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Preserving Neglected Voices
Remembered in Exile showcases traditional songs with Scottish origins gathered in Maritime Canada by folklorist Helen Creighton (1899-1989).
“The songs featured on Remembered in Exile originate from Scotland but were adapted over time by the people who carried them to Eastern Canada,” noted Johnston.
His team delved into Creighton’s collection at the Nova Scotia archives to select 10 songs that their Scottish partners recognized—but which had evolved sufficiently to be labeled as ‘Canadian’ renditions.
The album highlights the intricate blending of Gaelic words and lyrics. Although many Gaelic terms, songs, and dances have been maintained in the area, they have largely been forgotten in their Scottish homeland, making the language a minority in Nova Scotia.
Revitalizing the Gaelic Language
Johnston’s findings underscore the critical need to safeguard endangered languages. He encountered 90-year-old Annag MacKinnon, who faced punishment in her youth for speaking Gaelic in school.
With a dwindling number of native speakers, younger generations are striving to revive the language (external link). Numerous Scottish Gaelic scholars visit Cape Breton to rediscover fragments of their lost heritage.
“Màiri’s experience was emblematic,” Johnston reflected, “and listening to her converse with a Gaelic elder was genuinely one of the most beautiful and profound experiences I have ever had.”
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