Lobotomizing Gaelic culture
Constantly we are reminded that diversity and inclusivity are important traits of Canada and by extension Nova Scotia. The recent provincial comprehensive culture document does the opposite. The continued emphasis on three important heritage groups is good but what about the rest? Have we forgotten the cultural and economic contributions made by others? For example the Germans in Lunenburg County, the role of the Dutch in revitalizing farming, Ukrainians and Italians in industrial Sydney or the new wave of Plattdeutsch-speaking Mennonites to our rural areas?
The document avoids the importance of the contributions made by the largest cultural group in Nova Scotia: the Gaels of Ireland and Scotland. This omission is not new and represents an ongoing pattern of suppressing Nova Scotia’s Gaelic heritage. This suppression takes many forms.
In the provincial budgets the continued lack of financial support for Gaelic as compared to other groups is very evident. Historically many measures were used to downgrade the language. Today thanks to a small number of dedicated individuals very small pockets of fluent speakers still exist in Nova Scotia as indicated in the national census. Had the value of Gaelic been appreciated in the past or at least recently we would have seen a flourishing trilingual Nova Scotia with the symbiotic economic and cultural innovative spinoffs. Yet for some reason there appears to be a reticence to celebrate this culture; rather, there is a constant direct and indirect pressure to have it absorbed into an alien one. Is this Gaelicphobia and are we supporting it by not speaking out? Perhaps historical persecution, shaming, financial public starvation has succeeded and individuals no longer care or know about their heritage. Has the lobotomy been successfully carried out?
If not then follow the courageous leadership of the Acadian, Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotians. Stand up and demand your linguistic and cultural rights by contacting Premier McNeil, the Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage and your MLAs. Gerald Romsa Riverton