The ancient Gaelic language was once on the brink of extinction in Nova Scotia, but the number of people speaking Gaelic in the province has nearly tripled since the turn of the 21st century.
The most recent census reports more than 1,200 Nova Scotians can speak Gaelic fluently.
Joyce MacDonald, coordinator at the Cape Breton Gaelic College, says there are many factors contributing to the recent surge in popularity of the language, but believes it starts with the kids.
“It’s the grandchildren and great-grandchildren that are coming back to it and are coming from a place where they don’t have that stigma and shame associated with the language,” says MacDonald. “So they are able to be proud of it and enjoy it in a way that maybe wasn’t possible for past generations.”
At its peak in the mid-nineteenth century, Gaelic was the third most spoken language in Canada, after English and French. However, the language sharply declined since that period.
“There is a lot of incidents of kids coming to school and only spoke Gaelic and they would be punished for not being able to speak English. That contributed to a feeling of shame in Gaelic-speaking people,” explains MacDonald.
It seems that feeling of shame has disappeared and a new feeling of excitement toward the language is on the rise.
“In the last five years, the enthusiasm I hear from people is incredible. A lot of people are supportive, feeling really good about it. There is new faces coming into the Gaelic community I don’t recognize, so that’s exciting,” says Gaelic speaker Amber Buchanan.
Buchanan is passing on her knowledge of the language to her daughter.
“It’s important to teach her about who she is and where she comes from,” says Buchanan. “I believe there is a lot of ancient knowledge, that’s the culture. Those are values I want her to have and to grow up with.”
Buchanan hopes the trend continues and that her daughter will someday be able to study the language full-time.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore
