Island Voices recently received an interesting request from Anastasia Grishko of “TV Union” in the Ukraine. They’re setting up a School of Hyperlocal Community Media Creation and were interested in our experiences. Gordon Wells was more than happy to answer Anastasia’s questions about the way the project works, and the various media and languages we use. The interview is now online, in English here and Russian here.

Anastasia also sent through this link for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about Kherson in South Ukraine, where her organisation is based.

Certainly it’s gratifying to hear that our work here in the Hebrides might be considered as some kind of model for other projects on mainland Europe. As Gordon explains in the interview, the first pieces of work from which Island Voices sprang were begun nearly ten years ago now. The project has grown and developed since then in ways that could not have been predicted. Who knows what’s in store for the next decade? That is very much dependent on what community members want to do next…

є ідеї? Beachd sam bith?

Soillse, in collaboration with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, is inviting applications for a two-year research contract from suitably qualified fieldworkers with proven capacities for research into Gaelic in the Outer Hebrides and other island communities. The fieldworkers will have key roles in a major network project investigating the current state of the language in a key geographical area of its traditional use.

These positions will be supported and supervised via the Soillse Research Network for the Maintenance and Revitalisation of Gaelic Language and Culture, working out of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the University of the Highlands and Islands. Candidates will need to be mobile, have fluent Gaelic, and demonstrate excellent research skills. The successful candidates will be remunerated according to the SMO pay scale, within the range of £29,574 – £32,250, for a period of two years.

More information is available here, and an application form here.

The Soillse research network is gearing up to conduct a major research project on Gaelic in the Western Isles and some neighbouring islands. At a recent meeting in Stornoway of the Gaelic Advisory Group of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Department of Education and Children’s Services, the Soillse Director, Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, gave a presentation on the plans as they stand, together with an explanation of the background to the project. Also in attendance was Gordon Wells, Soillse Project Manager, who reinforced the importance that Soillse attaches to working in close consultation and collaboration with the community. The project, as described, was welcomed by group members, with positive additional suggestions forthcoming. You can view Professor Ó Giollagáin’s presentation, on which he based his talk, here:

Today, April 20th, Gordon Wells moved on from his Projects Officer role with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. This means that he will be withdrawing from his active co-ordinating function with the Guthan nan Eilean project and website. This does NOT mean that the project comes to an end. Rather, it means that the project moves even further along the route, mapped out for it some time ago, towards being a grassroots “bottom up” affair to which any and all community members are welcome to contribute their own materials.

Over the past few years it has been very encouraging to see many individuals trying out their hand with the “new media”, creating blogs, making their own audio and video recordings and so on. There have also been some interesting collaborations, with local groups like Stòras Uibhist and Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath tackling bigger projects with some help from Island Voices where and when it was needed. Now that it has started, this kind of work will surely continue in one form or another, even without the active engagement of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Projects Officer.

Although Gordon will no longer have the time for actively assisting with the creation of new materials, the intention is to keep the website “open for business” for other community members who have produced something they would like to share. If you feel you have a contribution to make and want to find out how, just phone or text 07879 644984, or e-mail gne@smo.uhi.ac.uk.

One thing the project has always tried to do is to build a stronger connection between the ordinarily bilingual people of these island communities and those with a professional interest in language teaching and/or research. Over the years we’ve been pleased to place occasional contributions from academics such as Professor Richard Johnstone, Professor Rob Dunbar, Dr Emily McEwan-Fujita, and others, alongside those of local community members. And we have maintained a dedicated page for research and reports, with summaries for Am Pàipear readers where possible. Gordon is now moving on to work with Soillse, the inter-university Gaelic research project, but will keep a keen interest in the Guthan nan Eilean website. Perhaps we can look forward to the research interest continuing to complement and support the ongoing creative outputs of “ordinary” Island Voices!