Ainm is Aite - Name and Place
Children for Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore Primaries have been working with local ‘tradition bearers’ in the community to learn about Gaelic Placenames.
The initiative, developed by The Highland Council called Ainm is Aite - Name and Place, involves community members going in to school to share their knowledge about the area and in particular the Gaelic names for places in the area.
On Friday 1st May, local historian Campbell Slimon visited Dalwhinnie Primary to share his knowledge of the Gaelic names of the hills and corries around Dalwhinnie.
Head Teacher of Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore Primaries, Karen Craig said: “It is lovely that the children are getting to explore their local area and its history through the medium of Gaelic. We are very grateful to members in the community who are sharing their knowledge of their own community and its history with the children, including through the medium of Gaelic”
Through the project the children have also been learning how to use digital recording equipment and developing their interviewing techniques to ensure that the information given by the tradition bearers is recorded and stored for many years to come. Also, during the project artist Eoghann MacColl, will work with the children through the medium of Gaelic and English to create art works inspired by the Gaelic place names.
Ten other schools across the Highlands are involved in the project, each working with a different tradition bearer in their own community. Once all the information is collected by the schools it will be put onto an audio CD with an accompanying leaflet and will be made available for the wider public through the Highland Archives Service.
The project has been funded by Bord na Gàidhlig, The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Cultural Co-ordinators in Scottish Schools programme.