As you may know, a large number of settlements and communities across North America were founded by Scottish Highland emigrants in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century – so many, in fact, that Scottish Gaelic was the third-most common European language in Canada at the time of confederation (1867) and one of many immigrant languages thriving in urban centers such as Boston, Toronto, New York, Montreal, Chicago, San Francisco, and Vancouver in the early 20th century.
The Celtic Department of St Francis Xavier University is the only undergraduate department fully supporting the field of Celtic Studies in North America, with a special emphasis on Scottish Gaelic. Although some students choose Celtic Studies as their major, others choose to take Celtic courses as electives to enhance majors in other fields.
Scottish Gaelic is at a particularly pivotal stage at this moment: after enduring centuries of attack and neglect, the government in Scotland is offering an unprecedented level of support and encouragement for the language and culture, and the Office of Gaelic affairs was established in Nova Scotia in 2006 to provide support and develop an
infrastructure for Gaelic in this region of Canada. Significant agreements for collaboration have, in fact, been developed between these two bodies, acknowledging that the last Gaelic-speaking community on North American soil is found here, in Nova Scotia.
To sustain this momentum, Gaelic needs teachers, scholars, civil servants, performers, and informed advocates – skills for which a university degree is crucial. Our graduates have gone on to fulfill all of these roles and others, in both Nova Scotia and Scotland. We offer scholarships and bursaries which aid students in their studies here and in travel to Scotland.
Our departmental website contains many details about our department – courses offered, financial aid available, the history of Gaelic in Canada, and so on – as well as testimonials from our students and the journeys they have undertaken after their training with us. See www.mystfx.ca/academic/celtic-studies/
There has never been greater reason for hope for the future of Scottish Gaelic, and never more opportunities to be involved in its development. We demonstrate to students that Scottish Highland heritage is not just a curious relic of the past but a living culture that can thrive now and in the future. Your communities and youth can be involved in ensuring that happens here and elsewhere.
If there is any question that we can answer for you about these opportunities, please contact us:
Department of Celtic Studies
St. Francis Xavier University
P.O. Box 5000
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
B2G 2W5 Canada
The Niagara Celtic Society receives no compensation for this promotion. This is part of our efforts to promote Celtic heritage, by way of a wonderful educational program.
