Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach facts for kids
The Highland Village Museum / Baile nan Gàidheal / An Clachan Gàidhealaich is an outdoor living history museum. It teaches visitors about the Gaelic way of life, culture, and language in Nova Scotia. The museum is located in Iona, Nova Scotia, Canada. It covers 43 acres of beautiful land overlooking the Bras d'Or Lake in Central Cape Breton.
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History of the Highland Village
The story of Gaelic Nova Scotia begins in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In the 1700s, big changes happened there. These changes made it hard for people to continue their traditional farming life. Because of this, many decided to move to Nova Scotia.
From the late 1700s to the early 1800s, thousands of Scots settled in eastern Nova Scotia. They often moved in groups, creating new communities. These groups were based on family ties or shared beliefs. The settlers faced new challenges, like a very different climate. But they worked hard to clear land, build homes, and start new lives.
Learning About Gaelic Culture
The Highland Village Museum offers many programs and events. These are designed to share the Gaelic language, culture, and history. The museum works with other groups and government agencies. This helps them host special learning opportunities.
One program is Stòras a’ Bhaile. This is a four-day school where people learn Gaelic language and folk-life. It's for those who already know some Nova Scotia Gaelic.
The museum also hosts an annual Highland Village Day. This is an outdoor Scottish Concert held every August. It started in 1962 to celebrate the museum's beginnings. It also helped raise money for future growth. This yearly event features local musicians. They continue the musical traditions passed down from their ancestors.
Other yearly events include Pioneer Day. There's also a traditional cod-fish supper. The museum offers educational programs for young people. Daily interpretive programs are also available on site.
Highland Village has a special program for local schools called Sgadan’s Buntata. Staff members visit classrooms dressed in old-fashioned clothes. They show students how crafts were made long ago. Students learn about the tools and items used by Gaelic Nova Scotians. They also get an introduction to the Gaelic language and customs.
Discovering Your Family History
The Roots Cape Breton Genealogy & Family History Centre is at the museum. It helps people research their family history. Genealogy is like being a detective for your family tree! This center uses computers to help. It has information from old records like census reports and birth, marriage, and death records.
An Drochaid Eadarainn (The Bridge Between Us)
The Highland Village Museum created an online website called An Drochaid Eadarainn. This name means "The Bridge Between Us." It's a way to share the Gaelic language and culture using technology. The website helps keep Gaelic traditions alive in Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada. It officially launched on May 2, 2012. The launch ceremony took place at the Nova Scotia Legislature in Halifax.
The website shares recordings of Nova Scotia Gaelic culture. Visitors can hear native speakers tell stories. They can also enjoy music and dance. The site shows different ways people speak Gaelic. It also shares information about family connections, beliefs, traditional foods, and old home remedies.
There's an interactive part of the website called An Drochaid Bheò (The Living Bridge). Here, people can meet online and share their Nova Scotia Gaelic traditions. The website aims to show Gaelic speech and culture from many different areas in the province.
