attractions Canada 2001 Provincial Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach, Award winner logo - Highland Village won the Provincial Award for Developed Outdoor Roots Cape Breton Genealogy & Attraction (under $1 million). Our sister site, Sherbrooke Village, won in the over $ 1 million cate- Family History Centre, Highland gory. Village Gift Shop, and outdoor entertainment and theatre facility.

The Society is a member of the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage (FNSH), Canadian Museums Assoc. (CMA), Iona Connection, Còmhairle na Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Gàidhlig, Alba Nuadh (Nova Scotia © Comunn Clachan Gàidhealach na h-Albann Nuaidh (Nova Scotia Highland Village Society), 2002. Gaelic Council), Council of Nova Scotia Archives (CNSA), Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) is published in Iona, Nova Scotia twice each year by the Nova Genealogical Assoc. of Nova Scotia Highland Village Society. Comments, suggestions and contributions are welcomed. Scotia (GANS), Nova Scotia Genealogy Network Assoc., Mailing Address: Society for the Study of 4119 Rathad 223 4119 Highway 223 Architecture in Canada,Assoc. of Iona NS B2C 1A3 Iona NS B2C 1A3 Living Historical Farms and Canada Canada Agricultural Museums (ALH- FAM),Tourism Industry Assoc. of Location: Editor & Layout: Nova Scotia (TIANS), Baddeck & 4119 Rathad 223 4119 Highway 223 Rodney Chaisson Area Business Tourism Sanndraigh,Alba Nuadh Iona, Nova Scotia Contributors: Association (BABTA) and Jim Watson, Frances MacEachen & Keith Branigan Printing: Tourism Cape Breton. Guthan/Telephone: (902) 725-2272 Facs/Fax: (902) 725-2227 City Printers Limited, Sydney Colophon: [email protected] Naidheachd a’ Chlachain is created in http://highlandvillage.museum.gov.ns.ca Quark XPress™ 4.1 on a Macintosh PowerBook G3. Most of the photo- ISSN # 1201-4974 graphs are digital images taken with an Mailed under Canada Post Canadian Publications Olympus C2020-Z digital camera. Tourism and Culture Mail Product Sales Agreement #854441 Page 4 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) From the the many people in Scotland that extend- tunity to participate in the National Pilot ed to us hospitality second to none. Project of the Museums Achievement DIRECTOR’S Tapadh leibh. The full report begins on Program through Museums Alberta. We page 9. were one of five sites from across Canada DESK Also this fall, we embarked on one of to participate in this project, the aim of the most significant planning activities which is to increase museum standards By Rodney Chaisson ever undertaken by the Nova Scotia and recognize excellence in museum Highland Village Society. Catherine Cole, work. There are four units to the pro- elcome to the Winter 2001/2002 Dr. Michael Kennedy and Brian MacKay- gram - Museums & Society, Wissue of Naidheachd a’ Chlachain. Lyons are leading the Highland Village Administration, Collections, and First up, I want to apologize for not pub- through a strategic planning exercise that Interpretation. Each museum in the pilot lishing an edition of this newsletter in will see the development of strategies in project tested one unit. Ours was admin- 2001. In the future, I will strive to ensure five key areas. Their report and recom- istration. I am pleased to report that we that Naidheachd a’ Chlachain continues to mendations, due this winter, will comple- passed with flying colours. be published twice each year. It is ment strategic objectives set by an important communication the Board of Trustees this NEW FACES medium with our mem- past year. There is a full Over the past year, we have had a change bers. update of this process in leadership on the Board of Trustees, This issue of on page 8 of this issue. welcomed a new member to the Naidheachd a’ Chlachain A special issue of Management Team and expanded our is titled Sùil ri buaidh Naidheachd a’ interpretive staff. (pronounced sool ree Chlachain will be Last May, Brian Hussey assumed the boo-eye). It means published this office of President of the Nova Scotia expectations of suc- spring with a com- Highland Village Society. Brian, a techni- cess or an eye to victo- prehensive update cian with CBC Cape Breton, recently ry. Our vision is to on this process. completed the Museum Studies become an international Eilean nan Òg, the Certificate program of the Federation of centre of excellence for Crofting Ruins, brainchild of Gaeltalk Nova Scotian Heritage and has a keen the promotion, interpreta- Baile na Creige Communications, is a interest in the wider heritage community. tion and celebration of Nova Isle of Barra Gaelic youth apprenticeship His main goal as President is to see the Scotia’s Gaelic Culture. Creating a program. This past summer saw Highland Village grow especially in new partnership with the Nova Scotia a third and expanded offering of the pro- terms of our interpretive programming. Museum was the first step in making this gram. As you will be able to tell from Welcome Brian. happen. The current planning process Frances MacEachen’s report and the jour- Brian takes over from Bruce MacNeil, and other new undertakings will help us nal writings from the students (beginning who stepped down after 8 years at the succeed in achieving this vision. on page 6), this program has had a posi- helm. During that period Bruce steered This issue will highlight two signifi- tive impact on how these youth view the Society through some rough patches cant initiatives which will help shape our their Gaelic heritage. The Highland and worked hard to achieve a new status operation and ultimately achieve this Village is pleased to have been part of this with the Nova Scotia Museum. Bruce success: (a) a research trip to Gaelic program and is committed to work with will continue to sit on the Board. Thanks Scotland and (b) the development of a Gaeltalk in keeping it alive. Bruce. long term strategic plan for the Other features in this issue include a Keith Ballantyne joined our Highland Village. selection of Gaelic stories and song col- Management Team last June as the In late September, Gaelic Coordinator lected by Jim Watson, an update on the Operations Manager. Keith comes to us Jim Watson and I undertook a 12 day Barra SEARCH project from with a wealth of experience in research trip to Gaelic Scotland. The itin- Keith Branigan, and news property and operations man- erary took us from the industrial belt of from the past year. agement. Welcome Keith. the Scottish lowlands to the Lochaber As always we welcome Our interpretation was and Baddenoch regions of the Highlands your comments and ideas on enhanced last season with the to the Outer Hebridean Islands of Barra, this and every issue of addition of two new permanent North & South Uist and Benbecula. For Naidheach a’ Chlachain. interpreters - Jean MacNeil of me this trip was a wonderful exposure to Grass Cove and Debi MacNeil a variety of landscapes and peoples in AWARDS & of Big Beach. Welcome to both the land from which our ancestors came. ACHIEVEMENTS Jean and Debi. More importantly, it was an opportunity Also, in reference to Sùil ri There is so much informa- to meet with other Gaelic motivated buaidh, I am very pleased to tion to manage from adminis- organizations and begin to lay the frame- report that the Highland trative files, to photographs, to work for trans-atlantic initiatives in Village Museum/An Clachain digital files, to publications, to Gaelic language promotion and preser- Gàidhealach was awarded a Provincial new library books and more. Ian Baker, vation. A significant portion of this issue Attractions Canada Award in May 2001 at of North Sydney, who has been with us of Naidheachd a’ Chlachain has been set a gala in Halifax. Our award was in the off and on for the past three years with aside to report on this trip and the poten- category Developed Outdoor Sites Roots Cape Breton, has joined us to take tial that will come from it. I want to thank (under $1 million). Our sister site, control of these areas. He has also been the Society for sponsoring this trip. Sherbrooke Village, received the filling in for Patricia MacNeil who has Thanks also to Jim Watson for being a Provincial award in the Developed been off on maternity leave. Welcome Ian. great travelling companion and for Outdoor Sites (over $1 million) - a good preparing this comprehensive account of night for the Nova Scotia Museum. our trip. I also want to especially thank Also in 2000/2001, we had the oppor- continued on page 27

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 5 PASSAGES

Dedication SYMPATHIES InMemorium We also express our sympathies to our interpreter Vicki Quimby and her family. his issue of Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Vicki’s father recently passed away. Tis dedicated to three good friends of the Highland Village who passed CONGRATULATIONS away this past year - Jackie MacNeil, Neil John Gillis & Charlie MacCuspic. Congratulations go out to:

• Gaelic Coordinator Jim Watson and Am Jackie MacNeil Jackie MacNeil, of Sydney, served on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Bràighe Editor Frances MacEachen on Committee of the Society for many years. the birth of their daughter Lilly. He contributed much to the growth of the • Administrative Secretary Patricia Society. He worked especially hard on the MacNeil and her partner Shaun Gaudley road to becoming a part of the Nova Scotia on the birth of their son Matthew. Museum. • David Newlands, who was Director of the History Section of the Nova Scotia Neil John Gillis, of Jamesville, was a gift- Museum when the Highland Village ed tradition bearer of Gaelic story and joined the family, on becoming Executive song. He was also a dedicated volunteer, a Director of the Nova Scotia Museum and virtue he has passed down through his chil- the Heritage Division of the Department dren. of Tourism & Culture. Neil John Gillis • Dan E. MacNeil, Treasurer of the Charlie MacCuspic, of Hunter’s Highland Village, on his election to Mountain, was an accomplished fiddler Victoria County Council. and a great friend of the Highland Village. • Bruce MacNeil, Past President of the Our Alderwood Ceilidhs will never be the Highland Village, on his appointment as same. Department Head for Business, Health & Human Services at the Strait Campus These three individuals will be deeply of the Nova Scotia Community College. missed by all of us. We will work hard to • Jim St.Clair, Past President & Secretary ensure that their legacy of dedication and of the Highland Village, on his appoint- sharing continues on. ment to the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Museum. Charlie Our deepest sympathies go out to all of • Tunney Betts, Highland Village volun- MacCuspic their families. teer, on his recent marriage to Georgie Anderson.

Gàidhlig (Gaelic Program) Michael MacDonald STAFF (SUMMER 2001): James Watson, Coordinator Lisa MacNeil Matthew MacNeil. Administration Roots Cape Breton Rodney Chaisson, Director Family History Centre Assistant Registrar (Summer 2001) Patricia MacNeil,Admin.Assistant Pauline MacLean, Genealogist Collete Thomas Ian Baker, Information Systems See also Data Entry Clerks Data Entry Clerks - Since Nov. 2000 BOARD OF TRUSTEES (2001-2002): Museum Visitor Centre Services Ian Baker (Gen Asst), Josie Bonaparte, Gerry MacNeil, Senior VCClerk Donna Burke, Dwayne Ellis, Bill Brian Hussey, Marion Bridge (President) Charlene Kosick, Education Officer John MacDonald, Blacksmith Sadie MacDonald,VC Clerk Fiander, David Kucherean,Cheryl Walter MacNeil, Sydney (Vice-Pres) Johnson, Joanne Latwaitis,Anna Dan E. MacNeil, Iona (Treasurer) Stevie MacNeil, Farm Hand Colleen Beaton, Interpreter Operations McCrory,Wanda MacDonald, Jim St.Clair, Mull River (Secretary) Keith Ballantyne, Manager Christene MacInnis, Steven MacIsaac, Bruce MacNeil, Iona (Past President) Marie Chehy, Interpreter Carmella Farrell, Interpreter Tim MacNeil, Maintenance Breigh MacKenzie, Ken MacKenzie, Donald Beaton, Little Narrows David MacKenzie, Grounds Joanne MacKinnon, John MacLean, Mary Campbell, Iron Mines Kimberley MacIver, Interpreter Beth MacNeil, Interpreter Thomas MacLeod, Beth MacNeil, Fonce Farrell,Washabuck PROJECT STAFF: Charlene MacNeil, Debi MacNeil, Janet Gillis, Ironville Debi MacNeil, Interpreter Kaye Anne MacNeil, Interpreter Gerry MacNeil, Jean MacNeil, Patricia Dr. Richard MacKinnon, Sydney Student Interpreters (Summer 2001) MacNeil,Tim MacPherson, Don Mary Margaret MacLean,Whycocomagh Jean MacNeil, Interpreter Vicki Quimby, Interpreter Sharon Boyd MacRury, Blair Munro, John Peddle, Dr. Mary K. MacLeod, Dominion Sylvia Tupper, Interpreter Anne Louise Campbell Barbara Ross, Donna Smith, Cheryl Ann Marie MacNeil, Grass Cove See also Student Interpreters Shauna Gale Sullivan (Gen.Asst),Tanya Webber, Hugh Webb,Antigonish Tracey Hatcher Angela Wiswell, Debra Young. Daniel Chiasson, Legal Advisor Pro-Bono, Baddeck

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Page 6 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) the appreciation of visitors and staff struggling just to understand a word alike. here and there is not a way to learn.” EILEAN The first week of the program focused Anna Watson wrote that she could on historical themes that corresponded “completely understand why people NAN ÒG each day with a particular time period learned English as fast as possible . . . the and building on site. Regular morning language (Gaelic) was for the uneducat- By Frances MacEachen discussions centered on a particular arti- ed and English was spoken by the smart fact chosen for its relevance to everyday people.” Day five was spent with Jamie life in Gaelic Nova Scotia. Mostly hand- MacNeil and fiddler Joe Peter MacLean ilean nan Òg, a Gaelic apprenticeship made, these items ranged from wool bas- who participated with the teens in a Eprogram for teenagers that was kets to butter presses. While holding the céilidh for seniors from Alderwood Guest inspired by an editorial in Am Bràighe artifact, the teens had a chance to express Home. The kids also talked about form- and made possible by a reader’s dona- themselves on what the object had to say ing their own youth groups, which Jim tion, was held this summer for the third about Gaels and their culture while christened Na h-Eileanaich (The year at Highland Village Museum/An everyone else listened. Islanders). Clachan Gàidhealach, Iona. Its purpose is On the first day apprentices were Week two focused on the Gaelic arts. to provide a paid learning experience for introduced to Gaelic Scotland through a Mary Jane Lamond spent a day teaching selected Cape Breton youth who have slide show of Scotland by Wally Ellison the apprentices different types of Gaelic demonstrated a strong interest in the and an information session in the Black song. Joe Peter returned to play for a Island’s Gaelic language and heritage. House. The young people had a hard step-dancing and square dancing session With financial support with Frances from the Nova Scotia MacEachen. Highland Village Society, and Jimmy Caluman individual contributors, the MacNeil told his number of 2001 apprentices famous story and increased to ten, up from three about Dòmhnaill in 2000. This year, four boys Gorm and sang and six girls were employed Gaelic songs. and paid a weekly stipend to As part of learn Gaelic language, songs, Eilean nan Òg, history and culture from guest apprentices partic- tradition bearers and their ipate in a youth main instructor Jim Watson, camp that is part Gaelic Program Coordinator of the annual at Highland Village. Gaelic festival, Feis Writing in his journal about an Eilean, in the first day on the job, St. Christmas Island. Ann’s Bay apprentice Morris This time they MacLeod reported, “Seumas were the instruc- (Jim) taught us some Gaelic. It Jim Watson, Mickey MacNeil & Maxie MacNeil tors to young chil- is a really awesome lan- sharing songs with the Eilean nan Òg interns dren. guage.” During the last Increased emphasis was placed on time comprehending how people lived day of Eilean nan Òg the apprentices Gaelic instruction this year, with lan- in such seemingly crude dwellings, but talked about what Na h-Eileanaich guage lessons every morning. Jim pointed out these buildings were, should be and do. Apprentices said they Apprentices indicated a strong interest in after all, quite ingenious and highly would like to raise awareness of Gaelic being fluent Gaelic speakers and in their engineered to meet the demands of the language and culture in the schools, hold evaluations some asked that even more Gaels' climate and lifestyle. Gaelic immersions, design a website and time be spent on Gaelic instruction. On day two, they visited the log cabin chat room, hold day camps for children Afternoons were spent with guest tradi- where Rod C. MacNeil told them an emi- and have youth exchanges. Jim suggest- tion bearers who included Wally Ellison, gration story of the Barra soldier, Donald ed they begin with a day of Gaelic Rod C. MacNeil, Maxie MacNeil, Mickey Og MacNeil. Day three focused on the instruction at Highland Village which MacNeil, Frances MacEachen, Jamie Gaels’ new community in Cape Breton will be organized by him and the MacNeil, Joe Peter MacLean, Mary Jane and the céilidh (visit), while Maxie and apprentices. Other interested young peo- Lamond and Jimmy Caluman MacNeil. Mickey MacNeil regaled with stories ple will be invited to attend the day. Their time was given on alternating days about visiting and sharing songs in their Asking for an evaluation of the pro- as they generously shared their tradi- community. Day four examined reasons gram, apprentices strongly expressed tions of Gaelic song, storytelling, fiddle for the decline of Gaelic. Role play in the that Eilean nan Òg remain dynamic, with music, piping and stepdancing. school house seemed to impact greatly lots of opportunity for hands-on activity, Apprentices also participated in Village on the teens. (Jim pretended he was a Gaelic language learning, and contact interpretive life by gathering plants and teacher who in this case only spoke with tradition bearers. For improvement weeds for dying wool and learned about Gaelic.) they suggested field trips, breaks farming, carding, weaving and spinning “Going to school when our grandpar- between language instruction, more from Highland Village staff. As well, ents did would have been frustrating,” information on Gaelic piping and other apprentices brought their own cultural wrote Samantha MacKinnon in her jour- instruments and more comfortable skills to the Highland Village site as they nal. “It would have been a relief when chairs! The idea of forming their own sang Gaelic songs, fiddled, step danced recess came and you could finally talk youth group and reclaiming their her- and played the piano and bag pipes to Gaelic . . . Sitting there day after day

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 7 itage language was seen as particularly we went up on the hill and sang songs. appealing to the group. Something that was mentioned today Support for Eilean nan Òg 2001 came that made me think, was where I might from the program’s anonymous patron, be able to continue learning Gaelic when Nova Scotia Highland Village Society, I'm done here. Gaeltalk Communications and private donors Mabel McCutcheon of Hamilton, Day Three - Aug. 15 Ontario, Laurie MacQuaig-MacDougall Samantha MacKinnon and the Oran Gaelic singers in London, Washabuck,Victoria County Ontario. Tapadh leibh uile gu mór. If you would like more information or con- Today was fun! We learned some sen- tribute to Eilean nan Òg or the formation tences in Gaelic about the weather and of Na h-Eileanaich, please contact such. We saw a thing to stretch the yarn [email protected] or Gaeltalk today also. We thought it was hand- Communication, 175 MacIntyre Road, carved. We also worked on Gaelic pro- Eilean nan Òg interns (Front to Back - Queensville, NS B9A 1S6. nunciations. In the afternoon we had Left to Right) Row 1 - Emily Redden, Mickey MacNeil and Maxie MacNeil in Megan O’Handley, Jessica Farrell & Comments from Participants singing songs they learned as kids, as Samantha MacKinnon. Row 2 - Anna well as stories. They talked about a man Watson, Justin MacKenzie & Kim Day One - August 13 who was very good at tricking people to MacLean. Row 3 - Morris MacLeod, Megan O' Handley get this own way. I love hearing Gaelic Curtis MacNeil & Michael Farrell. Row Boisdale, Cape Breton County songs and the older singers have an 4 - Am Bràighe Editor Frances added magic when they sing them. MacEachen, Highland Village Gaelic Today was such an interesting day. It was Coordinator Jim Watson & Highland exactly what I had hoped it would be Day Four - Village Director, Rodney Chaisson. like. We started off the day by learning Aug. 16 how to say simple phrases and many Kim MacLean interesting facts -- like there are only 18 East Lake Ainslie, Inverness County Home. We also worked on Gaelic speech letters in the Gaelic alphabet and that in the morning and in the afternoon. you can't say yes or no in Gaelic. We also The discussion today was good. People Also, Jamie MacNeil was singing and Joe watched an amazing slide show of pic- back then lived so differently. It shows Peter played the fiddle. We may also tures of Scotland and learned all about you that the English (speakers) have had start a Gaelic activist group. the glaciers and how they formed the the influence over the Gaels in the area. land. After that we took a walk up to the The school house talk was good. Day Six - Aug. 20 Black House where Morris played the Learning how the schools worked and Morris MacLeod pipes for us and Seumas how the chil- Goose Cove,Victoria County told us everything there dren were was to know about the treated. It's Today we talked about an old-style hook house along with a rather terrible that used in the houses. I was very efficient funny story about the these kids and looked really cool. Mary Jane was in king of Ireland and fairies had to sit to talk to us and she taught us, like, 10 and how the king wanted though the songs. It was amazing. She has to have to walk on water. Then we whole day the best voice that I've ever heard. The all met in the entrance to and they songs that she taught us were really nice the village and listened to didn't know and one or two were on her CD, so it was Wally Ellison and Morris any of the cool to hear her sing them in person. We play the pipes. Jessica work being went up on the hill and sang some puirt- Farrell and I step danced taught a-beul. They are my favorite kind of to Wally. It was a fun day. because it songs and she makes them come alive. I was in hope that she will come some time to Day Two - August 14 Frances MacEachen step dancing accom- English. I teach us again, if we get our group Emily Redden panied by Joe Peter MacLean on fiddle think that together. We finished the day with a Iona,Victoria County the Gaels received the same treatment milling frolic. That was awesome. from the "superior" English as the natives The time went quickly today, or at least it did. The discussion about Gaelic in the Day Seven - August 21 did for me. First we passed around a pul- schools was good. If everyone in Cape Curtis MacNeil ley from a loom in the log house. At first Breton would talk to the school boards, Washabuck,Victoria County I had no clue what it was, actually I did- something could be done to change the n't have a clue what it was for a while. school system for the better. Today we learned how to dye wool and Also today, Roddy C. came in and told weave and spin the wool. It was very stories about what things were like for Day Five - August 17 interesting. Then we learned some more settlers when they arrived and about Justin MacKenzie Gaelic and then Jimmy Calaman came why the came here in the first place. Big Beach, Cape Breton County and we sang some Gaelic songs. It was a What I kind of found interesting was the Today in the morning we looked at an very interesting day. story about Iona's name and St. old book that was full of Gaelic songs. In Columba. Later we did a lot of Gaelic. I the morning we also helped clean up the was surprised because I could actually stage for the little concert we had for the continued on page 27 read some. My favorite part was when old people from Alderwood Guest

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Page 8 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) An Update on Our Financial Resources, and (8) √ To develop, implement, and evaluate a Infrastructure. program for quality control, measur- STRATEGIC ing excellence in customer service. Based on the directions listed above, (Interpretation) PLANNING the strategic objectives for the Society are that by 2006… √ To enhance the Highland Village’s By Rodney Chaisson research and library resources. 1. the Highland Village will be a fully (Research) functional bilingual Gaelic-English site n June 2000, an exciting new partner- with authentic representation of Nova √ To formulate Roots Cape Breton’s Iship began between the Nova Scotia Scotia’s Gaelic culture, as well as on unique product and service offerings. Highland Village Society and the and off-site activities that encourage (Roots) Government of Nova Scotia through the growth of the language and culture; Nova Scotia Museum. The underlying √ Develop and implement a marketing goal of this new partnership is to grow 2. the Highland Village will have a fully program designed to increase annual the Highland Village Museum into an developed interpretive program with visitation to 50,000 and earned international centre of excellence for interactive and experiential opportuni- income to $ 400,000 by 2006 through Gaelic language and culture. ties for visitors, and an education pro- increased visitation, gift shop sales, It is very clear that in order for the gram that complements and assists the fundraising events and new program- Highland Village to realize this goal, a public school curriculum; ming. (Financial) well-articulated, concise, achievable and measurable plan needs to be prepared 3. the Highland Village will have a The full discussion paper including all and implemented. strong research capacity including fifty-three strategies can be found on our Discussions concerning strategic types of materials to support its activi- website. planning were actually set in motion in ties in Gaelic language & culture, inter- the fall of 1998, when a joint pretation, educational outreach, collec- DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN board/staff/community partners plan- tions management, library and In the next phase of the planning process ning session was held. That session archives and music; all of these strategies will be supported along with subsequent discussions at the with an action plan. A plan for Gaelic Board and staff levels as well as discus- 4. Roots Cape Breton Genealogy & language and culture has been drafted. sions with Nova Scotia Museum repre- Family History Centre will be operat- Other areas are currently being investi- sentatives formed the basis for a discus- ing as a viable enterprise that provides gated and developed. sion paper that set the foundation for a accurate, quality information to its However, it was felt that five key strategic plan. That paper, adopted by customers and serves as the family his- areas required external expertise. Those the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society tory centre for Cape Breton Island; areas include interpretation, site devel- Board of Trustees, identifies four guiding opment, music centre, marketing and principles and supports eight strategic 5. the Highland Village will, in partner- fundraising. Terms of reference were directions/objectives with strategies. ship with other organizations, develop developed to address these areas. Nova initiatives to strengthen, culturally and Scotia Tourism & Culture and Enterprise GUIDING PRINCIPLES economically, the Central Cape Breton Cape Breton Corporation agreed to pro- In the execution of the strategies outlined community; as well as the wider Cape vide financing for the project. in this plan, it is important that the fol- Breton Island heritage community; A team led by Catherine Cole & lowing guiding principles be kept in Associates was chosen for the task. mind: 6. the Highland Village will have in place Catherine is an Edmonton based muse- the human resources necessary to um consultant and has done work with • The highest standards of museology. implement the objectives outlined in other living history sites. Her team con- this plan; sists of Dr. Michael Kennedy, an histori- • Comprehensive knowledge of the an specializing in Gaelic culture based in Gaelic language and culture in Nova 7. the Highland Village will ensure that Mabou, Brian MacKay-Lyons, a Halifax Scotia. adequate financial resources are avail- based architect, and Mandi Wisheu, an able to carry out the operations of the Edmonton based research associate. • Excellence in the accurate representa- Highland Village and to support the Catherine and her team have been tion of the Gaelic language and cul- objectives outlined in this plan; busy researching, conducting focus ture. groups and workshops, interviewing 8. the Highland Village will have in place stakeholders, and preparing a prelimi- • A positive contribution towards the the infrastructure necessary to support nary report. economy of the Cape Breton Island the objectives outlined in this plan. Following a Board of Trustees meet- community. ing and a public open house to get feed- Some of the strategies outlined in the back on the preliminary plan, the con- STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS paper include: sultants will present the final report to The following have been identified as the the Board for approval this winter. The eight (8) strategic directions for the Nova √ To increase the number of staff that information provided in the report will Scotia Highland Village Society; (1) can speak Gaelic fluently. (Gaelic) be used to prepare the strategic plan to Gaelic Language & Culture, (2) guide the Highland Village Museum Interpretation & Educational Outreach, √ To offer a superior living history inter- through the next five years. (3) Research & Collections, (4) Genealogy pretation program with active interac- The next issue of Naidheachd a’ & Family History, (5) Community tion between staff and public. Chlachain (due this spring) will focus on Leadership, (6) Human Resources, (7) (Interpretation) the findings of this important report.

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 4119 Rathad 223 Rubha Eachainn Alba Nuadh, B2C 1A3 Guthan 902 725-2272 Facs 902 725-2227 [email protected] http://highlandvillage.museum.gov.ns.ca

4119 Highway 223 Iona, Nova Scotia B2C 1A3 TEL 902 725-2272 FAX 902 725-2227 [email protected] http://highlandvillage.museum.gov.ns.ca Turas Rannsachaidh dha ‘n Albainn: RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND

Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach Rodney Chaisson, Director Jim Watson, Gaelic Coordinator September 25 - October 4, 2001

‘Ga chuir an gnìomh an co-roinn le Comunn Clachan Gàidhealach na h-Albann Nuaidh

Operated in partnership with the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society

Tourism and Culture TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001

INTRODUCTION

Rodney Chaisson, Director and Jim Watson, Gaelic Coordinator, in pursuance of the Highland Village Museum’s objectives for enhancing its Gaelic program, undertook a nine- day research trip to Scotland. The trip’s purpose was to acquire information pertinent to Gaelic development on the site. This was done by contacting institutions and resource persons that could potentially partner in that development. Loch Laggan The research and networking conducted dur- From SMO Prospectus ing the time in Scotland can be considered as having been inspired by a groundbreaking ear- TURAS RANNSACHAIDH lier visit of Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald, when initial contacts with DHA ‘N ALBAINN: Gaelic Scotland were made for the Province. The details of our venture are given in RESEARCH TRIP TO chronological order to reconstruct the trip AELIC COTLAND for the board, staff and government and elicit G S any remarks, or questions they may have. Text - Jim Watson Photos/Layout - Rodney Chaisson The primary objective of the visit to Scotland Cover Photos: (Top) Blackhouse was to gain first-hand knowledge of institu- ruins, Baile na Creige, Isle of Barra tions, agencies and individuals currently involved in the research, maintenance and (Bottom) - Replica of Hebridean promotion of the Gaelic language and culture. Style Blackhouse at Highland Folk Of particular interest to the Highland Village Museum, Kinguissie Museum were the contacts made at Sabhal Mór Ostaig, the Skye-based Gaelic medium college, the Highland Folk Museum in CONTENTS Badenoch and the Highland Council Offices of Cultural and Leisure Services. Introduction 10 In addition to acquiring a general picture of the present status The Trip 11 of Gaelic in Scotland, the visit was undertaken with specific Day I - Glasgow to Edinburgh 11 attention to investigating opportunities for enhancing the Day II - Edinburgh to Skye via Lochaber 11 Gaelic interpretation at the Highland Village Museum.This was Day III - Skye to the Western Isles 12 accomplished through extensive travel throughout the Day IV - North Uist, Benbecula & South Uist 12 Highlands and Islands and in Edinburgh and Glasgow through Day V - Isles of Barra and Vatersay 13 visits with professionals and institutions concerned with Day VI - Outer Hebrides to Inverness 14 Scottish Gaelic culture and its preservation. Day VII - Kinguissie & Newtonmore 14 Day VIII - Inverness to Edinburgh 16 Given the short duration of the trip, the expectations and Day IX - Edinburgh & Glasgow 16 objectives set out in the planning process were met and exceeded in nearly all instances. Clearly, as the following Some General Observations 16 chronology of our route will show, our research provided a useful introduction to a range of contacts involved with lan- A Pilot Project Proposal 17 guage and culture development in Scotland.The success of the trip was enhanced considerably by a comprehensive itinerary, The Principal Institutions Contacted 17 our contacts’ willingness to correspond and meet and the sin- Highland Council 17 cerely warm response, wherever we went, to our presence as Highland Folk Museum 18 bearers of good-will from Gaelic Cape Breton. Sabhal Mór Ostaig 19 We covered a considerable amount of terrain, and institution- Acknowledgements 20 al and human geography over the space of nine days that saw

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 10 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 guage). Discussions resulted in a briefing on the college’s pro- gramming, and helped us better understand its potential as a partner in training Highland Village staff.The evenings remarks were useful during the following day’s discussions with admin- istrators at Skye’s Gaelic College.

DAY II - SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 EDINBURGH TO SKYE VIA LOCHABER

Leaving Edinburgh shortly after rush-hour had subsided, we continued northward, passing through various districts of the Highlands from which Cape Breton received many of its Gaelic-speaking settlers during the nineteenth century. Loch Lochy Rodney recorded the journey to the west coast, and indeed the entire trip, with many digital photos of landscapes and his- torical sites. These are available for viewing at the Highland us travel from Edinburgh to the Outer Hebrides, return to the Village Museum visitor centre. Highlands and finally continue on to Glasgow. During that time, we were able to begin discussions with Scottish institu- Cutting cross country to the west coast of the Highlands and tions about forming partnerships with the Highland Village traveling on through Lochaber, Glen Moriston and Lochalsh, Museum, gain fresh insights and perspectives on Gaelic culture we made stops at the Clan MacPherson Museum in as a significant resource for community building and formulate Newtonmore and Eilean Donan Castle in Dornie.We crossed new questions as to the best way forward in our efforts to the bridge to Skye, over the Kyle of Lochalsh, and steered for represent the historical Gael at the center of Gaelic Cape the Sleat Peninsula. (According to Highlands and Islands Breton on the Bras d’Or. Enterprise documentation, Sleat is the only area of population and job growth in the Highland region.) Arriving at Sabhal Mór THE TRIP Ostaig’s old wing in the late afternoon, College Director Tormad Mac’Illiosa (Norman Gillis) escorted us to Arainn Chaluim Chille (The St.Columba campus), the college’s new res- SEPTEMBER 24, 2001 idential and learning centre built in a magnificent setting look- HALIFAX TO GLASGOW VIA ICELAND ing across to the coastline and mountains of Knoydart on the nearby mainland. Departure from Halifax Airport with Icelandair.Current regulations required that we go through security check three hours prior departure.The flight landed for a brief time in Iceland and we continued on to Glasgow.

DAY I - SEPTEMBER 25, 2001 GLASGOW TO EDINBURGH

Arriving in Glasgow and having cleared customs, we traveled by bus to the Queen Street train station and commuted to Edinburgh where we were hosted by Rob Dunbar for the night. Rob Dunbar, a member of the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society, is a Lecturer in International Law at the University of Edinburgh. Rob is also a Gaelic speaker and high profile activist on Scotland’s Gaelic development scene. That afternoon and evening were spent collecting a rented car and in Arainn Chaluim Chille, Sabhal Mór Ostaig discussion with Rob Dunbar and Dr.Wilson MacLeod, lecturer with the Department of Celtic, University of Edinburgh.Wilson spent the previous two years as an instruc- Along with Norman Gillis, we were also met with by Iain tor through the medium of Gaelic with Sabhal Mór Ostaig Tormad MacLeòid (John Norman MacLeod), Head of before accepting a post with the University of Edinburgh. Educational Programming, Niall Frisealach, (Niall Fraser) (Actually, all courses at Sabhal Mór are taught in the Gaelic lan- Communications Director and Alastair MacGill-eain (Alec

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 11 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 MacLean), Director of Training for Radio Broadcasting. Johnathan pertaining to the Highland Village Museum, along Discussion of a working relationship with the Gaelic College with field recordings of Cape Breton Gaelic singing. His focused on the three following areas of institutional interac- nephew, Eachann MacCoinnich (Hector MacKenzie), visited the tion (see inset). Highland Village Museum two weeks later just to hear Gaelic spoken on the site. Jim was able to Excellent hospitality was to the fore Sabhal Mór Ostaig have a lengthy conversation with throughout our visit. Sabhal Mór was him and Gilleabuig MacFhearghuis no exception, as we were taken out 1. Opportunities for Highland Village Museum staff to (Archie Ferguson) from Portree. for dinner that evening and provided participate in short-term language courses at Sabhal They are both in their early twen- gratis with a night’s lodging and Mór Ostaig; ties) breakfast before leaving for the Uig ferry to Lochmaddy in North Uist. 2. Summer work placements for Sabhal Mór students as Sailing from Uig on the afternoon Gaelic-speaking animators and staff tutors at the ferry, we disembarked in DAY III - SEPTEMBER 27, Highland Village. Provision for teaching traditional Lochmaddy and drove directly to 2001 skills in Gaelic singing, storytelling and oral history Colaisde Bheinn na Faoghla in Benbecula. The college is affiliated SKYETOTHEWESTERN ISLES would be made for students by Jim Watson. These tutorials would be included on the site as Gaelic edu- with the Lews Castle College and cational and interpretive activities. offers a diploma (National Following breakfast at the Arainn Certificate) for a one year course Chaluim Chille centre’s cafeteria, Neil made up of units in Gaelic music, Fraser toured us through the cam- 3.The Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie is already engaged with Sabhal Mór in plans to receive Gaelic Gaelic song and Gaelic language. pus’s facilities which included class The program’s inspiration is Ceòlas, rooms, library and auditorium. instruction for its staff through the medium of a graded module developed at the college. It was (a week long teaching festival held Before leaving Sabhal Mór Ostaig, Jim in South Uist where Cape Breton spoke briefly in Gaelic to students therefore suggested by John Norman MacLeod that Highland Village may want to participate in the same style stepdancing and fiddling is studying cultural tourism in the taught by some of Cape Breton’s North Atlantic Studies program, program. In view of a possible institutional relation- ship with the Kingussie museum, and the seeming best exponents).The college focus- describing the Highland Village es on Gaelic language and the cul- Museum and our interpretive goals. merit of the training program itself, it was agreed that the specifics of such a relationship would be tural skills that were part of tradi- (Sìne MacKenzie of Mabou was a tional house gatherings, where student in that class.) examined to decide on its feasability. Further infor- mation on the Sabhal Mór distance program is forth- friends and family would take part coming. Once we’ve had an opportunity to study the in storytelling, singing, dance and Leaving Sabhal Mór and the Sleat music. Colaside Bheinn na Faoghla’s Peninsula, we traveled up the island program more closely, details of its applications will be provided for the board. administration and staff members to the port village of Uig in North are all Gaelic-speaking. Skye. Caledonian MacBrayne’s ferry is boarded here to cross over to While there, Jim gave a late after- Lochmaddy in North Uist, the Outer noon workshop on the subject of Hebrides. Allowing enough time to Cape Breton Gaelic songs and make the ferry, we continued to on singing styles to a gathering of staff to Kilmuir to tour a private museum and students.Will Lamb, the college’s owned and operated by Eòin director, arranged for us to spend Dòmhnallach (Johnathan MacDonald). the night at a Gaelic-speaking bed The Skye Museum of Island Life is and breakfast, Heisgir House. Will comprised of seven thatched build- and a student joined us for a dinner ings representing village life in Skye, paid for by the college. Colaisde circa 1900. The buildings include a Bheinn na Faoghla serves a clientele barn, forge, weavers house and from Britain and the U.S. dwelling. A good many artifacts are Skye Museum of Island Life to be seen here that pertain to croft- DAY IV - SEPTEMBER 28, ing, but also memorabilia from the era of land clearances, items used by Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald and pre- 2001 historic axe-heads made by ancient inhabitants of Skye. NORTH UIST,BENBECULA & SOUTH UIST

Johnathan MacDonald is an excellent Gaelic speaker and gra- While waiting for the evening ferry from Lochboisdale to ciously refused to charge visitors from Nova Scotia admission. Castle Bay, the fourth day of our visit to the Outer Hebrides (Since returning, we have sent a variety of brochures to

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 12 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 South Uist. Kildonan is a small community museum displaying items germane to the island’s crofting life, circa late 1800s to the present. Included in the exhibition were artifacts, black and white photos and replications of interior house scenes.These were presented to a good affect and complimented by inter- pretive panels employing Gaelic poetry and quotes along with English texts. Leaving from Lochboisdale that evening, we arrived at Castle Bay in the dark and continued on to the Isle of Barra Hotel. Sollas, North Uist was spent backtracking from Benbecula in the morning to Lochmaddy. There we visited a small museum named Taigh Chearsabhagh (Cearsabhagh House) located near the ferry terminal. Taigh Chearsabhagh is a two story building containing a gift shop, dining area and three galleries.A display explaining the origins of the Lordship of the Isles and Norse presence in the Isles from circa 900 AD was particularly appealing by way of replicated artifacts and well-written information panels employing English supported by Gaelic quotes and poetry.

Leaving Taigh Chearsabhagh, we traveled down the west coast Kisimul Castle, Barra of North Uist. Observing the machair (fertile flat lands near the shore) side of the Island, we passed through the township of Sollas. Sollas was cleared in the 19th century. Many of its inhabitants settled in Cape Breton. (In fact, the Woodbine area DAY V - SEPTEMBER 29, 2001 of Cape Breton County was originally called Sollas). Returning ISLES OF BARRA &VATERSAY to Benbecula on our way southward, we stopped for lunch at the Linaclate School and Community Centre. We had hoped Having spent the night near Castle Bay (the island is only to visit Museum an Eilein, a section in the complex, but it was twelve miles around), our first activity was a morning tour of Kismul Castle. The rest of the day was spent exploring the island. We visited Tràigh Mhór, the famous cockle strand air- port, Barra Golf Course, Cille Bharra (St. Barr’s Church). We also visited the Craigston Museum in Baile na Creige,a thatched cottage. Getting there involved a half mile walk through an inland glen.The surrounding countryside was quite lovely with large numbers of sheep being herded in the dis- tance. The ruins of black houses were a frequent sight throughout Barra, as they are on the mainland, in Skye and the

MV Clansman, Castle Bay, Barra Crofting ruins, Baile na Creige, Barra closed at the time.All the kitchen staff, save one, were Gaelic speaking and obviously enjoyed a high degree of lively repar- tee while serving the public and school children meals at lunchtime.

Continuing on to South Uist, we visited at the home of Alastair and Annabel MacEachen in How Beg. (The MacEachens are acquainted with a number of Inverness County people.) We made arrangements to spend the night at the MacEachens on our return from Barra.

On the road to the Lochboisdale ferry terminal, we visited another local museum called Kildonan Museum in Kildonan,

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 13 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001

Traveling beside Loch Ness on the way to Inverness, we stopped to tour Urquart Castle, an ancient fortress overlook- ing Loch Ness.The castle is now undergoing renovation and in the care of Historic Scotland. (There was no sign of the Loch Ness monster.) Getting to Inverness late in the afternoon, we lodged with Peter MacKenzie, a surpassing host, at his bed and breakfast near the Highland Council Offices.

Castle Bay, Isle of Barra rest of Hebrides. Our tour of Barra ended with an excursion via causeway to the thinly populated Isle of Vatersay. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to make social contacts in Barra, despite efforts to arrange meetings with cultural organizers there by e-mail and phone. The Dualchas Barra Heritage and Cultural Centre closed on the day before our arrival, and an appointment to meet with Helen McInteer, the Baile Gean, Highland Folk Museum centre’s administrator, failed to materialize.

The evening ferry from Castle Bay returned us to DAY VII - OCTOBER 1, 2001 Lochboisdale. From there we went straight to How Beg where KINGUISSIE &NEWTONMORE we stayed the night with the MacEachens. Following breakfast, we proceeded to Highland Council Urquart Castle, Loch Ness Offices in Kingussie. We were met by Judi Menabney, officer with Area Cultural and Leisure Services.Together we went to the Highland Folk Museum site at Newtonmore.The outdoor museum encompasses 400 hundred years of Highland materi- al life and is now adding a Gaelic cultural dimension to its authentication efforts. (For a lengthier description of the museum go to website: http://highlandfolk.com/main.htm)

Checking in with Ross Noble, who became our guide for most of the day, we began by touring the Baile Gean township, a recreation of a Highland farm dating to circa 1700. Buildings in this part of the museum are constructed of traditional mate-

DAY VI - SEPTEMBER 30, 2001 OUTER HEBRIDES TO INVERNESS VIA LOCH NESS

Most of day six was spent in transit as we retraced our origi- nal route to the Kyle of Lochalsh on the way to Inverness. Coming to Portree in Skye, we stopped at the Aros Centre. The centre is partly owned by Arthur Cormack, better known to Cape Bretoners as a Gaelic singer in the band Cliar. A multi-media interpretive tunnel is featured as part of the cen- tre. Narration through individual head-phone sets introduce manikins and interpretive displays as an explanation is given of the Gaels origins in Scotland, their political decline, the Baile Gean, Highland Folk Museum crofters’ wars and emigration.

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 14 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 rials and built by the methods of the time. A Gaelic-speaking guide from the Isle of Harris greeted us in the main dwelling DAY VIII - OCTOBER 2, 2001 house and we exchanged songs. Attention to detail in the INVERNESS TO EDINBURGH reconstructions was very exacting and explained with great relish by our guide Ross Noble. Breaking briefly for lunch, we After leaving MacKenzie’s bed and breakfast, we re-convened then moved to the agricultural section of the museum which at the Highland Councils Offices with Judi Menabney and dated up to 1935 as a modern Graham Watson. The morning was working croft. Highland Council spent in discussion as to the ways in which the two museums can share Having completed the Newtonmore & Highland Folk Museum and develop resources to each oth- leg of our tour, we moved on to ers mutual benefit. The following the Kingussie Museum which inter- 1. sharing information on methods and approaches to areas of initiative were agreed upon prets the social life of the Gaelic interpretation; as the potential basis for establishing Highlands through an extensive an enhanced relationship between collection of everyday objects that 2. peer review; the two museums (see inset). includes furniture, household objects and machinery. 3. assistance in material interpretation; In concluding our discussion of the ways in which future partnerships Since Jim had mentioned earlier in 4. exchanging staff on a term basis to learn Gaelic and might occur, it was agreed that fol- the day that an oral version of the develop educational skills; low-up on these suggestions would Black Officer and the Disaster of begin in the form of a cross-edited Gaig had been collected in Cape 5. exchanging Gaelic mentors (tutors) working with proposal drafted by the Highland Breton, Ross Noble took him to staff/students through the Sabhal Mór distance Village Museum and submitted to the grave side of the Black Officer course; Highland Council and Leisure in the village of Kingussie. As leg- Services. This proposal has been end has it, the officer, a John 6. focus group exchanges; completed and has been submitted MacPherson of Badenoch, was for review. notorious for pressing young 7. establishing partnerships with other Canadian insti- Highlanders into military service. tutions and agencies: possibly Unesco and Parks Leaving Inverness and turning south- Reputedly, he was in league with Canada; ward to the industrial belt, we the Devil. MacPherson was killed in arrived in Edinburgh in the latter a freak avalanche while hunting in 8. employing university affiliated external examiners to part of the afternoon. Along with the nearby deer forest of Gaig in assess programming. Rob Dunbar, we met later with Hugh December of 1799. Although his Cheape, Historian at the Royal gravestone is re-erected once a year, it is leveled within a Museum of Scotland. Hugh, a Gaelic speaker, is currently night, or so, and has mostly lain on the ground for more than designing a course on Highland material culture for Sabhal two centuries. Highlanders have a long memory for transgres- Mór Ostaig and is a frequenter advisor to the Highland Folk sions. Museum in Kingussie. He is also executor for the late Gaelic scholar On that note our thoroughly inform- John Lorne Campbell’s estate on the ative day in Badenoch ended. We Isle of Canna. John Lorne Campbell returned to Inverness with some and his wife, Margaret Fay Shaw, have time to spare before joining repre- had a long standing relationship with sentatives from Highland Council at Nova Scotia. One of John Lorne’s last dinner that evening . publications was Songs in Exile. Based on field recordings made in the Judi Menabney picked us up at the 1930s, this excellent book contains a bed and breakfast around 7 pm. We large number of waulking songs were joined by Graham Watson, from the Barra tradition of Cultural and Leisure Services Christmas Island and area. Manager, Stuart Brownlee, Head of Blackhouse, Highland Folk Museum Libraries and Archives for the Hugh toured the Highland Village Highlands Council and elected Councilor from Skye Allan Museum in 1987, and has corresponded sporadically since that Beaton. Supper and the evening were enjoyed over general time. He offered assistance to Village programming in whatev- conversation and Stuart Brownlee explained in brief a new on- er ways that he could. line Gaelic project Am Baile (formerly known as Gaelic Village.com). Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 15 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001

DAY IX - OCTOBER 3, 2001 towards building productive links with Gaelic Scotland and enhancing Nova Scotia’s share of Gaelic culture through the EDINBURGH &GLASGOW means of the Highland Village Museum. Our final day continued apace. Jim was interviewed (live in It could be said that Gaelic Scotland is now in a process of Gaelic) by Kenny MacIvor for Gaelic BBC from the Edinburgh reconstruction to meet the needs of a modern world. Since studios. The radio conversation focused on expansion of the the 1980s there has been a phenomenal expansion of sophis- Highland Village Gaelic program and the purpose of our visit, ticated Gaelic enterprise in the Highlands and Islands. There on behalf of the Highland Village Museum, to Scotland. also has been a good deal of improvement in educational ini- Following the Radio nan Gael broadcast, Jim returned to Rob’s tiatives, though some would say not flat, where Rodney gave an update on our enough. Gaelic-medium schooling is also activities to CBC over the phone. (Various Gaelic singing in Baile Gean, available in the industrial belt, where over people reported having heard Rodney’s inter- Highland Folk Museum half of Scotland’s Gaelic speakers live. view and have expressed interest in the trip’s Documentation of outcomes tells us that outcomes.) progress in Gaelic development has been accomplished by improvements in three We continued on to the School of Scottish main spheres of performance: Studies, University of Edinburgh, where we were introduced to staff and given a thorough 1. Co-ordination of initiatives between tour of the School’s holdings of photos, government and organizations com- books, manuscripts and recordings by Dr.John bined with skills upgrading for cultural Shaw. While there, we purchased for the workers; Village library a set of Tocher, the School’s folklore quarterly and back volumes of 2. Educational planning and program Scottish Studies, an academic journal of implementation; Scottish ethnology currently edited by John Shaw. (Issues of Tocher have already been used 3. Public and private sector investment in at the Highland Village Museum to research social and cultural development. Gaelic customs on Halloween for presenta- tion during an evening tour.) The successful intensification of Gaelic- related activities throughout Scotland can be largely attributed The afternoon of this last day was spent re-visiting the to structural changes resulting from the foundation building Scottish emigration section of the Royal Museum and travel- efforts of Comunn na Gàihdlig (The Gaelic Agency), Comhairle ing to Glasgow by train where we purchased various Gaelic nan Sgoiltean Àraich (The Association for Gaelic Pre-Schools) materials at the Gaelic Books Council.The trip concluded with and Sabhal Mór Ostaig (The Gaelic College). an evening at an Edinburgh pub in the company of Rob Dunbar, Wilson MacLeod and antiquarian Donald Through the employment of teachers, broadcasters, planners MacCormack, the largest seller of antique books pertaining to and much evidence of cultural industries, it was plain to see the Highlands and Scotland’s Gaelic literature. that Gaelic development has become a major sector in the Highlands and Islands regional economy (figures should be OCTOBER 4, 2001 available through CNAG). Attitudes towards the importance GLASGOW TO HALIFAX VIA ICELAND of Gaelic were also impressive. A significant consideration in the promotion of Gaelic based employment is the now con- Returning to Nova Scotia from Glasgow via Icelandair, we ventional view that vigorous upkeep of a community’s lan- arrived at Halifax in the early evening. guage, tradition and culture exercises a direct affect on the social cohesion essential to its economic development. It was fairly clear to us throughout the visit that Scottish develop- SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ment agencies and Gaelic organizations have found grounds for collaboration on mutual goals in this factor. Drawing hard and fast conclusions on the effectiveness and depth of institutional efforts being made to preserve Gaelic It also appears that these influences are augmented by well- language in Scotland based on a nine-day visit would be diffi- researched strategies that reflect long-range planning and cult to do. However, our many conversations with a cross- coordinated efforts in building infrastructures conceived for section of people representing domains of activity ranging optimal results. Such an integrated approach has the ability to from community development and education, to folklore, aca- center wide cross-sector involvement in achieving desired demic research and historical representation has led to some outcomes for cultural and community advancement. impressions. The following observations may be helpful Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 16 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 Despite the historical and cultural ties joining Nova Scotia to Gaelic ability in the interpretive staffs at the two museum Gaelic Scotland, differences between the two regions are sites. many. Governmental structure, composite population and the basis for economy are among those contrasts. Nevertheless, The Highland Folk Museum has already set up a training proj- the similarities are considerable when examined generically. ect with Sabhal Mór Ostaig, intended to make its workers flu- For example, corresponding negative circumstances are ent in Gaelic through the Cùrsa Inntrigidh:Gaelic Assess pro- endemic to both regions: high rates of unemployment, out- gram. The course is, unfortunately, in the development stage ward migration of educated youth and skilled workers, cultur- and not available for investigation at the present. It is, appar- al disenfranchisement, failure of mega-projects and a fragile ently, designed as a distance course arranged in graduating les- economy coupled with rural decline. sons that will take the adult learner to a fluent level over a two year period.The medium of instruction is CD-ROM reinforced On the positive score, comparable local resources for the by periodic group meetings with a tutor, or mentor, who will development a Gaelic infrastructure with a capacity to impact explain points of confusion and make clarifications. cultural enterprises and community development are manifest on both sides of the Atlantic: an appealing environment, a dis- In discussions with John Norman MacLeod at Sabhal Mór and tinctive, cultural base and a robust arts community. It is Judi Menabney and Graham in this commonly held context that the Highland Village Watson with Highland Museum’s Gaelic assets have the most to offer in form- Council, it was mutually ing partnerships with akin Scottish institutions. agreed that a proposal for a pilot project designed to teach Gaelic language and interpretive skills to both A PILOT PROJECT PROPOSAL museum staffs be drafted by Highland Village. It is at this On a scale of comparison to Nova Scotia, one cannot juncture that the follow-up help but be impressed by the funding circumstances on our trip to Scotland rests. enjoyed by Gaelic development groups in Scotland. At a The proposal will be forth- glance, monies for building cultural infrastructure come coming before the end of from a number of sources that include the Scottish November. Office, the National Lottery, the EU (European Union), local councils (forms of municipal government as we know them), HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise), Highlands Council Offices and a variety of trusts. THE PRINCIPAL INSTITUTIONS ONTACTED With scant resources available for Gaelic development in C Nova Scotia, the degree to which the language and culture have remained intact should be seen as a measure of its depth Highland Council: and the internal tenacity by which its continuity has been maintained. Wherever we went in Scotland, the quality of Comhairle na Gàidhlig, Cape Breton’s Gaelic culture was strongly acknowledged by those having visited the Island, or experienced Cape Breton Cultural and Leisure Services culture in Scotland. It isn’t surprising that Scottish institutions perceive the ongoing presence of Gaelic language and culture Contact persons: in Cape Breton as the island’s primary asset for establishing Graham Watson,Area Cultural and Leisure Services exchanges of research and training opportunities. Manager - Badenoch and Strathspey Mòrag Anna NicLeòid, Gaelic Officer, Cultural and On this basis, the Highland Village Museum enjoys a central, Leisure Services and affordable, position in exploiting these overtures of good- will with the Old World. Highland Council has made it clear E-mail: [email protected] that the Highland Folk Museum shares a similar goal with Highland Village in planning to become a bilingual site.A num- Highland Council is the local sector of government whose ber of suggestions for initiatives were made during conversa- responsibility it is to provide cultural and leisure services to tions with Highland Council Cultural and Leisure Services offi- the Highlands. Its experience in the management of heritage cers in Inverness. While certain of these can be examined projects is extensive and its collections are of national impor- more closely in the future, the predominant issue at present is tance. the design of a training program to instill a high degree of

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 17 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001

Cultural and Leisure Services, as a sector of Highland Council, provides a wide range of opportunities for participation in cul- tural and recreational activities in the Highlands.These include Gaelic development, museums and heritage, libraries and library support services. The service is “committed to the development and promotion of the Gaelic culture and lan- guage and works closely with Gaelic organizations to achieve this aim across all Service activities.”

To this end, Highland Council employs a Gaelic Strategy based on the conviction that it is within their mandate,“To promote and support the indigenous heritage and cultures of the Highlands and to recognize the importance of heritage and culture in underpinning our place in the contemporary world.”

The Highland Council’s Gaelic Development Strategy identi- fies education, arts and culture and the economic significance of Gaelic language and culture within the Highlands region as its key charges.

The vision for the Highland Council’s Gaelic Development Strategy embraces the following objectives:

• To promote and support developments which will lead to increasing the number of people who are able to speak Gaelic; itors and locals alike, the life of the people of the Highlands through three centuries to the present day.” • To encourage people to take advantage of the opportunities provided in relation to Gaelic and also through Gaelic; The museum is located at Kingussie in the Central Highlands. It is constituted by twin sites about four kilometers apart.The • To support and promote strengthening Gaelic as a commu- Newtonmore section is an open air museum similar in its nity language; presentation to that of the Highland Village Museum.Its focus is on a living history approach, using animators who help • To support, strengthen and provide opportunities for tradi- inform on eras of Highland history as represented by period tional and contemporary Gaelic culture through the medi- buildings spanning some four hundred years of material life in um of Gaelic; the Highlands. The Gaels’ experience here is portrayed through a number of time windows that include an early eigh- • To encourage and facilitate co-operation and information teenth-century farm steading complete with rare breeds of exchange among public and private sector groups and indi- domestic animals, and a mid- twentieth century working croft viduals involved in the development of Gaelic in The with modern animals and field systems. Interpreters are Highland Council Area. dressed in period costume and antique buses convey visitors over the 85 acre site, which also provides a gift shop, cafe, audio visual centre and play area for children. Highland Folk Museum The Kingussie component is comprised of exhibits displaying domestic objects, furniture, machinery and implements per- Contact Person: taining to rural life. Kingussie’s outdoor area includes recon- Judi Menabney structions of a Black House, clack mill and smoke-house. E-mail: [email protected] The present approach to enhancing both sites in the Highland Folk Museum fold is to bring a respectable level of Gaelic lan- Highland Folk Museum is owned and under the management guage presence to its interpretation. This is especially crucial of the Highland Council. Its collections and holdings make it for Newtonmore as a living outdoor museum in a historically Scotland’s foremost museum relating to the people of the Gaelic-speaking region. According to the Highland Council Highlands. It is mandated to “preserve, interpret and promote the material culture of the Highlands and to interpret for vis- Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 18 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 document Baile Fàilte,“The primary motivation in developing a Gaelic interpretation context at Highland Folk Museum is the recognition that interpreting the material and social culture without the language is historically inaccurate, culturally incor- rect and interpretively inadequate.”

To address this concern for Gaelic representation in a muse- um for and about the Gaels, the Highland Council is present- ly committed to its, “aim to create a true, Gaelic interpretive context at Highland Folk Museum, accessible to and adding value to the experience of all visitors, whatever their linguistic and cultural base.” Sabhal Mór Ostaig

Contact Person: John Norman MacLeod, Head of Educational Programming E-mail: [email protected]

SMO is a Gaelic medium College located on the Sleat Peninsula in Highland Folk Museum the Isle of Skye. It was established in 1973 as a summer school offer- Above: Map of Newtonmore site ing piping and Gaelic language Below: Map of Kinguissie site instruction. From those early days, it has evolved into an accredited centre of advanced education in business training and community studies, featuring courses in Gaelic Access, Gaelic and Communications, Language and Culture, North Atlantic Studies and TV and Multimedia.Along with full-time accredited courses, an extensive schedule of short courses is offered that teach skills in Gaelic language, music, Highland genealogy and even Cape Breton stepdancing and fiddling.

SMO was formally inaugurated as a College for Further Education in 1983. It has since upgraded its facilities for stu- dents and instructors by the addition of Arainn Chaluim Chille.The growth of SMO educational programming has been in direct response to the socioeconomic needs of the Highlands and Islands region. Certification for its systematical- ly designed courses was granted at the national level in 1989.

SMO’s library was founded in 1976 with a gift of 150 Gaelic texts. Current holdings comprise a multi-media collection of over 6,000 volumes. The collection has recently been increased substantially with the purchase of a large number of related books from Donald MacCormack, Edinburgh antiquar- ian and Gaelic book seller.

The college is presently entering on a course of dynamic expansion through its participation in the University of the Highlands and Islands Project, a university-without-walls con- cept based on technology applications. It is expected that Sabhal Mór will move from College of Further Education

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 19 TURAS RANNSACHAIDH DHA ‘N ALBAINN:RESEARCH TRIP TO GAELIC SCOTLAND SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 4, 2001 Status to University Status in the near future. Current full-time enrolment is approximately eighty five students, two of whom are from Cape Breton.

The Language Course:An Cùrsa Inntrigidh

Discussion with Sabhal Mór Ostaig and the Highlands Council on Gaelic language training for workers at Highland Folk Museum and Highland Village centered on the idea of placing both groups in the same program. An Cùrsa Inntirigidh (Gaelic Access), is a new course for novice learners designed and administrated by Sabhal Mór Ostaig. It is intended to be used as a distance program to reach people who otherwise have little access to regular Gaelic classes. The course’s focus is on building confidence in the speakers language ability. It emphasizes speaking and listening skills with less weight placed on being able to write.When the course has been successfully completed, a certificate is awarded qualifying the holder to enter the Cùrsa Comais program, which is level 1 of the Gaelic and Related Studies degree programs. The course is comprised of 14 units. It is struc- tured to provide telephone tutorials once a week, a monthly group tuto- rial and is further supported by a web site backup. Each of the units take two to three weeks each to complete.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - TAPADH LEIBH We are very appreciative of the hospitality we received while in Scotland. We send special thanks to Rob Dunbar & Christene MacLeod,Wilson MacLeod, Norman Gillis, John Norman MacLeod and the staff at Sabhal Mór Ostaig, Johnathan MacDonald,Will Lamb and the staff at Colaisde Bheinn na Faoghla, the MacEachens in How Beg, Peter and Caroline MacKenzie in Inverness, Judi Menabeny, Graham Watson, Ross Noble and the staff at the Highland Folk Museum,Allan Beaton, Stuart Brownlee, Hugh Cheape, David Forsythe, John and Jill Shaw, staff at the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh and Donald MacCormack. - Jim & Rodney

Report written by Jim Watson. Photos and Layout by Rodney Chaisson. November 2001.

Support the Highland Village! Take Out A Membership Join today! Join the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society

Name: ______The Nova Scotia Highland Village Society is a Address: ______non-profit Society registered under the Societies City/Town: ______Act of the Province of Nova Scotia. The Society Province/State: ______is made up of a membership which elects the Board of Trustees (from their ranks) to operate Postal/Zip Code: ______the Society on their behalf. Members can attend Country: ______meetings, elect the Board, sit on committees, Home Phone: ______receive and approve annual reports including Work Phone: ______audited financial statements, receive Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (bi-annual newsletter), receive Fax:______notices for events, and feel a sense of pride in E-mail: ______contributing to Nova Scotia’s Scottish Gaelic Culture. Want to become more involved? Serve on a committee? Volunteer for a special project? What are your areas of interest? Membership is open to anyone. ❑ Museum Interpretation & Education Programming Individual memberships are $15.00 per year. ❑ ❑ Gàidhlig/Gaelic Genealogy & Family History/Research Family memberships are $25.00 per year. ❑ Entertainment ❑ Fund-raising ❑ Site Development

Highland Village Museum / An Clachan Gàidhealach 20 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 21

2001 with a focus on regional Gaelic Féis a’ Chlachain culture and its historical back- GAELIC drop was implemented by a series of informed speakers on MATTERS topic matters that examined Gaelic history, music, dance By Jim Watson and the song and story tradi- tion of the Nova Scotia Gaels. The following guest presenters were on hand to speak to staff ince last February (2001), the on these aspects of Gaelic cul- Highland Village Museum Gaelic S ture in Nova Scotia: singing Program has been very busy in a process and story telling, Donald of program documentation and training MacDonell, Maxie MacNeil, activities for staff and affiliated persons. Jamie MacNeil, Jimmy Progress in identifying Gaelic initiatives Caluman MacNeil; history of the Gael in on site can be quantified in the comple- from Gaelic Scotland. The songs repre- Nova Scotia, Professor Donald tion of a five year development plan. It’s sented the types that remain popular to MacGillvray, Dr. a good sign that pro- the present such as milling and sailing Mike Kennedy; gramming is to be songs, humorous compositions and love Angus MacLeod, multi-faceted and songs. Féis a’ Chlachain committee Alex Smith, Gaelic comprehensive in brought an extra dimension to the songs music in Cape making the Village a as they drew on their own familiarity Breton, John Gibson, Gaelic place. The with the tradition to explain the song’s Marianne Jewel, plan’s variety of meanings and history to the group being Father Angus Morris themes has also taken taught in the old Cape Breton way of and Gaelic stepdanc- into account the Gaelic singing ing, Frances development of Gaelic activities continued into the MacEachen. Highland Village summer and fall at Highland Village and Week long ses- Museum as an inter- include the very successful Eilean nan Og, sions for staff were pretive centre respon- with ten teenage apprentices, Baile nam broken into three sive to community Fonn (Village of Song) Gaelic song tuition segments during the needs. for adults with Mary Jane Lamond. months of March and In June 2000, Nova Cultural learning opportunities were April. Instruction Scotia Highland Fr. Angus Morris made available on September 8th in the and presentations Village was conferred form of an excellent presentation on were augmented by field trips to Mabou with Nova Scotia Museum branch status Gaelic fiddling styles made by Fr. Angus and the North Shore. The intent of the and a new mandate to become a Gaelic Morris, Mabou and Maryann Jewel, out-trips was to introduce staff to Cape place with strong representations of lan- Scotsville and a class teaching the Scotch Breton’s Gaelic speaking areas that differ guage and culture. Over the past Four headed by internationally known in culture content and perspective. Local months, the Village has progressed dance master Harvey Beaton. representatives spoke to staff at halls in towards its goal to become a centre of Reported on elsewhere in Naidheachd both locales. Gaelic training for Gaelic interpretation in Nova Scotia. This a’ Chlachain, Jim Watson and Rodney Highland Village staff is ongoing and year’s initiatives to date include public Chaisson traveled to Scotland to make will commence once again during the outreach projects such as a Gaelic song contacts with Gaelic College Sabhal Mór winter of 2002. day and information sessions for the Ostaig on the Isle of Skye and adminis- Highland Village celebrated Gaelic Village’s governing board and Nova trators with Highland Folk Museum, Awareness Month by facilitating and Scotia Museum staff. Kingussie and Highland Council. The hosting a special afternoon of Gaelic Employees at the Village launched on purpose of the trip was to research song workshops and evening milling a long-term training initiative that took liaisons and possible partnerships with frolic. Local Gaelic singers having a long- place over a three week period during Scottish institutions fostering Gaelic standing familiarity with Cape Breton’s the spring of this year. Programming development in their own institutions Gaelic song heritage organized the event, and communities. The outcome of our titled Féis a’ Chlachain. The discussions hold promise for new and Jimmy Caluman MacNeil leads a song at committee was comprised increased Gaelic programming at the Fèis a’ Chlachain milling frolic. of Beth MacNeil, Maxie Highland Village. We look forward to MacNeil, Peter MacLean, proceeding with negotiations with Sabhal Micky MacNeil, Johnny and Mór Ostaig and Highland Folk Museum Joan Gillis, Neil John Gillis in the near future. In the meantime, win- and Jamie MacNeil, all well ter and spring training in Gaelic lan- known tradition bearers guage and culture is being scheduled. from the districts of Iona, Finally, a day of Gaelic instruction Jamesville, Christmas was held on the site October 27th. Island and Boisdale. Instructors for the day were Angus During the session com- MacLeod, Goose Cove and Jeff mittee members became MacDonald, Kingsville and Miramachi, instructors as they present- along with Jim Watson. Classes were ed a range of local composi- structured for beginners, intermediates tions and songs preserved and those interested in Gaelic folklore.

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Page 22 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) Fosgail an dorus 's leig astaigh mi."Agus get married. They would have to go over GAELIC chuir siod barrachd eagail oirre 's dh'éibh to South Uist for the wedding reception, i amach, "'N ann dha 'n t-saoghal seo a or rather, the marriage. They went in a STORY tha thu?" boat and it was about a mile distant. "'S ann," ars' esan. "Fosgail an dorus 's Everything went well at the church & SONG chì thu fhéin". and they were married. When they were Agus dh'fhosgail i an dorus 's thànaig returning to North Uist, a terrible storm SELECTION e staigh. Agus rinn i toileachadh mór ris descended. The sea and wind rose up Collected by Jim Watson 's dh'éirich na daoine. Thòisich a' bhain- and the boat... They had to take turns nis 's bha a' bhainnis ag obair fad trì là 's bailing the boat. When the groom was trì oidhche. bailing, the sea swept in and he went out CHUALA MI SIOD REIMHID 'S dh'fhuirich 'ad ann a Uibhist-a- into the current. He, the boat's skipper, Tuath fad dusan bliadhna 's thill 'ad air tried to get an oar to him so that he might he late Malcom Campbell (Calum mac n-ais a Bharraidh. Agus cha robh cùisean get a grip on it. He failed to do so and TGhilleasbuig 'ic Caluim an Tàilleir) tells a' dol ro mhath dhaibh agus bha fead- Calum disappeared. a story of early immigration to Jamesville hainn bràthair athair Chaluim a bha So they went home and everyone was (Baile Sheumais Mhóir), Victoria County. anis... falbh gu Ameiriga bho bhli- very downcast about what had hap- Malcolm was an excellent tradition bear- adhnaichean roimhe sin. Agus thuirt pened. Everyone in the house went to er, whose oral accounts of his native Calum ris nach robh e 'dol ann dha 'n sleep except the young woman. She was Woodbine (originally Sollas) and stories dùthaich ùr gu bràch, nach tigeadh e ann in the kitchen feeling so forlorn about of forerunners have appeared in Am idir. Ach rinn e suas 'na inntinn, mar a what had happened on her wedding Bràighe and Cape Breton’s Magazine. bha cùisean a' dol dha ann a Barraidh, gu night, and she heard a clamour at the Following is a reminiscence from falbhadh e 's thog 'ad rithe. Chruinnich door. A kind of fear came over her and Barra Glen and a rare song, all from the 'ad an teaghlach... agus thug 'ad leotha she called out asking who this was? recitation of the late John Rory MacNeil cuibhle-shnìomh 's cas-chrom agus "Oh," said the voice, "it's your hus- (Iain Ruairidh Mhìcheil Steabhain). dh'imich 'ad anull gu Ameiriga. 'S chaidh band. Open the door and let me in." Selections recorded, transcribed and 'ad gu... ann am Pictou a land 'ad an That made her even more frightened, translated by Jim Watson. toiseach. Agus an uair sin thànaig 'ad gu and she called out, "Do you belong to Antigonish. 'S ás a' siod, cha chreid mi this world?!" Naidheachd Air Banais agus Bàs nach dànaig 'ad dh'an cois dha 'n Bhéigh "Indeed, he replied."Open the door an Iar agus fhuair 'ad soitheach na bàta and you can see for yourself." ha thu 'g iarraidh na naidheachd air air choireiginn a bheireadh anull chon a' So she opened the door and he came Tbanais agus bàs. Bha fear Calum Chaolais Mhóir 'ad. inside. She was overjoyed to see him and Caimbeul, bha e 'fuireach ann am Bha an oidhche 'tighinn, dìreach the rest of the folks got up. The wedding Barraidh. 'S e saor a bh'ann. Chaidh e feasgar, nuair a rànaig 'ad. Chunnaig 'ad reception began and it carried on for null gu Uibhist-a-Tuath a shaoirsneachd. solus shuas ann an taigh 's rinn iad three days and three nights. Agus nuair a bha e ann a sin, thachair e ri dìreach air an t-solus. Agus nuair a thà- They lived in North Uist for twelve nighean: Catrìona NicLeòid. Agus bha naig 'ad gu tìr, thachair gu robh nighean years and they returned to Barra. Things 'ad a' falbh còmhla 's rinn iad suas gum a' coiseachd shios aig a' chladach agus weren’t going well for them and some of pòsadh 'ad. Agus dh'fheumadh 'ad a chual' i a' tighinn iad. Agus dh'aithnich i Malcom's father's brother's people had dhol anull gu Uibhist-a-Deas 'son a' guth mac bràthair a h-athar. 'S chaidh i left for America years before that. Calum bhanais - 'son am pòsadh co dhiubh. dhachaidh 's dh'inns' i dha h-athair gu said that he would never emigrate to the Agus dh'fhalbh iad ann am bàta, bha e robh mac a bhràthar a' tighinn anuas on New World: he would most certainly not mu aon mhìle do dh'astar. a' chladach. Agus thuirt e rith' nach robh go there. But he made a decision, based Agus chaidh a h-uile sìon gu math aig sìon a leithid sin a' tachairt idir. "Thuirt e on the way affairs were going in Barra, an eaglais 's phòs 'ad. Nuair a bha 'ad a' riumsa nach tigeadh e gu bràch dha 'n that he would go. Off they went. They tilleadh gu Uibhist-a-Tuath, thànaig dùthaich seo." Ach thuirt i ris gu robh e gathered the family together and they stoirm uamhasach anuas. Dh'éirich an 'tighinn. took a spinning wheel and a cas-chrom fhairge 's a' ghaoth 's bha am bàta ... Thànaig 'ad 's rinn 'ad toileachadh gu (spade for turning the ground where a b'fheudar dhaibh fear mu seach a bhi mór ri chéile. 'S rinn iad amach àite-fear- plough can't go) and moved over to taomadh ás a' bhàta. 'S nuair a bha fear ainn dha 's bha 'ad 'fuireach ann a siod America. na bainnseadh a' taomadh, thànaig an fad bhliadhnaichean. 'S tha cuid dha 'n The first place they landed was fhairge astaigh 's dh'fhalbh e mach a's an fheadhainn a bhoineas dha a' fuireach Pictou. From there they came to West t-sruth. Dh'fhiach e, sgiobar an t-soithich, ann fhathast, ann a Baile Sheumais. Sin Bay, by foot I believe, and got a vessel or dh'fhiach e ràmh a chuir dh'a ionnsaidh agad e. boat of some kind that would take them fiach am faigheadh e greim air. over to Grand Narrows. Dh'fhairlich air 's dh'fhalbh e á sealladh. A Story about Night was coming and it was just Co dhiubh, chaidh 'ad dhachaidh a Wedding and a Drowning evening when they arrived. They saw a agus bha a h-uile duine gu math brònach (Translation) light up in a house and they made as deaghaidh a' rud a thachair. Agus straight for it. When they landed, they chaidh a h-uile duine a bha 's an taigh a ou want the story about the wedding came upon a girl walking down at the chadal ach a' bhean òg. Bha i 's a' chidsin Yand the drowning. There was a fel- shore and she heard them coming. And 's bha i 'faireachdainn cho dona mar a low Malcom Campbell who was living in she recognized the voice of her father's dh'éirich dhi air oichche na bainnseadh Barra. He was a carpenter. He went over brother. So she went home and told her agus chuala i farum aig an dorus. Agus to North Uist to work at carpentry. While father that his nephew was coming up thànaig seòrs' do dh'eagal oirre 's dh'éibh he was there he met a young woman, from the beach. He told her that nothing i amach có bha seo? Katharine MacLeod. So they were going of the sort was happening at all. "He told "O," ars' a' guth, "tha do chompanach. out with each other and they decided to me that he would never come to this

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 23 country." But she said that he was com- of May, but it (the ground) was better ing. readied and easier if the plowing was (Though I should be a colonel commanding They arrived and they joyfully greet- done the previous fall. a regiment, I would choose for marriage no ed each other. They found a piece of land You had to put fertilizer on it, harrow other than my black haired girl.) for Calum and there they lived for many it and then seed it and harrow it again years. Some of his descendants still live with the horses - horses or horse, what- Nisd innsidh mis' a dealbh dhuibh there, in Jamesville. ever was available. Tha bilean tana, dearg oirr' And there you have it. Was there help for widows or the Deud air dreach an airgid like? An carbad na h-ìghean duibh Uair Gu Robh Saoghal That was done. That was done. But there was usually a relative that would (Now I shall describe her for you. She has ut mhath leat an treòbhadh a bhi air a do that for the widow. Oh, they would be delicate red lips. There are teeth like silver Bdhianamh anmoch as t-fhoghar a doing that, helping out. The people were in the black haired girl's mouth.) chaidh seachad, mun dànaig an good to help out. geamhradh. Cha n-e nach rachadh agad Occasionally there would be some- Nuair a dh'fhalbhas ghuainn an geamhradh air an treòbhadh a dheanamh null mu thing else, they would have a frolic. We 'S a thig astaigh a' samhradh Bhealtainn no greis as deaghaidh called it a frolic. That's when the neigh- Ged chosgainn càraid ghamhna Bhealtainn, ach bha e na 's deisle 's bha e bours would get together on a special Bidh danns' aig mo nighean dubh na b'fhurasda ma chaidh an treòbhadh a day: whether they were, maybe, cutting dhianamh as t-fhoghair s' chaidh. hardwood, pit-props, cutting hay or that (When winter leaves us and summer Dh'fheumadh tu todhar a chuir air, a kind of thing. Then it was expected there advances, although it should cost a pair of chliathadh 's an nuair sin an sìol a chuir would be a "time"in the house that night, steers, the black haired girl shall have a ann 's a chliathadh arithist le éich - each a party: a dance as we would say. dance.) no éich, ge b'e dé thachair a bhi ann. Am biodh 'ad a' cuideachadh le John Rory MacNeil’s Rare Song Mar bhliadhna tha gach latha leam bantrach no a' leithid sin? Bho sheachdain gus am màireach Rachadh sin a dhianamh. Rachadh sin Mo Nighean Donn Ghuanach Gu 'n ruig mi Ceann Loch Sàil' a dhianamh. Ach mar but trice bhiodh (My Giddy Brown Haired Girl) Far na dh'fhàg mi mo nighean dubh cuideigin car càirdeach dhi a bha... dha 'n bhantraich sin, aig a rachadh air an obair Ho rò mo nighean donn ghuanach (Each day is for me like a year, a week until a dhianamh. Ach bhiodh sin aca, 'toirt Hi rì mo nighean donn ghuanach tomorrow until I reach Ceann Loch Sàile, cuideachadh seachad. Bha na daoine Mo chailin chruinn dubh ghuanach where I left my black haired girl.) math airson cuideachadh a dhianamh. Mo luaidh air mo nighean dubh Bha gnothach eile ann uaireannan ... Gur ann aig Ceann Loch Ile gum biodh frolaig aca. Chanamaid frol- Ho rò mo giddy brown girl A dhealaich mi ri m'nigheig aig ris. 'Se sin gu rachadh na nàbaidhean Hi rì mo my giddy brown girl Gum b'fheàrr leam agam fhìn i cruinn air latha àraid. Ma dh'fhaoite, co Mo plump, giddy black haired girl Na mìle té eile 'n diugh dhiubh bha 'ad a' geàrradh connadh, no I love the black haired girl 'geàrradh props, no geàrradh fiar no a' (I parted with my girl at Ceann Loch Ile. I leithid sin. Ach bha dùil an uair sin taoim Gur mise th'air mo sgeulad would rather her today than a thousand a bhi 's an taigh an oidhche sin. Bha, gum Nach cluinn mi 'n crodh a' geumraich other girls.) biodh taoim ann: dannsa mar a chanas Tha pìobaichean 'gan gleusadh sinn. 'S am beus air an dròn a' cluich * This is the only version known to have been recorded in Cape Breton. It would In conversation with the late John (My tidings are that I will not hear the cat- appear to be a Barra song. A similar song Rory MacNeil of Barra Glen tle lowing: the pipes are tuned and the appears in the School of Scottish Studies (Translation) drone plays in harmony.) publication Tocher. It was recorded from Nan MacKinnon (Nàn Eahchainn ou would want to do the plowing Ged bhithinn-sa 'nam chòirneal Fhionnlaidh) of Vatersay. Ylate the previous fall, before winter 'S réiseamaid fo m'òrdugh came. It’s not that you couldn't do it in Cha ghabhainn bean ri pòsadh Stories & Song © Jim Watson, 2002. around May first or shortly after the first Le m'dheòin ach an nighean dubh Looking for the perfect gift? Try the Highland Village Gift Shop Visit our Gift Shop, located in our Visitor Centre, for a full range of high quality gifts and local crafts. You will find the Island’s largest collection of Gaelic and East Coast Music and Gaelic books. Open year round. Shipping available.

You Can Contact the Gift Shop: e-mail: [email protected] phone: (902) 725-2272 fax: (902) 725-2227

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Page 24 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News)

Another donation we Kaye Anne & Beth MacNeil, HV staff, have received is a copy of the demonstrate crafts at the Rankin Winter Feis Boston Globe Magazine from February of this year. It NAIDHEACHD contains an article entitled The call of the Highlands by News from 2001 Brian MacQuarrie. His father had been in my office e have been quite busy, here on years ago and found some WHector’s Point, since the last issue. information on the family. Our strategic planning exercise, developing Brian took it further and vis- new relationships with Gaelic Scotland, ited South Uist to see the Eilean nan Òg, and other activities reported land and speak to in other parts of this newsletter have kept us MacQuarries. Though he hopping. Here is a selection of some of our didn’t find his ancestors other activities. home, he found himself in the spirit of the people and in ROOTS CAPE BRETON UPDATE the land. On site revenue was also up over FROM PAULINE MACLEAN Dr. Norma Jean Coon has sent us two 2000. Our admission revenue was up 7%, The saying goes that a picture is worth a more volumes of her family histories, gift shop 15% and our programming rev- thousand words. Roots Cape Breton and one entitled It all started here: The MacIver enue was up a whopping 124%. Revenue Highland Village received several thou- Family, the other The MacInnis Family. from special events was up 1%. sand words in the form of pictures These are in addition to the volumes on recently. Dr. Newton E. Hislop of New Ferguson and Strachen families sent pre- PROGRAMMING Orleans, Louisiana, a great- Both new and existing programs have great-grandson of Alexander been well received by the public. Ross who was born in Participation in our Living History Stornaway, Scotland, donated Program for Children and Candlelight several large framed pictures Tours with Jim St.Clair continue to grow. of work done on the grave New programs this year focused on stone of his ancestor, John language related learnings - Baile nam Ross. John Ross was a first Fonn (Village of Songs) with Mary Jane generation Cape Bretoner. Lamond, Feis a’ Chlachain (Village His father began the ferry Festival) song workshop, Gaelic Day and service at Little Narrows and others. These programs have gotten off John took over the service to a successful start. until he died in 1895. He and Also new this fall was a special many of his descendants are Halloween program feature bocan sto- buried at Little Narrows. The ries. We also expanded our successful marble stone erected for John Living History Program Christmas Open House program. deteriorated over the years Gardening with Stevie MacNeil For more information on our pro- and may have been split by a grams check our website. Some of the falling branch. John’s grandson, Duncan viously. The histories are well dates for our 2002 programs can be Ross, noted the sad condition of the researched, noted and full of stories and found inside the front cover of this issue. stone. With the help of his nephew even recipes. Newton E. Hislop and grand-nephew, N. Our data entry project is going well. RANKIN SCHOOL Whitney Hislop, they loaded the pieces Over 740,000 records are entered and we We have been working hard with Rankin of the stone into a car and took them to have nearly completed the 1891 census. School, in particular their Gaelic teacher, J.D. Steeles of North Sydney. The pieces We are continually amazed by the vari- Dawn MacDonald-Gillis, over the past of the stone were set into a granite frame, ety of names and cultures found on the year to enhance the Gaelic program at the marble cleaned and repaired and re- Island. set on a foundation in the cemetery. Clan members contributed to the cost of the OTHER NEWS repairs and funded the full costs. On June 7th, 1992 a re-dedication ceremony 2001 VISITOR SEASON was held with over 50 descendants of Our 2001 season was a John Ross attending. The Clan John Ross great success. Our site is indebtited to J.D.Steele and Sons for users were up 1% over the their work on this project. Dr. Hislop 2000 season. Individual donated 5 framed pictures 17 by 14 of museum visitors were up before and after restoration. Two other 8% and visitors arriving frames contain the history of the Ross via motorcoach and cruise family and the obituary of John Ross ships were up 5%. from the North Sydney Herald in 1895. Unfortunately, the num- These photos will be mounted at the bers of school children vis- Village for viewing. We wish to thank iting the site was down by Highland Village President Brian Hussey signs an Dr. Hislop for his generosity and dedica- over 40%. MOU with Rankin Principal Georgina MacNeil in tion to the past. front of the mural created by Gaelic students.

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 25

Living History Program Keston Sewing with Sylvia Tupper the school, here in Iona. This resulted in create the Digital Gael project. Through increased language instruction at the ele- this project we hope to provide informa- MACKINNON’S BROOK SUITE mentary and junior high school levels; a tion on Gaelic culture in Nova Scotia on This past fall Scott MacMillan, Ian Rankin Winter Feis with cultural work- an interactive website and CD-ROM. The McKinnon and Symphony Nova Scotia shops; a puppet show based on one of first phase of the project, funded by launched an exciting new composition Joe Neil MacNeil’s stories; a cultural HRDC, focused on preliminary research tracing the journey of the MacKinnon mural to hang at the school and other - themes, potential partners and technol- family from the Isle of Barra in Scotland activities. As well, in June we signed an ogy. Essentially, a strategy was devel- to a new life in MacKinnon’s Brook near letter of agreement to work together on oped. We are presently seeking funding Mabou. The MacKinnon’s Brook Suite Gaelic related activities. We also worked for the next phase. Thanks to Gerard will also be made into a television special with the school to host a group of high MacNeil, Stacy MacNeil and Eddie next fall on CBC-TV. Much of the footage school students from Portree on the Isle MacKenzie for their contributions to this for this special was taped here on site. We of Skye in Scotland. We are hoping to exciting project. are pleased to have been a part of this project. work with the school to organize a trip to Scotland for our Gaelic students. We also AWARD OF MERIT FÉILL NAM BARRACH support the concept of Rankin develop- The 2001 Highland Village Award of BARRAMAN’S FEAST ing into a school of excellence in Gaelic Merit was presented to our own Vince We are busy working with a community language and culture. MacLean of Washabuck. Vince was a based committee to organize a special member of the Board and President for event to recognize 200 years of Gaelic set- PINE RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL many years. He also served as the pro- tlement in Central Cape Breton. Féill Another school with which we have an ducer for our annual Highland Village nam Barrach (Barraman’s Feast) will be a important relationship is Pine Ridge Day concert for over 20 years. week long celebration throughout the Middle School in Kingston in Nova Congratulations Vince. area from July 28 to August 4. There will Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. The students, be concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, dances, with their teacher Don Hyslop, have per- HORSES a dramatic presentation, a reenactment formed on site, raised over $1,000 for the Last summer the Highland Village pur- and many other events. Watch the next Highland Village through their own chased two French Canadian horses issue of Naidheachd a’ Chlachain for more Gaelic concerts. In recognition of their from the Fortress of Louisbourg - Keston information or check our website. contribution, we presented them with an a foal and Betina a mare. Both of these honourary membership last May. animals were well received by visitors KEEP UP TO DATE and staff. They have also settled into For more information on news at the DIGITAL GAEL their new home quite well. They will Highland Village check out the news sec- We have entered into an exciting rela- complement our interpretive program, tion of our website. It has a complete tionship with the Iona CAP Society to especially our farm area. posting of our press releases.

Pine Ridge students with teacher Don Hyslop perform at the Nova Scotia Museum féis.

Jim St.Clair leads a Candlelight Tour

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Page 26 Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (The Village News) that carried these emigrants, for the peri- already arrived in PEI at an earlier date. FROM od 1770-1821 we now know the names of The first retired soldiers of Barra origin at least ten for certain, and probably that we can trace are veterans of the 82nd BARRA TO another thirteen. Of these the most noto- regiment which was disbanded in rious are The Sarah and The Dove of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1784. Soldiers NOVA SCOTIA 1801. Passenger lists for these two ships who wished to take a land grant were By Keith Branigan are available and include not a single given land at Merigomish east of Pictou. native of Barra, yet there are very strong Privates received 100 acres, corporals 200 grounds for believing that after leaving acres. Some subsequently moved to Fort William with their ‘official’ passen- Malignant Cove further up the coast, and he SEARCH project (Sheffield gers, the two ships called at Barra and here and at Cape George further around Environmental and Archaeological T took on between 150 and 300 Barra the headland, we find veterans who had Research Campaign in the Hebrides) has migrants. originally come from Barra. now completed thirteen years of field- The vast majority of Barra migrants Although many of the ships which work on the Isle of Barra and the other are, not surprisingly, MacNeils. Over brought Barra emigrants to Canada dis- islands which make up the parish of 60% of our named migrants are embarked their passengers at Pictou, it is Barra. We have discovered and recorded MacNeils, followed in descending order recorded in contemporary documents almost 2,000 sites and monuments, rang- by the MacKinnons, the MacLeans, the that many of these immigrants then ing in date from 4000 BC up to the MacDonalds and the Gillises. Altogether moved northwards and eastwards into Crofting Commission of 1883. In addi- 20 different surnames are represented Cape Breton. There is definitely a well- tion to excavating many prehis- known cluster of descen- toric and medieval sites, we dants of Barra immigrants have also examined several around the Bras d’Or Lakes blackhouses of the period from today, and the majority of c. 1750 to 1850. This is the centu- our recorded Barra migrants ry when thousands of people left come from the Cape Breton Barra and its islands and emi- archives and sources. grated to North America, and The land registry main- particularly to Canada. tains a record of the original Inevitably, excavating these land grants in Nova Scotia, sites, we have been led into including Cape Breton, and studying the historical docu- where we know the name of ments for the period, and into a a grantee, the general loca- search for the emigrant families tion of the grant, and the both at their points of origin on year of the grant, then we Barra and their points of arrival can identify the specific plot and settlement in Canada. The Northern part of the of land which was acquired following is a brief summary of Isle of Barra by these immigrants. We are what we have achieved so far. still very anxious to add to Working through the land petitions, amongst the Barra migrants. Where we our list of emigrants to Cape Breton and shipping lists, family records, obituaries, have been able to trace them back in the Nova Scotia and if any readers of and cemetery records in Nova Scotia, BPR, they come from all parts of the Naidheachd a’ Chlachain know, or believe, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island island, including off-shore islands like their ancestors came from Barra we’d we have now collected the names of 504 Fulay, and from the island to the south as love to hear from them. In several cases migrants from the Isle of Barra, between well - Vatersay, Sandray and Mingulay. we have been able to provide further 1770 and 1850. The vast majority of these We have been particularly pleased to information for them -tracking down migrated between 1790 and 1830. Of the find at least two families who were living dates of marriages and births, and trac- total, 214 are adult males (over 16 years in the settlement at Gortein, on the ing them back to the specific township in of age), 79 are adult females, and 179 are Tangaval peninsula and who emigrated which they lived on Barra before emigra- dependent children. We have records of around 1822-26. This ties in with the evi- tion. Please send your enquires, and any another 181 individuals (mostly chil- dence from the BPR that Gortein was relevant information to me at the dren) whose names we do not (yet) being gradually abandoned by its inhab- Department of Archaeology, University know, and we know of other groups of itants between 1820 and 1835. of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, England. Barra migrants whose names and num- The earliest natives of Barra to settle We shall be devoting several chapters of bers are unrecorded. For example we in Canada, on present evidence, were not our final volume on Barra to the emigra- know the names of 13 heads of family veteran soldiers released from service in tions, and publishing a list of all the emi- from Barra who arrived in Nova Scotia in Canada (as is often assumed), but the grants we’ve identified and we’d hate to 1790, but we have neither the names eight Barra men and unspecified miss someone out! from their dependents nor the details at dependents who sailed on the Alexander Dr. Keith Branigan BA, PhD is a profes- all of a further 15 Barra families who in April/May 1772, to Charlottetown, sor in the Department of Archaeology at the arrived on the same ship. Often we have Prince Edward Island, where they land- University of Sheffield in Sheffield, England. only the names of the head of family and ed on June 25th. They rented land on Lot In our Autumn 1997 issue, he wrote two no information about even the number 36 from John MacDonald of Glenaladale, articles “The Isle of Barra: Clearance & of his dependents that travelled with with a lease which would run for 3,000 Emigration 1800-1851” and “Excavation of him. Nevertheless, we expect to add to years. Since several of them paid a fee to a Blackhouse at Balnabodach, Isle of Barra, names of the emigrant children when we leave their plots and move to Indian 1996.” SEARCH is sponsored by the have completed our collation of informa- River, PEI to be near relatives, we must Scouloudi Foundation, the Society of tion from the Canadian records and the assume that some Barra migrants had Antiquaries, and the University of Sheffield. BPR (Barra Parish Records). Of the ships

Volume 8 Number 1 An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 (The Village News) Naidheachd a’ Chlachain Page 27 Director’s Desk Cape Breton which will be wrapping up continued from page 4... in May. This project would not have been possible with out the assistance of the Cape Breton Response Strategy NEW LOGO (HRDC). They have provided 100% of You may have noticed a new marketing the financing to cover the labour costs of image containing the words Highland this project for the past two and a half Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach. years. This new image was created to provide Another feature will be more infor- the Highland Village with a bilingual mation on Féill nam Barrach - The identity to reflect our Gaelic mandate. It Barraman’s Feast. This is a week long was introduced in some of our market- celebration of 200 years of Gaelic settle- Eilean nan òg ing materials and gift shop merchandise ment in Central Cape Breton. It will take continued from page 7... last year. You will be seeing more of it as place in communities throughout we add it to our signage and update our Central Cape Breton from July 28th to marketing materials and website. In August 4th. There will be workshops, Day Eight - Aug 22 many circumstances you will see this concerts, dances, ceilidhs, a play, a reen- Anna Watson logo accompanied by images from the actment and much more. We will have Valley Mills, Inverness County Nova Scotia Museum and the more on this in the next issue. Department of Tourism & Culture. You can also keep up to date with Today was our first day with the kids what is going on by checking out our from the Gaelic camp in Christmas NEXT ISSUE website. News releases, special events, Island. I enjoyed it. I like the excitement The next issue will be published in the programming, and more are just a the kids have to learn. I think they have spring of 2002. The main focus of that mouse click away. As well the year 2000 lots of fun when we combine kids games issue will be an update on the Highland issues of Naidheachd a’ Chlachain are like Simon Says with Gaelic. They defi- Village Strategic Planning exercise available in pdf format. We are working nitely love musical chairs with the fiddle including the recommendations of our on ways of digitizing other past newslet- and pipes played by Morris and consultants. ters. Bookmark http://highlandvil- Meghan. It's great that kids have an We will also have more on the success lage.museum.gov.ns.ca. opportunity to go to this stuff if things of the data entry program for Roots work out for na h-Eileanaich.

Day Nine - Aug. 23 Jessica Farrell Washabuck,Victoria County Tapadh leibh uile gu mór.

I can't believe that there is only one day THANK YOU DONORS • In Memory of Agnes Livingstone left of the program. I have had a lot of • In Memory of Eddie Bryden fun. I think that it would be great if we The Society wishes to thank those who have • In Memory of Neil John Gillis could continue to learn to Gaelic lan- made donations of artifacts, archival materi- • In Memory of Eddie Kane guage somehow. We have come so far in al or financial contributions over the past • In Memory of Stanley Campbell two weeks. I think another few months (weeks? years?) would be excellent. I year: really like how we are learning our • Don Hyslop and the students at Pine dialect of Gaelic. Ridge Middle School in Kingston, Nova THANK YOU PARTNERS Scotia Day Ten - August 24 • Ken & Barbara Donovan, Sydney The Society wishes to thank the following Michael Farrell • Ian MacKinnon &the Port Hastings government departments & agencies, busi- Christmas Island, Cape Breton County Volunteer Fire Department nesses and other organizations that have pro- • Geneva Landry, Pictou vided funding or partnered with us on proj- What I liked about the program was that • Donald Mahoney, Sydney Mines ects: Nova Scotia Museum, Department of I got to learn and understand Gaelic a lot • James Ross, Ironville Tourism & Culture (Hon. Rodney better. I also liked meeting new people and seeing how the settlers used to live. • Lorraine Currie, Sydney MacDonald, Minister), Municipality of How the program could be improved by • Christine MacPhee, West Bay Victoria County, Enterprise Cape Breton maybe spending more time learning the • Laurie Pitre, Creignish Rear Corporation, Nova Scotia Department of Gaelic language. • Hector MacKenzie, Washabuck Economic Development, Human Resources • John Joe MacGillivary, Sydney Development Canada, Nova Scotia Submitted by: • Harold Higgins, Marion Bridge Department of Community Services, Young Gaeltalk Communications • S. B. Archibald, Ferguson’s Cove, NS Canada Works (Canadian Museums Publishers of Am Braighe • Pat Bates, Sydney Association), Gaeltalk Communications 175 MacIntyre Rd • Rod C. MacNeil, Barra Glen (Am Bràighe), Iona CAP Society, Icon Queensville, NS B9A 1S6 • Doris Tinney, Mabou Communications, Highland Heights Inn, 625-0060 • Jim St.Clair, Mabou Castle Moffett, Atlantic Cruise Ship • Catherine MacNeil, Sydney Services, Sherbrooke Village and Ross Farm. • Joan Gillis, Jamesville • Marilyn MacLeod, Whycocomagh

An Geamhradh / Winter 2001/2002 Volume 8 Number 1 Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach Pioneer Church Fund

A Pioneer Church has been for many years a dream of the Highland Village. We are now working towards the fulfillment of that dream. Negotiations are underway with the River & Lakeside Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada to acquire the Malagawatch United Church (built in 1874) and relocate it to the Highland Village site. To help the Highland Village achieve this goal, a special fund has been set up. To date over $22,000 has been collected.

Dec 01 $23,000

Sep 00 $10,200 Mar 00 $9300 Nov 98 $6800 Help realize this dream! Please donate to the Highland Village Pioneer Church Fund

Naidheachd a’ Chlachain (THE V ILLAGE N EWS) Comunn Clachan Gàidhealach na h-Albainn Nuaidh Nova Scotia Highland Village Society

4119 Highway/Rathad 223, Iona Nova Scotia/Alba Nuadh B2C 1A3 Canada

Telephone/Guthan:(902) 725-2272 Fax/Facs: (902) 725-2227

[email protected] www.highlandvillage.ns.ca

Mailed under Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement # 854441