Island Voices Unleashed

2015-04-20 Island Voices Unleashed ~ Gordon Wells ~ 2 Comments

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!

Gaelic Development Officer

2015-04-09 Gaelic Development Officer ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Liam Alastair Crouse has recently arrived in Uist to take up employment with Ceòlas as Gaelic Development Officer. Here he talks to Gordon Wells in Gaelic about his Rhode Island background and his interests in Gaelic and Archaeology. He then goes on to explain a bit about his job and what his hopes are for it.

He is keen to meet and talk to anyone in the community with an interest in Gaelic. He gives his e-mail contact details at the end of the interview.

You can also read more about his posting on the Ceòlas website here.

Mar a chluinneas sibh, tha Gàidhlig mhath aige. Gur math a thèid leis!

Dr Emily McEwan-Fujita: Research & Rocaidean

2015-04-02 Dr Emily McEwan-Fujita: Research & Rocaidean ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Dr Emily McEwan-Fujita conducted a large part of her PhD fieldwork in Uist in 1999/2000, and went on to complete her doctorate in Anthropology with the University of Chicago.

Since then she has published numerous articles on the subject of Gaelic and its revitalisation both in Scotland and Nova Scotia, where she now lives. Most recently she has become an active blogger. She wrote an interesting piece last month on Gaelic revitalisation and rocket science.

Here Emily talks (in Gaelic) about some of her observations on learning Gaelic in Uist, and how she came to write her piece:

Good to hear a new voice on Guthan nan Eilean!

And, with her kind permission, here’s the piece itself, “re-blogged”:

Saving Gaelic – Is It Rocket Science?

A few years ago, someone criticized my work, saying that Gaelic language revitalization wasn’t rocket science. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, because she was right. Language revitalization isn’t rocket science — it’s far more difficult.

Rocket science, or any type of engineering, formulates and solves problems. Get the math right, solve the problem. On to the next problem. Something breaks or goes wrong? Find the math or programming mistake and fix it. Human error is a factor, but the math is reliable.

Language revitalization, on the other hand, is not so simple.

A formal definition of language revitalization is: “the attempt to add new linguistic forms or social functions to a language which is threatened with language loss or death, with the aim of increasing its uses and users” (Kendall King 2001, p. 4). Basically, it’s the effort to save a language that is gradually going out of daily use.

Why is it so difficult to save a language? Because it involves a deliberate effort to change people’s opinions, ideas, feelings, and behaviors… Read more…

You can read more posts from Emily on her blog: https://gaelic.co/blog/

Exhibition Launch

2015-03-25 Exhibition Launch ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Mary Morrison wrote this blogpost about the “An fheadhainn tha laighe sàmhach” exhibition launch:-

“Last week, on Friday March 13th, the second stage of ‘An fheadhainn tha laighe sàmhach’, the exhibition mounted by Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath, (to gather the reminiscences of the island, together with those of Berneray and Grimsay, on the tragic legacy of ‘An Cogadh Mòr’), was launched, this time as a collaboration with Pròiseact nan Ealan’s travelling exhibition, “Gairm nan Gàidheal”, in the Museum at Taigh Chearsabhagh. Despite some hitches with the weather the week before, which meant that the artefacts only arrived from Harris on the afternoon of the exhibition, Simon MacQuarrie, Chrissie MacCrae from the PnE team and those from CEUT at the Museum still managed to mount an array of compelling items, some on loan from the Flanders Field Museum itself, just in time for the opening.

Neil Ferguson opened the exhibition, thanking all those who had worked to make it successful. He then gave a memorable talk about Dòmhnall Ruadh Chorùna, and, in a strong and melodious voice, sang some of his war poems, very movingly. Còisir Ghàidhlig Uibhist under the direction of Joanna Peteranna and accompanied by Billy MacPhee then sang the first ‘world performance’ of a poem addressed to the bard by the Rev. John Smith and set to music by a choir member, Peter Cooper. Other local bards of WW1 were represented in powerful contributions from family members Isa MacKillop, Catriona Garbutt, Cathie Laing, Morag Nicholson and Duncan MacKinnon, while Patrick Hughes represented the Irish song tradition, all to great applause. Billy MacPhee played a moving solo, ‘The Battle of the Somme’ and encouraged the audience to join in with some local songs. Neil sang again, ‘An Eala Bhàn’, to great applause and Norman Johnson provided us with poignant and fitting reminders of the role of the piper in WW1, through his inimitable piping during the evening. Ùisdean Robertson gave the concluding appreciation to the contributors and launched the third of CEUT’s annual oral history pamphlets, the first to be bilingual, Isa MacKillop’s ‘An Cogadh Mòr.’

As a result of all these musical contributions, this launch turned out to be a historic and most memorable occasion – there was standing room only, throughout the evening; our estimate is that there were over 90 community members present. Small packets of Flanders Field Poppy Seeds were presented for guests to spread across the islands in remembrance. CEUT is grateful indeed for the amazing support this two year project has evoked amongst the community, local schools and especially those tradition bearers who have participated so generously.”

Shared from “An fheadhainn tha laighe sàmhach“.

Free Radio Training

2015-03-18 Free Radio Training ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

More media training coming up – this time through An Radio. Click on the poster for more details and registration.

Stòras Ghàidhlig 2015

2015-03-13 Stòras Ghàidhlig 2015 ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Stòras Uibhist are again hosting a Gaelic week this April in the comfortable surroundings of Grogarry Lodge. Click on the poster for full details.

Free Video Training at Cothrom

2015-03-05 Free Video Training at Cothrom ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

A video-training opportunity for young people is coming up soon at Cothrom. It’s part of the Enterprise on the Edge scheme. Click on the poster for details.

Patent Draft Excluder

2015-03-03 Patent Draft Excluder ~ Gordon Wells ~ Leave a comment

Clilstore creator Caoimhìn Ò Donnaìle takes learner autonomy and the spirit of DIY self-reliance to a new level with this demonstration of how to make your own draft excluder with maximum efficiency and minimum cost.

The invention itself is a model of effective simplicity, created in real time before your eyes. All you need is a roll of tape. And the same can be said of the Clilstore demonstration itself! All you need is a camera…

Dè cho Gàidhealach agus a tha sin!

Crofting Project

2015-03-02 Crofting Project ~ Gordon Wells ~ 1 Comment

Dr Magnus Course, a social anthropologist at the University of Edinburgh, is starting a new long-term research project looking at the relationship between Gaelic culture, crofting, and landscape in the Outer Hebrides.

Magnus and his family will be moving to South Uist for four months from April. In addition to interviews, he’s also hoping to spend time working with people on their crofts to get a better understanding of the work involved.

If you or someone you know would be willing to chat, or if you’d appreciate some free labour on your croft, please check out the details here and get in touch with Magnus.