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Letter to the editor: The end of an era at the Gaelic College

To the editor:

In an era when family values, morals, tradition and culture are questioned daily by popular media and outside exposure, it is shocking to see yet another important event for the youth of our community being cut. The annual Gaelic College Highland Dance Competition is one of the longest standing Highland Dance competitions in Canada. For this reason alone, it is a very important part of the history of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and Canada. It is also important to our Cape Breton dancers as an event for these locals to perform for their families and their community without, once again, having to leave the Island. This competition attracts dancers from all over Canada, many of which have relatives in Cape Breton, and plan their summer vacations around the competition.

This past Fall, the Gaelic College elected a new administration which included a new Executive Director and Director of Education. Under this administration, there will be a change in focus at the College, moving more towards the Gaelic language and only ‘non’ competitive studies. There will no longer be study in the Great Highland Bagpipe (only Cape Breton style piping), no Pipeband Drumming, etc. Eventually, they hope to fade out one of the College’s longest standing areas of study, Highland Dance.

The Gaelic College began in 1938 as a Gaelic institution, at a time when Gaelic was a central part of Cape Breton communities–spoken at home and in school. Years later, Highland Dance and Bagpiping were added to the curriculum due to their ties with the language, culture and music, and they have continued through its history. Step Dance and Fiddle were not added to the program until many years later–the early ’80s. I have no issue with a Gaelic focus, I think it’s wonderful. My Dad’s family is from Inverness and spoke Gaelic in their home, and my daughter is studying Gaelic Song at the Gaelic College. My issue is with the disregard for other longstanding areas of study. If, back in the day, Gaelic College administration felt Highland Dance had strong enough ties to be one of the first evolving areas of study, why does the new administration feel it cannot be part of this tradition? Yes, the fiddle and step dance have been a large part of this culture, especially renewed in the past 20+ years, however, they were not original disciplines of study at the Gaelic College back when the Gaelic was center stage, yet Highland Dance was.

In early days, they also ran an annual Gaelic Mod that hosted competitions in Gaelic Song and Story, Highland Dance, and Pipebands. Through the years, the Mod has sadly become extinct, following along with so many events that have been lost to our Island. The Highland Dance Competition, however, has continued to run successfully since its inception. Due to the dedication and loyalty I have felt towards this event, the College’s traditions, and the local dancers, I have continued to organize this for the past 20 years with the support of the previous administrations and community volunteers. I run this purely on a volunteer basis, with no association as is the norm with other competitions.

So why would the Gaelic College pull this event? Their answer, aside from their new non-competitive view, is they don’t feel Highland Dance is connected in any way to the Gaelic Culture!!! I asked where they are getting their history and beliefs, and it was simply stated they just knew these things from being around the Gaelic lifestyle. This is very interesting. Certainly the dancing has changed over time, but it should still have a place in the culture, so it doesn’t get completely lost. Quoting a friend who has his Masters in Ethnochoreology (Traditional Dance Studies): “Both strands of the dance tradition (Highland & Step) should co-habit as they support and inform each other. Highland Flings have been danced to puirt a beul (mouth music) in Scotland for the past 50-60 years”…as have they been danced at the Gaelic College through mouth music in my younger years, and currently with my own students.

Healthy competition for youth has been a reason why many of these Celtic traditions have lasted through a time where media promotes a much more elaborate sense of living for youth. Competition allows young people to set goals, strive for improvement and share their skills with others. Isn’t this what our Gaelic/Cape Breton culture is about: families actually spending time together at community events full of tradition, culture and values? Not to mention the money that goes back in to our community’s economy when 100-200 dancers and their families spend the weekend dancing in Cape Breton (staying at our hotels, buying our gas, eating at our restaurants, shopping at our stores). I think maybe the administration may want to consider attending such an event before deciding its fate.

This is a disappointing loss to Highland Dance, which is a unique art form in many areas around the world. It is a great loss to our history and culture on the Island and within the Province, where Highland Dance competitions and Highland Games have been decreasing annually due to monetary reasons. Why can’t the Gaelic College pursue its ideals with the Gaelic Language, while still allowing the school portion of the institution to teach other just as relevant sectors of the culture? How is it that suddenly a few people get to decide what is a relevant part of tradition at the Gaelic College? If Highland Dance was relevant enough to be a starting new discipline way back in early Gaelic College days, why is it suddenly “not part of the culture”?

If our own Island, an Island that survives on our Celtic culture through tourism, and the Gaelic College, an institution promising to promote the local culture within our community, does not support Highland Dance… then who exactly will?

The Gaelic College is run overall by a Board of Governors. This Board makes all final decisions regarding the Gaelic College. If you would like to support the continuation of Highland Dance and the Dance Competition at the Gaelic College, please send any letters of support along to the Board Chairperson: Maureen Carroll maureen@mcarrollconsulting.ca.

Kelly MacAuthur
kelly@macarthurdance.com

Kelly MacArthur is the Director of the MacArthur School of Dance. She has been teaching Highland & Step Dance at the Gaelic College for the past 23 years. Kelly is the organizer of the GC Highland Dance Competition.

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Comments

  1. This is a public statement made by the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia today. I am very thankful for their professional and thoughtful manner of dealing with this issue.

    I called and personally thanked them, and they were thankful I had called. This is a good moment in history :)

    Maybe we can all start working together, which I think will be a much better way to present, focus on and preserve all our sectors of the Gaelic & Scottish Cultures.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________

    Comhairle na Gàidhlig – The Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia focuses on the promotion and growth of Gaelic language in Nova Scotia. In the same way that the Acadians and Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia value their languages as an embodiment of their identities, our organization sees Gaelic language as an extremely important platform that upholds our people’s values.
    The mission statement of the Gaelic College is “To promote, preserve and perpetuate through studies in all related areas – the culture, music, language, arts, crafts, customs and traditions of immigrants from the highlands of Scotland”.

    Cultural arts and identities are forever evolving, and all are valid artistic expressions in their own right. Our focus is on Gaelic arts and culture, and their foundation in Gaelic language, and we have great interest in how the province allocates its resources within the Gaelic College. Our Board of Directors welcomes the concerns expressed by Kelly MacArthur about the possible discontinuing of the Highland Dance competition at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s. Her words express a respect for the work that is done to support and grow Gaelic, and they provide a basis for discussion about the role of the Gaelic College.

    Comhairle na Gàidhlig supports the increased emphasis on Gaelic Language programming at the Gaelic College. Using an example, we feel that the Acadian community would not be well served by a provincially-funded educational institution that provided instruction in English, and similarly, neither is the Gaelic community. The Province of Nova Scotia has funded a ‘Gaelic’ institution for 70 years which is only now seriously exploring how it can address and reverse Gaelic language decline in Nova Scotia. These are exciting times. We applaud the strength of conviction that the directors have demonstrated by making this bold move. At the same time, we hope to see programming at the Gaelic College that meets the needs of all its stakeholders.

    Although there is no historical evidence of a connection between the culture of the immigrants from the Highlands of Scotland to Nova Scotia and Highland Dancing or the Pipe Band tradition, they have become a part of our contemporary Nova Scotia ‘Scottish’ identity, and they are deeply tied to the Gaelic College in the hearts of many. We know that these arts provide an attraction to the College of those interested in ‘Scottish’ tradition, and are therefore a gateway to introduce people in a positive atmosphere to the unique language and culture of Gaelic Nova Scotia. We also feel that Gaelic cultural values of inclusion, attending to the needs around us, and courage, dictate that we seek options that support the objectives of all parties involved.

    – 30 –

    Comhairle na Gàidhlig is a non-profit society, founded in 1987, dedicated to the maintenance and promotion of the Gaelic language and culture. It works with individuals and groups throughout the province, and throughout the world, to preserve and perpetuate our distinct Gaelic culture.

  4. And I thank you, Kelly, for informing people about what's been happening. Its been quite a set of events since your letter to the editor first appeared. Lots of feedback! I find it distressing to see you become the focus of misinformation or blame for having told the truth about the situation at the Gaelic College.

    I think the decisions about competition, the highland dance, and about taking the great highland bagpipes/drumming and the pipe and drum corp pipebands out of the Gaelic College are really terrible. A former Sydney Miner, I've lived in Fredericton since joining St. Thomas University. As a psychologist and educator for over 25 years, I can say there is good, empirical evidence that supports the benefits of competition in the various disciplines. It seemed important to me that the Board hear from people directly, so I wrote and sent a letter to Maureen Carroll on Tuesday. There’s been no response (or acknowledgement of receipt) yet. Also, I couldn't find e-mail contact information for the Board – do you know why that is?

    As a Cape Bretoner with a deep attachment to the Island and its heritage, I really hope the situation at the Gaelic College can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. -Nancy H.

    • I don't Nancy ~ I have been wondering myself why the Board are listed on the site with no contacts. No one has had a response from Board Chair, so other members should be more aware. I am working on this.

      I don't think anything more will be discussed by the Board until their meeting in January, as I spoke to a Board member today.

      Join the GC Foundation ~ as they truly own the GC ~ and you can attend meetings and vote!

      Thanks for all your time and support, it is truly appreciated.

  5. I spoke to Tracey Dares this evening, and she said she in no way voiced that Highland Dance would be cut from the program this year, next year, or the year after. As far as the Board being aware of things, none are paid to run the College. They hire someone to do that, and then usually rubber stamp what the CEO brings to the table, because they support the CEO. We certainly can't go back to last week, so I'm hoping the right information gets put back our to folks for the sake of the College, allowing all to move forward one step at a time.

    • At NO point was the wrong information given to the people by myself. If DOE is saying this, it's because their intentions have been exposed, and they are quickly trying to rid the situation. If they have had a change of mind, then that is great ~ but it IS a change from statements last Wednesday.

      Board said that there were never any cuts, and we know there were ~ it's in black and white. There have been many untruthful statements from the admins and Board. I have backed every statement I've made. I even have a recording of DOE saying 'the competition is canceled' as of last Wednesday ~ and they are still denying that was said! It has been re-instated only out of public outrage.

      Why in the world would I make such claims if they weren't backed by statements and fact? I have a lot to lose, as I have spent the last 30 years of my life at the GC~!!!!! AND, I was hired for both March Break and Summer Schools. It is now impossible for me to feel comfortable working there, however, if I don't ~ there will definitely not be a HD program ~ as there is no Highland teacher out there going to take my job after this ~ they have supported me 100%.

      Saving face does not make the real issues go away. And it's quite obvious in the programming, interviews and news articles ~ that the direction I was told is being followed, and will continue to be followed (non competitive focus and culture of TRUE Gaels), if up to the admins.

      It it took a lot of courage to write that article and state what I was told was going on. What did I have to gain? Not a thing. What did I have to lose? A HUGE part of my life and love. Why did I do it? Because I feel very strongly about the importance of this part of our culture and its preservation. I also feel strongly that the students, instructional staff and public have the right to know this was happening.

      You can choose to stop reading the blog and move on if you feel comfortable with the information you were given. It doesn't sit well with me at all, how can I believe them now when they continue to not give the truth?

      And you seem to be forgetting that piping, drumming, harp and bodhran (except the one week) are removed from the program. So, the Highland Dance Competition has been 'resurrected', and the HD program has been temporarily secured until this debate goes away…..but what about the fate of the other courses?

      Anyone who really knows me, knows just how honest and loyal I am. They are behind me fully. Wanting everyone to suddenly 'play nice' isn't go to make the issues go away. They matter to us!

      • p.s. 'Program changes are a matter of policy' was stated by the Board Chair. That means that the Board is the final determining factor in these program changes, so the CEO has to inform them before this can happen. The full Board was not informed. Program changes were made without full knowledge.

        The Gaelic College is owned by the FOUNDATION. The public deserves to know everything going on. The Board is there to question the CEO's decisions because they answer to the Foundation. There should be no rubber stamping without full disclosure.

        I wouldn't want to go back to last week in any way! I'm glad I told the truth and informed the public. I wouldn't change that ~ it's obviously something that has needed to be done.

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