Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia
Living Language
Scottish writer Iain Crichton Smith once warned that “Am fear a chailleas a chanain caillidh e a shaoghal.” Or, in English, “He who loses his language loses his world.” It’s easy to see the truth in that statement. When a language dies, it often takes with it other vital cultural elements: folk history, stories, music, and values, as well as a unique perspective on life, community, and the world as a whole. It is a loss to the people to whom that culture belonged, and to everyone who understands the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural diversity. For many Canadians with Scottish roots, Gaelic is no longer part of their lives the way it was for their ancestors. But in communities throughout Nova Scotia, the Gaelic way of life is being revived and revitalized for a new generation, through the work of the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia.
The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia, or Comhairle na Gàidhlig, is a non-profit society dedicated to preserving, maintaining and promoting Gaelic language and culture within the province, and beyond. It was founded in 1987, and has since established itself as a leader in the Nova Scotia Gaelic community by developing and implementing projects that enrich and educate others through exposure to Gaelic. Catriona Parsons, the President of the Gaelic Council, describes it as “an umbrella group for all kinds of initiatives that might take place on behalf of Gaelic and Gaelic culture.” The council has undertaken a number of projects aimed at building and supporting the use of Gaelic language, and promoting and sharing Gaelic culture, particularly with young Nova Scotians. The program Eilean nan Òg, or Island of Youth, is a paid apprenticeship hosted by the Highland Village Museum in Cape Breton. It allows apprentices aged 14 to 18 to spend two weeks learning Gaelic language and cultural skills from members of the Gaelic community. Another popular program co-ordinated by the council is Spòrs, which means Fun. Spòrs involves university students travelling to elementary schools in the province to teach children about Gaelic through music, dance, songs and stories. Parsons says, “It was really quite interesting to see how it was received. The young people sent us letters saying how much they enjoyed it, and the initiative is going to continue.”
Scottish Gaelic arrived in Canada with settlers from the islands and highlands of Scotland, in the 18th and 19th centuries. While Gaelic communities in other parts of the country have largely disappeared, Nova Scotia has maintained strong ties to its Gaelic heritage, making it the largest base for Gaelic language and culture outside of Scotland. The Gaelic Council works to renew and strengthen those traditional linguistic and cultural roots by emphasising community-based strategies and making use of modern technology. The Internet plays a critical role in connecting widely-dispersed rural Gaelic communities with one another, as well as with those interested in Gaelic language and culture throughout the province, and around the globe. The council’s website is an information portal for many Gaelic communities, allowing them to develop a greater sense of kinship with each other, and sharing their language and culture with a much broader audience. Parsons believes that this is key to Gaelic’s cultural renewal. She says, “Technology allows us to do that to a large extent – to work in rural communities, and yet be in touch with the whole world.”
And the world is indeed interested in what Gaelic Nova Scotia has to offer. The events and educational opportunities in which the Gaelic Council participates are sought out by visitors from all over Canada, the U.S, and even as far away as Japan. “The outlook of the Gael is attractive to people,” Parsons explains. “That includes the whole idea of being close to community, being close to nature, and the way in which Gaels celebrate their own language and culture when they get together. This is very attractive to many, many people, and they don’t necessarily have their roots way back in Scotland.” This local and global desire to explore Nova Scotia’s Gaelic culture is also helping to harness Gaelic’s potential as a source of economic development in the province, by attracting visitors and creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
Community is at the heart of the council’s work, and also at the heart of Gaelic language and culture. Cainnt mo Mhàthar, which means My Mother’s Language, is another of the council’s projects designed to make Gaelic more accessible, and to expand the community’s reach. This collection of video footage, featuring everyday conversational Gaelic, is available online to help people learn and appreciate the language, and offer insight into the uniqueness of the culture itself. Parsons says of her native tongue, “The way it is structured reflects the mindset of the people who speak the language.” In Gaelic, the emphasis of sentences is not on the self, but on everything around you, which reinforces the culture’s community values. Parsons adds, “Gaelic has a unique perspective. The structure of my own language is a thing of beauty.”
Parsons views the growing interest in Gaelic as a sign that people want to return to fundamentals: connection to community, cultural roots, and a less hectic way of life. She sees this reflected in the people who are drawn to the Gaelic community. “There are young people who are coming back to the language because they have a sense that it belongs to them, and that it should be theirs,” she says. “They can bring their skills, their university educations and their ideas and help, in fact, renew Nova Scotia.” The work undertaken by the council is breathing new life into Gaelic language and communities, and increasing the number of Gaelic speakers who can in turn share and help preserve the culture. In the process, the province is being diversified and enhanced, culturally, socially and economically. Such variety is an integral part of Nova Scotia’s appeal, and as Parsons points out, “It’s what makes life interesting, and very often, amazing.” So, as they say in Gaelic, “Suas leis a’Ghàidhlig—an diugh’s an àm ri teachd!” Up with the Gaelic - now, and in the future!
Feature story written by Amy Spurway
