On the left is the Tangwick Haa Museum where folders containing the CDs which
were produced after each interview, along with a written copy of the dialogue
is available.
HEARD is indebted to them for the money they allocated to get this project off
the ground and it is the group's intention to actively pursue other funding
agencies so that this project can continue in some form before any more minutiae
are lost. The group would also like to thank Awards for All, Shetland Arts Trust,
Shetland Enterprise and the Northmaven Community Council who all generously
donated to this project.
Another
exciting aspect of oral history is that when stories and reminiscences have
been retold they are usually spoken in dialect. HEARD is particularly pleased
about the use of local dialect in the interviews as they are making every effort
to help safeguard the mother tongue for the future, as each district within
Shetland has words with pronunciations used only within that locality and it
is vital that no more Northmavine words are lost to future generations.
Stories
relating to family life within this area, working conditions and being a member
of a small rural community are all topics that should be archived whilst the
information is still available and can be given first hand. Sharing the trials
and tribulations that have confronted individuals and being able to record how
the parish reacted in times of good and bad fortune makes this an exiting tool
to chronicle the past, present and future.
This
oral history project still has much work ahead of it and if funding can be sourced
to continue, then more data will be collected because with each passing day
memories are being lost forever to future generations, unfortunately the Local
Heritage Initiative Scotland was wound up with no further grants available.
The picture on the right shows the museum staff on the evening they received
the first of the folders from HEARD. Above and below are two of the male interviewees
who kindly took part in this project.
Updated and associated information with relevant photos or additional information
can be added to an individuals folder at any time. The CD's have been divided
into separate tracks, to allow researchers to find relevant subjects with
ease.
Past,
Present and Future Booklet: This attractive and interesting booklet was
written and compiled by Pat Christie for and on behalf of HEARD. It has transcriptions
of some oral recordings made with older people of the district during this project
and includes such subjects as carrying water from a well for cooking and washing
clothes, playing with home made toys or going to the Antarctic as a young whaler,
as well as several other interesting topics. Most of the interviews in this
booklet has an accompanying picture of the person who recounted the memories.
What is an oral history project about ?
Well, unlike when historical records were only in the written word and printed
in history books. Nowadays people's memories and experiences are able to be
recorded on audio and video tapes or burned onto CD's and DVD's for future
generations to listen to or watch and enjoy.
HEARD's Past, Present and Future Oral History Project has as yet barely scratched
the surface of this wealth of information that lies untapped within this area.
When visiting older relatives, everyone would need to carry a tape recorder
because of the historical gems often recounted when least expected. Unfortunately
this is not always possible or yet desirable.
