The story of Scotland’s Gypsies and Travellers in the spotlight
A celebration of Scottish Gypsy/traveller heritage and culture aims to put centuries of mistrust to rest, writes Alison Campsie
Acelebration of the heritage and culture of Scottish Gypsies and Travellers aims to tackle prejudice and undo ‘centuries of mistrust’ about the community.
Gyspy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM) is being held throughout June to ‘shine a light’ on the community that remains largely on the fringes of Scottish society.
To mark the event, Perth Bridge was lit up in yellow to chime with the time of year when Gypsy/travellers went out on the road following the winter, when ‘yellow was on the broom’ signalling the beginning of the new season.
With GRTHM moving online amid the current pandemic, organisers hope that the heritage, customs and culture of the Gypsy Traveller Community to a wider audience.
Dr Lynne Tammi, Interim National Co-ordinator of Article 12, an organisation which works to secure the rights of marginalised young people, set up the history month in 2016.
Dr Tammi said: “Gypsy and Travellers have been in Scotland for centuries but the majority of people don’t know about the culture and traditions. There is a lack of understanding of what the Gypsy/traveller community is in Scotland and how long it has been a community.
“There has been some change in attitudes but I think that the Gypsy Traveller Community are still considered fair play when it comes to prejudicial commentary. I see it all the time and people feel they can use disgusting terminology with impunity.”
She added: “There have been centuries of mistrust. What Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month does is shine a light on the community, their traditions and their culture . People of course can make up their own minds, but its time people started to make informed decisions before making up their minds.”
As part of GRTHM, a ‘dispelling myths’ guide has been published and tackles some of the common views of gypsies and travellers such as ‘you can’t be a Gypsy/traveller and live in a house’ and ‘Gypsy/tavellers don’t pay tax’.
Around 4,500 people are officially part of Scotland’s Gypsy/traveller community but it is believed the true figure is somewhere around 20,000 with the number then swelling again during summer.
She said that around ten per cent of the travelling community in Scotland were still ‘constantly out on the road’ but that most now lived in permanent housing.
Dr Tammi , who is of Irish and French Traveller heritage, added: “There is still a sizeable population that are shifting around for work or moving around in the summer because it is part of the culture to meet up with members of your family and celebrate events like birthdays and marriages.
“In general, that figure of 20,000 doubles during the summer when people are on the road. Scottish Travellers are scattered across the UK and further afield and in the summer family are coming back to Scotland to follow the traditional routes.
“It is these traditional routes that connect the travellers to the roads and the land that has been important over time.”
As part of GRTHM, Shamus Mcphee, a traveller from Pitlochry, mapped the traditional routes and used by generations of travellers in Highland Perthshire. It shows the lay-bys, quiet country roads and woods where travellers used to stop with many of the sites now having their access blocked off.
Meanwhile, a tribute has been paid to the late Alec Williamson, one of the last old-style Highland Travellers who came with a huge bank of stories, songs riddles, jokes and anecdotes.
Dr Tammi said: “The community