Am Fuaran - The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia

AM FUARAN
Cuairt-litir Comhairle na Gàidhlig – The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia Newsletter
An Ochdamh Iris – The Eighth Issue
www.gaelic.ca
April 2011 – An Giblean 2011
Comhairle na Gàidhlig is a non-profit society dedicated to the maintenance and promotion of the
Gaelic language and culture in Nova Scotia: the only region outside Scotland where they remain everyday
aspects of community life. Our audience extends to anyone with an interest in Gaelic language maintenance
and the worldwide community of minority language supporters.
AM FUARAN : The Spring ~ refreshing and renewing
Gnìomhachdas na Comhairle - Our Activities
Comhairle na Gàidhlig AGM
May 28 1:30 PM, Port Hawkesbury Fire Hall
Comhairle membership has just about reached 100
individuals and groups and we hope to surpass this at the
Annual General Meeting this year. We are pleased that we
have seen our numbers nearly double in the last two years,
and we want to keep building them to reflect the true level of
support for Gaelic in Nova Scotia. The AGM is the one time a
year when our members have the opportunity to all join
together, assess our work, ask questions, and give feedback.
We hope to see you all there!
An Là Mór
Comhairle is excited to announce Linden Macintyre as
the guest speaker at our dinner to be hosted on May 28
- An Là Mór - The Big Day for the Gaelic community.
We are very pleased also to have Mary Jane Lamond
with us to preside as Master of Ceremonies over our
evening activities and Céilidh.
The day is meant to provide a time for anyone
involved and interested in Gaelic to come and enjoy the
sharing of the culture, language and ideas to grow this
rich aspect of Nova Scotia (cont’d Pg 3).
CnG hosts Week-long Gaelic Immersion Workshop
Jeff MacDonald &
Carmen
MacArthur
provide a combination
of teaching styles &
skills which workshop
students found to be
very effective in the
relaxed home setting.
This winter, Comhairle na Gàidhlig talked with instructors
across the province to find a group of learners at a fairly
uniform intermediate language level, and hosted a weeklong
residential immersion workshop for that group in February.
Thirteen people attended the Monday to Friday session,
some staying nearby, or on-site in the home of Nona
MacDermid, Sydney Mines, where the workshop was hosted.
Comhairle na Gaidhlig received support from the Office of
Gaelic Affairs’ Gaelic ‘Language in the Community Program’,
and with such strong enrollment, the OGA also provided a
second instructor.
Using the approach of staying on-site from breakfast to late
evening was popular with students and instructors alike, as
was working in two groups and trading off instructors through
the day. Outings, baking and
household chores were all
part of the day schedule,
while evenings offered movies
(in Gaelic of course), Céilidhs
and enjoying a fiddle session
at a local bar.
With just a few bugs to work
out, the week provided a good
model for future work.
Students remarked on the
comfortable learning environment that was created, and
called for more of the same in
the future. Comhairle hopes to
undertake another of these
weeks within the year.
Activity-based household
exercises reinforces home
learning, with the added
benefits of enjoying the
buttermilk biscuits!
The opportunity to socialize in 
Gaelic among the student was an
important part of the week: Kim
Ells and Anne MacDermid chat.
AR CUAIRT-LITIR: OUR NEWSLETTER
Comhairle na Gàidhlig is committed to representing the individuals, organizations and institutions of which the
Gaelic community of Nova Scotia is composed. That means being accessible to our membership and keeping people
informed of our work. We see this newsletter as an important part of that commitment and hope you enjoy it.
LITIR BHO’ N CHEANNSUIDHE
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
A chàirdean ionmhainn,
Dear Friends,
Bho chionn ghoirid, thachair Gàidheal, aig an robh
a’ Ghàidhlig bho’n ghlùin, air neach eile na sgìre aig an
robh a’ chànain, ann a’ Co-op Hogoma. Bha na
mnathan seo eòlach air a chéile agus gach tè fiosrach gu
robh a’ Ghàidhlig aig an t’éile. Dh’aithnich iad a chéile
seach gu bheil buill clasaichean na Gàidhlig bhon a’
Chladach a Tuath, Badaig, agus Hogoma air a bhith a’
tadhal air ais ’s air adhart bho chionn grunn de
sheachdainean. Mas do thòisich na céilidhean sin eadar
na coimhearsnachdan, cha bhiodh na mnathan air a
chéile ’aithneachadh neo fiosrach air a’ cheangal a
bh’aca troimh mheadhon na cànain.
A bheil dòigh nas fheàrr ann eòlas a mheudachadh
air coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig na bhith a’ tighinn le
chéile anns na clasaichean againn? Bheir luchd-tadhail
bho sgìre eile brosnachadh do chlas sam bith; agus nuair
a chluinneas duine blas-cainnte, faclan is abairtean
eadardhealaichte, bheir seo dha cothrom a’ chainnt aige
fhéin a leasachadh. Cuideachd bheir buaidh tidseir ùir
cothrom dhuinn ar cuid cànain a leudachadh.
Leis a bhith a’ tadhal air clasaichean a chéile, tha
luchd-ionnsachaidh bhon Chladach a Tuath, bho
Bhadaig agus Hogoma air barrachd eòlais ’fhaighinn air
feadhainn a tha nan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig bhon
ghlùin; aig an aon àm, tha seo a’ dèanaibh comasach do
bharrachd àireamhan dhiùbhsan a bhith an làthair aig
gach clas. Nuair a chluinneas an luchd-ionnsachaidh na
fileantaich a’ bruidhinn ri chéile, ’s urrainn dhaibh
cleachdaidhean làitheil na cànain a thogail.
Recently a native speaker from the Baddeck area
met up with a local speaker while in the Whycocomagh
Co-op. These ladies knew each other and were aware
that they shared the language. They were acquainted
because members of the Gaelic classes from the North
Shore, Baddeck and Whycocomagh have been visiting
back and forth for the past several weeks. Prior to the
visits between communities, these ladies would not have
known each other or been aware that they shared the
language.
What better way to enhance our learning and
increase our knowledge of the Gaelic community than
by coming together in our classes? Having visitors from
another area gives a special spark to a class, and hearing
different accents, vocabulary and expressions develops
our language skills. Exposure to a new teacher and
his/her methodology also works to expand our language
experience.
Visiting has allowed the students in the North Shore,
Baddeck and Whycocomagh classes to become
acquainted with more native speakers and enables a
larger number of native speakers to attend each class.
The native speakers have the added advantage of being
able to converse with each other, and the learners are
able to listen to the everyday use of the language.
As the saying goes: there is strength in numbers.
Meeting and spending time with other learners and
native speakers is empowering to us. When we support
each others’ classes, social events, and fund raisers we
are contributing to the overall growth of the language
and the community.
Jessica MacLennan
Mar a theireas an abairt: tha cumhachd ann an
àireamhan. Nuair a bhios sinn a’ coinneachadh ’s a’ cur
seachad ùine le luchd-ionnsachaidh eile agus le
fileantaich, bheir sin dhuinn comas a bharrachd. Nuair
a bheir sinn taic do chlasaichean a chéile, do thachartais
shòisealta, do luchd-togail-airgid, bidh sinn a’ cur ri fàs
na cànain agus na coimhearsnachd air fad.
Jessica Nic Ghill’ Fhinnein
An outing that the Whycocomagh and district class made
to the Whycocomagh Co-op. Native Gaelic speaker
Margaret MacLennan discusses Gaelic names for produce
with Audrey Fraser, Jessica MacLennan and Carrie
MacMillan.
AM FUARAN – Comhairle na Gàidhlig – AN GIBLEAN 2011 – AN OCHDAMH IRIS – 2/6
An Là Mór (cont’d from page 1)
An Là Mór day activities will be free and open to all. We
will be offering family-friendly activities, our Annual
General Meeting, as well as discussions of importance to
people who want to see Gaelic grow in their
communities. These will take place in daytime workshops
and promise to bring out a great mix of ideas, and we
hope for attendance from every community busy with
Gaelic across the province. Please see details on times
and location on this page.
The traditional evening dinner will offer marag and/or
roast beef, followed directly by MacIntyre’s talk. Meal
tickets are to be booked by May 22 by Email or phone.
The evening will be a mix of performance and casual
céilidh, so everyone is welcome to bring a Gaelic song or
story, and their dancing shoes.
Workshops
We sincerely hope that everyone with an interest in
Gaelic in our communities comes to An Là Mór
workshops. Whether or not you think that you have ‘big
ideas’ to bring, we hope that you’ll go home with some
thoughts and ideas about what can help grow Gaelic in
your community. Pre-registration is not required, but if
you plan to attend, we’d be pleased if you’d let us know,
so we will have an idea of numbers.
Morning workshop: Making connections in your
community. How can resources, space and personpower
be pooled in your region to take Gaelic to the next level?
Afternoon workshop: Product Development. What sectors
and sorts of Gaelic initiatives could realistically support
jobs and economic opportunities, at the same time as
growing Gaelic?
Afternoon activity: Family-friendly activities that teach
Gaelic in fun and active ways.
Trade Show: Comhairle na Gàidhlig invites Nova Scotian
businesses that provide services and products to the
Gaelic community to show off their wares.
St.FX Extension worker,
Pauline MacIntosh will
be back with us this year
to lead the morning
workshop, and Mary Jane
Morrison, Director of the
Cape Breton Univ. Small
Business
Development
Centre will host the
afternoon workshop.
Calling all Gaelic product! An Là Mór will
feature a Trade Show for Gaelic services
and products. Are you interested in
presenting you wares? Contact us.
FREE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE DAY
10:00 Tea
10:30 Morning Workshop:
• Making connections in your community
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Comhairle Annual General Meeting
2:45 Tea
3:15 Afternoon workshops:
• Product Development
• Fun and active Gaelic family activities
5:00 Gaelic social: Kids presentations
DINNER & CÉILIDH
Master of Ceremonies: Mary Jane Lamond
Tickets to be booked by May 22 - $20
6:00
7:00
7:30
Maragan / Roast Beef Dinner
Guest speaker Linden MacIntyre
Céilidh: Gaelic Songs & Stories
Square Sets
AM FUARAN – Comhairle na Gàidhlig – AN GIBLEAN 2011– AN OCHDAMH IRIS – 3/6
2011 Gaelic calendar in Machida City, Tokyo, Japan
The Gaelic community is spread wide
and includes those with close ties
through their families and through
their interests. Before the recent
disasters in Japan, Comhairle na
Gàidhlig was contacted from Japan for
a request for a Gaelic Calendar as a
‘reminder of home’. Recent contact
has confirmed that Matthew Klaus and
his family are doing fine. Matthew
shared his thoughts on Gaelic:
NS OGA produced another great
Gaelic calendar this year. Comhairle
used the calendars as a fund-raiser,
splitting profits with community
groups across the province.
“My connection to Gaelic is as old
as the story of Canada itself. Like most
of us, my ancestors immigrated from
other countries to settle in Canada. My
great-grandmother was a monolingual
Gaelic speaker, and that branch of the
family eventually settled in Alberta.
Presently I am working on my
Master's in TESOL and Applied
Linguistics
through
Columbia
University's Japan campus. A few
years ago I had the pleasure of taking
a bilingual education course which
touched on several themes concerned
with language teaching. One of those
themes was centred on heritage
language learning. At the time I was
required to give a presentation on a
topic central to the course's theme. It
was from then I began to dig into my
own family's language history and I
discovered your organization.
I work as an English teacher in
Japan. My profession's purpose is to
instill bilingualism into our students.
(Far easier said than done). As a
linguist, I want and hope to see the
promotion of heritage language
learning in all aspects of our common
societies. For me, that is Gaelic, and
German. For my daughter, it is also
Gaelic, but also German, English, and
Japanese. As well, there remain
tremendous cognitive and cultural
benefits for those who become
multilingual, even to a small degree.”
- Matthew Klaus
Municipal presentations
Gaelic Awareness Month Launch April 27th
The Comhairle coordinator has been on the road during
February, March and April, making contact with
municipalities around the province. Comhairle na Gàidhig
has concentrated most on Gaelic-settled areas, and has
been well-received again this year. Those municipal
councillors that are familiar with the history and role of
Gaelic (often through their own family stories) welcome a
chance for their colleagues to hear more about the
contribution of Gaelic to the province. There are many
more for whom this information opens up an aspect of Nova
Scotia life that they were not aware of at all.
The presentations this year have focused on the key
opportunities that we see in Gaelic, and the projects that we
are undertaking this year, with a request for financial
support. Response has been promising to date, but budgets
– as always, will need to be consulted.
The Office of Gaelic Affairs will host an Open House at
Province House in Halifax on April 27 to launch Gaelic
Awareness Month. The launch includes plans for Minister
Maureen MacDonald and Lewis MacKinnon of the NS
OGA, as well as a representative of Comhairle na Gàidhlig,
to address the lunch-time gathering. Designated in 1996 as
Gaelic Awareness Month in Nova Scotia, this May will mark
the fifteenth year of its celebration.
Both offices have been working over the last year to
develop literature to support Gaelic development, and some
of these materials will be introduced to the public at the
launch. The Gaelic Roadsign brochure, a joint project to
introduce people and direct them to the website recordings
of place name pronunciations will be on display, as well as
the Blasad na Gàidhlig CD, Meudachadh na Gàidhlig
(Growing Gaelic) 2011, and this Comhairle newsletter.
Comhairle na Gàidhlig Board of Directors (2010 - 2011)
Jessica MacLennan, Blues Mills (President)
Tim Aggett, Dartmouth (Vice-President)
Bev Brett, North River (Treasurer)
Ashley MacKay, Antigonish (Secretary)
Francie Gillis, Grand Mira
Debbi MacDonald Sobey, Stellarton
Beth Anne MacEachen, Dartmouth
Ishbel Munro, New Glasgow
Wendy McInnis, Trenton
Barbara Sutherland-Foote, Westmount
AM FUARAN – Comhairle na Gàidhlig – AN GIBLEAN 2011– AN OCHDAMH IRIS – 4/6
Moran Taing
We want to thank everyone that makes a contribution to
Gaelic in deed or in dollar. We send a special thank you in
this issue to both Jessica MacLennan and the students of the
Citadel High School Gaelic Society for their donations in
memory of Neil MacLean, a long time supporter of Gaelic.
We are also grateful for substantial donations in the past
from John MacNeil, and more recently, Comunn Gàidhlig
Cheap Breatuinn.
Collaborative workshops
The workshops hosted at An Là Mór will be a base on
which we’ll keep building. We’ve applied for funding to the
Rural Secretariat of Canada to support the cost of
coordinating and hosting a series of ‘Collaborative
workshops’. More information on this will be presented at
the AGM on this work, but as an outline, we want to gather
up people and organizations to serve as a ‘think tank’ on
ways to support and grow Gaelic while getting a few jobs
off the ground.
The focus is looking at ways of bringing together the
resources that are in each area of the province and pool
them to support some promising ideas. We want people
from schools, communities, Gaelic institutions, government,
learners and others who are just interested in local business
development. With the widest range of people at the table,
we’ll have the most information – so that means that YOU
would have something valuable to offer to this work. If you
would be interested in going to a total of four workshops
over two years to discuss this and support some planning
work, please contact us.
Next Steps for Comhairle na Gàidhlig
In November 2008, the Board of Directors of Comhairle na
Gàidhlig set out a list of objectives for the period ahead.
Based on their own experience as community workers and
learners, a solid set of activities were identified. We are
working our way through that list, and carrying on some of
the work as on-going work activities. We believe that we
should start now to map out the next few years of work in
order to begin lining up the resources that we’ll need down
the road.
One thing that we can count on in the Gaelic world is
change. The conditions have changed so much for the
better over the last decade, that we know that new input
and ideas from the community will certainly help improve
the plan that we come up with. Nova Scotia Economic
Development, and the Office of Gaelic Affairs have assisted
us with money to help coordinate this planning project.
We look forward to meeting and talking with
community groups to find out what they would like to see
developed to support their work, but we will also be talking
to municipal and provincial government offices to get their
perspective on things. With this, we’ll consider what kind of
work we can take on, taking into account our resources and
our mandate. And over the following year we’ll develop a
plan and have it reviewed through the community. We look
forward to meeting with you all!
Rural Policy Forum
The November 2010 Rural Policy Forum in
Tatamagouche was a gathering of the Nova Scotia voluntary
sector and non-profits.
Comhairle na Gàidhlig’s Board Member, Ishbel Munro
coordinated the event, and made a special effort to bring the
Gaelic community to the discussion. Munro says “Coastal
Communities Network (now Rural & Coastal Communities
network) wanted to reflect the diversity of rural Nova Scotia
… including farming, fishing, and the arts, along with First
Nations, African Nova Scotian, Acadian, Gaelic and more
recent immigrants. It was the first time RCCN had reached
out to the Gaelic community as a specific target and the
organizers were delighted with the strong Gaelic
representation. It definitely added to the richness of the
event.”
It was a three-day event with a range of activities and
subjects. One of the highlights was a presentation from
Peter Kenyan, an energetic Community Economic
Development worker from Bank of Ideas in Australia who
gave many practical suggestions. One critical warning that
rang true with the gathering was that community initiative
will “ignore the youth at our own risk”. Another
presentation was from Rick Williams of the Policies and
Priorities Office of the Nova Scotia Department of Economic
Development. He delivered a hard-hitting portrayal of the
province’s finances which only strengthened the resolve of
the gathering to continue their work to support the aspects
of rural Nova Scotia toward which they dedicate their time
and energies.
At least ten community and government Gaelic
learners and workers attended the event, which offered an
opportunity for our representatives to get to know the work
of other sectors and to introduce other sectors to our work.
It was gratifying to see Gaelic well represented, and spoken
on many occasions throughout the day in a new domain.
The final evening was a cultural showcase at which Betty
Lord and Hector MacNeil presented well delivered and
received songs and stories to the group.
AM FUARAN – Comhairle na Gàidhlig – AN GIBLEAN 2011 – AN OCHDAMH IRIS – 5/6
Mìos na Gàidhlig – Gaelic Awareness Month events
April 27 – Gaelic Awareness Month
Launch, Province House, Hfx, 12 - 1 pm
April 30 - May 2 - Immersion weekend,
10 am - 4 pm, 174 Archimedes, New Glasgow
May 2 - Presentation by Margie Beaton “Obair nam Ban”
(Women’s work), 7 - 8 pm, An Drochaid Museum, Mabou
May 7 - Gaelic Learning Social Weekend, 10 am - 3 pm
(registration at 9:30 am), Highland Village, Iona.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca for more info.
May 7 - An Introduction to Gaelic, 3:30 - 5 pm at the
McConnell Public Library, Sydney.
May 9 - Presentation by Effie Rankin “An Cluinn thu
Leannainn: Selections from Angus Rankin’s 1950s
Recordings from Mabou and Boston”, 7 - 8 pm, An
Drochaid Museum, Mabou.
May 14 - Feis at the Citadel, Halifax
May 14 - Gaelic Tour of Two Rivers Wildlife Park at 2 pm,
Two Rivers Wildlife Park, Sandfield Rd., Marion Bridge.
May 15-17 - Aite nan Gaidheal Beginner Level Immersion
Sessions, 10 am - 4 pm, 174 Archimedes St., New Glasgow
May 16 - Presentation by Ronald and Kenneth MacKenzie
“Orain is Céol à Ubhist” (Music and Songs from Uist), 7 - 8
pm, An Drochaid Museum, Mabou.
May 18 - A Gaelic Heritage Evening, 7 - 8:30 pm, St. Andrew’s
Community Centre, Antigonish.
May 21 - Musician’s Workshop, 10 am - 4 pm, Celtic Music
Interpretive Centre, Judique.
www.celticmusicinterpretivecentre.com
May 22 - Gaelic Ecumenical Service, 3 pm, Ephraim Scott
Presbyterian Church, South Haven Cape Breton.
May 28 – ‘An La Mór’ hosted by Comhairle na Gàidhlig, free day
program starts at 10 am at the Port Hawkesbury Fire Hall
Mu Ar Déidhinn Comhairle na Gàidhlig - About Comhairle na Gàidhlig
OUR VISION
Comhairle na Gàidhlig – The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia is to be a unified, dynamic leader
within strong and vibrant communities where Gaelic language and culture thrive.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Comhairle na Gàidhlig is to lead in creating an environment that makes
Nova Scotia a place where Gaelic language, culture and communities thrive.
TAPADH LEIBH ~ THANK YOU
For the continued support of your Membership!
We thank you, whether a new or long-time member, for showing your support for our work.
With a strong membership, Comhairle na Gàidhlig has a sound foundation to support the growth of Gaelic Nova Scotia.
We welcome comment, in-kind donation and participation.
Membership: $10.00 per individual, $20.00 per family, community organizations: free group memberships.
Renew your membership with Comhairle na Gàidhlig by downloading the form at www.gaelic.ca,
or by returning this form to:
Comhairle na Gàidhlig
RR 2 Inverness, NS B0E 1N0
Or call (902) 258-5768
Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Email:
Amount enclosed:
Organization (if applicable):
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Are you interested in supporting the work of one of our committees?
 Communications and Promotions Committee
 Education & Language Development Committee
 Community Development Committee
 Forum Planning Committee
Yes / No
Yes / No
 Governance Committee
 Policy Development Committee
 Gaelic Cultural Expression Committee
 Fund-raising Committee
AM FUARAN – Comhairle na Gàidhlig – AN GIBLEAN 2011 – AN OCHDAMH IRIS – 6/6