Mission to Scotland Seeks Stronger Cultural Ties

Developing stronger cultural, heritage and tourism ties is the intent behind a visit to Scotland by Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald this week.

The main focus of the fact-finding mission is to discuss how the Scots learn, preserve and promote the Scottish Gaelic language and culture.

"In recent years, Scotland has developed innovative initiatives to preserve Gaelic culture and heritage," said Mr. MacDonald. “Scots of all ages are encouraged to learn the Scottish-Gaelic language, and creative ways have been found there to preserve traditional culture, music, storytelling and dance.

“As we begin to develop strategies to preserve our unique Nova Scotian Scottish-Gaelic language and traditions, we can benefit from the knowledge and experience of the Scots. In addition, our shared heritage could spark an interesting exchange of ideas, and new possibilities for partnership."

During this trip, Mr. MacDonald hopes to strengthen the centuries-old close linguistic and cultural ties between Scotland and Nova Scotia, and to explore and encourage Gaelic-centred tourism and cultural-performance links between the two Scotlands.

In addition to meeting with members of the Scottish Highland Council (the governing council for northern Scotland), Mr. MacDonald’s tour includes meetings with representatives of Commun na Gaidhlig (the Gaelic development body), and Scottish-Gaelic language organizations.

He will visit the Aros Centre, a Scottish-Gaelic information centre in Skye. He also will tour several language and cultural educational facilities, including the Gaelic college of Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye and the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie.

The tour of Scotland supports the province’s commitment to encourage preservation and promotion of Scottish-Gaelic language and culture in Nova Scotia.

Initiatives have already been undertaken. Last year, the Highland Village in Iona, Cape Breton (the province’s only English-Gaelic bilingual site), became the newest addition to the Nova Scotia Museum family. This February, a study was begun to assess the social, cultural and economic state of the Scottish-Gaelic language and culture in Nova Scotia. The provincial government has also developed a Gaelic Language and Cultural Studies curriculum for use in high schools.

"In addition to having great historical and social value, attention to the Scottish-Gaelic identity in Nova Scotia will help people in tourism and cultural industries create an authentic, unique experience that will attract visitors," said Mr. MacDonald. He added this can help spark a positive economic boost in Nova Scotia’s Scottish-Gaelic areas that will lead to sustainable development in rural communities.

On the way to Scotland, Mr. MacDonald is visiting Iceland, where he will meet with that country’s tourism minister to strengthen tourism links. In addition, he will meet with the president and CEO of Icelandair to discuss ways to build on the success of this critical transportation link and to discuss joint marketing initiatives.

The province has had a marketing accord with Icelandair since 1997 which generates almost $12 million annually in tourism dollars for Nova Scotia.

"Our past relationship has been very successful and I intend to reinforce the joint benefits of this relationship,” Mr. MacDonald said. “Icelandair is a key transportation link for Nova Scotia and residents of Iceland are an emerging off-season market for us."