News release

Gaelic Projects Receive Culture Funding

Tourism, Culture and Heritage (Dec. 2003 - Jan. 2011)

TOURISM, CULTURE AND HERITAGE--Gaelic Projects Receive Culture Funding

From archival resources to children's camps and musical presentations in community halls, the government of Nova Scotia continues to invest in projects that celebrate cultural diversity.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Rodney MacDonald announced today, Jan. 27, that the province will invest more than $52,000 in seven communities and organizations that promote and develop the Gaelic language and culture. The announcement was made at the Christmas Island Firehall. The funding comes from the new Gaelic Activities Program, administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage.

"This is an investment in community-based projects that strengthen the distinct Gaelic language and culture of Nova Scotia," said Mr. MacDonald. "It also puts resources into rural communities and organizations where the language and culture has been nurtured for generations."

Comunn Feis an Eilein in Christmas Island will receive $5,000 to host the 15th annual Feis an Eilean, a week-long Gaelic language and cultural festival that includes workshops, lectures, family dances, a milling frolic (where participants pound freshly-woven cloth while singing Gaelic songs) and a Gaelic storytelling session.

"This event has strengthened the presence of Gaelic in Nova Scotia and increased pride and awareness of our heritage and culture," said Allison MacKenzie, chair, Comunn Feis an Eilein. "It also attracts Gaelic learners and tourists from throughout Canada, the U.S. and abroad, and provides important economic benefits to businesses in Christmas Island and surrounding communities."

The Nova Scotia Highland Village in Iona will receive $5,000 to record 50 Gaelic songs from traditional Gaelic singers in Iona and Inverness County. These songs will be transcribed, translated and indexed, and made available to researchers and Gaelic singers.

"This project will help us preserve wonderful examples of the Gaelic songs from our area and preserve the local song tradition for future generations," said Rodney Chaisson, director, Nova Scotia Highland Village.

The new Gaelic Activities Program funds projects that increase Gaelic language opportunities in Nova Scotia and encourage and promote all forms of Gaelic cultural expression. It also supports projects that help develop skills, such as leadership, fundraising, communication and planning, of the people involved in Gaelic activities.

The next application deadline for the program is Tuesday, Feb. 15. More information can be found on the Tourism, Culture and Heritage website at http://www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture/culture_gaelic_wtd.asp .

The Gaelic language and culture contributes more than $23 million a year to the province's economy through cultural products, events and activities.

Note: Following are the projects receiving support from the Tourism Development Investment Fund:

Cape Breton County:

  • Comunn Feis an Eilein in Christmas Island will receive $5,000 to host the 15th annual Feis an Eilean, a week-long Gaelic language and cultural festival that includes workshops, lectures, family dances, a milling frolic and a Gaelic storytelling session.

  • Comunn Feis an Eilein in Christmas Island will receive $5,000 to hold a Gaelic concert series, which will increase visibility of Gaelic artists and culture.

  • Cape Breton Regional Library in Sydney will receive $765 to produce bookmarks to promote their Gaelic book collection, Leugh Seo.

Victoria County:

  • Nova Scotia Highland Village will receive $5,000 to record 50 Gaelic songs from traditional Gaelic singers in Iona and Inverness County. These songs will be transcribed, translated and indexed, and made available to researchers and Gaelic singers.

  • St. Ann's Gaelic College will receive $5,000 to hold a residential Gaelic culture camp for children ages eight to 12. Children will be taught Gaelic language and cultural skills such as song, storytelling, music, dance and textile arts.

Antigonish:

  • St. Francis Xavier University's Celtic Studies Department, will receive $5,250 to digitize the Gaelic sound archive at the university, which includes 2,000 Gaelic stories and 1,000 Gaelic songs recorded by Gaels in Nova Scotia.

Inverness County:

  • Glendale Gaelic and Historical Society will receive $2,230 to develop a brochure to promote Gaelic history and culture of the area, and to promote Gaelic events and resources at the Fr. John Angus Rankin Cultural Centre.

  • Glendale Gaelic and Historical Society will receive $5,175 to collect, digitize and archive photographs of Gaels from Glendale and area with their Gaelic names. The photos will be incorporated into a display called Na Daoine bhon ' n D'Thàinig Sinn -- Those We Came From -- to promote awareness and pride of local Gaelic traditions.

Provincial:

  • The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia will receive $19,185 for four projects:
  • $6,000 to develop a visual image to represent Gaelic
    language and culture in Nova Scotia;
  • $6,060 for a fundraising and membership campaign;
  • $4,875 to develop a business plan and for board
    development and training; and
  • $2,250 to pay artistic and technical directors for a
    Gaelic play to run in Antigonish during May, Gaelic
    Awareness Month in Nova Scotia.

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