Learning for Sustainability Scotland has partnered with North Yell Development Council (NYDC) in Shetland on an exciting new initiative which will explore the relationship between intangible cultural heritage and learning for sustainability.

‘Savin Wir Midder Tongue‘ is part-funded by ‘Protection through Connection‘: a consortium co-led by Museums and Galleries Scotland, with match funding from NYDC. The focus of this project is to sustain and celebrate the oral traditions, expressions, and language of the community of North Yell, and explore how these relate to, weave, and sustain connections between people and place. This is very timely given that Shaetlan, the indigenous language of Shetland, was recognised as a language in its own right late last year. The project will include both the local community of North Yell and its global diaspora (people who have spread or been dispersed from their homeland).

The project will explore how Shaetlan is woven across everyday use; including living and learning, cultural activities, and the way in which people relate to the natural world around them. Of particular interest will be the project’s aim of encouraging the use of Shaetlan to support even more people to lend their voices, perspectives, and knowledge to explore and enable sustainability solutions at a local level.

NYDC Director Michael Henderson said, “Hit’s been a priority o wirs tae keep livin da cultur an traditions o Nort Yell, an wir owerly blyde tae be wirkin wi dis noo.”

The initiative will include a number of intergenerational events and initiatives which will be co-designed with local residents of all ages. This will include the recording and podcasting of a number of round-table conversations on topics such as fishing and boat building, makkin, Up Helly Aa, crofting and other aspects of life in North Yell. ‘Capturin dis voices is essential‘ says Barry Nisbet, Chair of the North Yell Culture and Heritage Group. ‘Wir community members hadd a treasure o stories, heritage an history an wir aafil excited tae be able tae share an record as muckle as possible.’

The project will launch on March 27th at 7pm with a ‘Soonds o Nort Yell’ night at the Cullivoe Hall and culminate in September with an event to celebrate the work of the project; which will include online participation from attendees from the global North Yell diaspora.

More information about this initiative can be found online at northyell.co.uk – and we’ll share more in due course.