May is the beginning of summer in the old Gaelic calendar and is designated Gaelic Awareness Month when Nova Scotia honours Gaels and promotes and celebrates their language, culture and identity.
Àite, Nòs is Daoine / A Place, A Tradition and A People is this year’s theme. It includes a social media campaign encouraging Nova Scotians to think about their Gaelic connections and post relevant pictures and personal stories to the Facebook page of Gaelic Affairs at http://facebook.com/gaelicaffairs/ or on social media at #gaelicns
Gaelic Affairs Minister Randy Delorey was joined by representatives of Comhairle na Gàidhlig (the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia), the Gaelic Community and Waverley Memorial Elementary School to raise the Flag of Gaels on the grounds of Province House in Halifax today, April 27.
“Gaels in Nova Scotia have made so many educational, cultural and economic contributions to our province and have proven their resilience over many generations,” said Mr. Delorey. “The raising of the flag of the Gaels at Province House today communicates that both community and government support Gaels and see their contributions as integral parts of Nova Scotia’s well-being and diversity.”
The launch event recognized students from Waverley Memorial Elementary who recently participated in a project in which they got to weave a woolen blanket, participate in a Gaelic milling frolic and learn the choruses of Gaelic songs. There was also a performance from Gaelic singer Mary Jane Lamond and traditional fiddler Wendy MacIsaac.
“Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Gaelic Awareness Month and the vibrancy and continued growth in Gaelic language, culture and identity in the province speaks to the heartfelt connection so many Nova Scotians have to their Gaelic background,” said Tonya Lundrigan Fry, president of Comhairle na Gàidhlig. “With one third of Nova Scotians having Scottish Gaelic ancestry, the collective work of the Gaelic community is to engage these and all Nova Scotians in acknowledging and supporting the province’s Gaelic identity.”
The month-long celebration includes almost 50 activities including the hosting of the Gaels in Nova Scotia exhibit at Halifax Central Library, library programs, milling frolics, step dancing, storytelling sessions, fiddling lessons, Gaelic immersion and language sessions, and conferences.
For information about Gaelic in Nova Scotia and Gaelic Awareness Month events, go to http://gaelic.novascotia.ca, call 1-888-842-3542, or email gaelicinfo@novascotia.ca .
Source: Release
