Five Nova Scotia Gaels Receive Gaelic Bursary

Five Nova Scotia Gaels will further their studies in Gaelic language and culture with a bursary funded by the Scottish government and administered by the Office of Gaelic Affairs.

In its second year, the bursary program will help Laura Stirling of Halifax, Amber Buchanan of South Bar, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Beth Anne MacEachen of Lake Major, Dartmouth, Bernard Cameron of Northeast Mabou and Jennifer Richards of Halifax attend Gaelic language training in Scotland, covering travel, meal and accommodation costs. The bursaries are about $2,800 each.

"The high level of commitment, dedication and skills demonstrated by the bursary recipients is very encouraging," said Gaelic Affairs Minister Randy Delorey. "The province is grateful for the supportive partnership through the Scottish government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig and to everyone who works tirelessly to share the language and culture of the Gaels in our communities.

"We are pleased to award the bursaries to these five people, and extend our sincere thanks to everyone that applied."

The recipients will enroll in Gaelic-language study at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO), a national centre for Gaelic language and culture on the Isle of Skye. In addition to formal classes, recipients will choose a Gaelic dialect as a study focus. They will interview a native Gaelic speaker to learn more about their specific dialect and related cultural expression, practices, values and beliefs.

"I feel that the education I will receive at SMO will open many more doors for me in the field of Gaelic here in Nova Scotia," said Ms. Buchanan. "While I feel fairly confident in my speaking and teaching abilities in Gaelic, my reading and writing skills are lacking. I hope to spend the time really focusing not only on reading, writing and grammar, but also visiting the Isle of Lewis, where my people are from, to learn more of that dialect and history through conversations, songs and stories."

The five recipients will provide an audio and/or video recording and minimum 45-minute presentation on their interaction with Gaelic speakers in Scotland when they return. It will be in student's local community and highlight aspects of language and culture learned through the bursary.

For more information about the bursary program, contact Lewis MacKinnon, executive direction, Gaelic Affairs, at 902-424-4298 or <[email protected].>

For information about Gaelic in Nova Scotia and Gaelic Awareness Month events, go to http://gaelic.novascotia.ca .