Sutherland

Culture

Visiting an area such as Sutherland would be a worthwhile experience even at a superficial level but the experienced can be considerably enhanced by learning something of the culture of the area to add to the obvious physical attractions.

Culture can mean different things to different people and it is possible for people to visit or even live in an area without being aware of the culture which underpins the ethos of the place, but nevertheless, nobody can escape being influenced by the local culture even unwittingly.

It is likely that visitors to this area will find however, that obvious efforts have been made to make visitors aware of what makes the place what it is: the range of activities and ideas of a group of people with shared traditions; the artistic and social pursuits and tastes valued by the local people; and

the total inherited ideas, beliefs, values and knowledge which have shaped the character of the indigenous population.

In any culture, the historical background plays a significant part in the formation of the character of the people, as do the natural features of the region, and the climate.

The history of these Northern parts is studded with battles and strife of one kind or another: clan against clan, clans against establishment forces, battles against Viking marauders and the people against rapacious landlords. No shortage of violence!

It is also a history of more personal battles against poverty, hardship and disease.

As a result of all these factors, large numbers of the native population chose or were forced to emigrate to far off places such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand and many left to seek work in the cities of Britain. They took their culture with them, but while the culture survived at home it was now in the custody of a much reduced population, but what does not destroy you makes you strong and this strength has enabled the unique culture to survive to the present, albeit in a diluted form in many areas.

The influence of the sea in forming the local character is very distinctive. It shaped the livelihoods of many, it ensured the survival of many by providing jobs and food, it provided a means of travel at a time when transport links were minimal----but it also brought its share of tragedy, and it took the emigrants away.

The difficult terrain and poor transport links did however, have the positive effect of strengthening the sense of identity and belonging of these people, whose way of life was not much affected by outside influences.

Times would change of course, but without this position of strength the culture would not have lasted as long as it has. This heritage exists to this day, even though it is in a much diluted form, but it is still the bedrock of these parts of Ross-shire and Sutherland.

Another significant factor in the formation of the local character was the influence of the church. From 1843 when the Free Church of Scotland broke away from the established Church of Scotland a more fundamental form of religion took hold throughout the highlands and islands. The Free Church was dominant in most aspects of life in the North and was later to split again to give rise to the Free Presbyterian Church.

Both of these denominations, with their strict doctrine and fundamental beliefs, established a moral code , the embers of which persist to some degree even to this day. While these churches have lost much of their power, their past influence cannot be denied, and their importance in Highland society is evident in the many churches which can be seen in almost every parish.

Probably most people would consider the local culture to be the Gaelic language and the poetry, music and songs associated with it. No matter where you travel in these counties you don’t have to scratch very hard to be aware of this aspect of our heritage. You only have to look at the names of places and features on an OS. map of the area to see how dominant the language once was. Gaelic has a very rich tradition of poetry, music and song! The Gaels valued highly their poets (bards), composers, singers, instrumentalists and story-tellers. Communal gatherings (ceilidhs), in each others’ houses were regular features involving every age-group, and these enabled the wealth of literary and musical heritage to be absorbed by the young , to be passed on in their turn to succeeding generations. This was also a cultural reinforcing process which was essential for the survival of their traditions.

Nowadays, of course, you can research at least some of this in archives and on the Internet.

As the years have gone by there has been a very serious decline in the use and knowledge of the Gaelic language but the Gaelic traditions still survive, the songs are still sung, the music is still played, the poetry is still alive and the standards which characterised the ethos of the Gaels of Ross-shire and Sutherland ( and the whole of the Highlands and Islands) still influence the way of life today.. Of course, there has been a very significant influx of people from other cultures in modern times. They are attracted by the natural attributes of the area but also by the way of life. If they have come for the right reasons they will certainly be influenced by the Gaelic past, even if they are not aware of it.

Kenneth Mackenzie, Assynt.