Foulis Castle trailblazer finds common ground with Native Americans as 'inspirational' event forges new links
SHARED values and aspirations linking people in Ross-shire with their Native American counterparts were at the heart of an "uplifting, inspirational" event which broke barriers and forged new relationships.
A project started by Dingwall-based non-profit arts/cultural organisation Heartstone originally aimed to document the landscapes, plants and animals of the Munro lands and the connection of the people with it over many centuries.
It developed into a project bringing together the people of Highland, the American Indian Tribes and India through an unlikely connection, an animal to be found through its relatives in all three locations – the badger.
This culminated with a virtual event opened from the spectacular setting of Foulis Castle in Easter Ross with a welcome address from Clan Chief, Hector Munro.
The event also made a timely connection with the Indian festival of Diwali, with its message of light and hope.
Clan Chief Hector Munro's address stressed the importance of the environment to the people of the past and present and his hopes for the future, highlighting one theme – the need for greater communication in a globalised world. He spoke of the need to protect and preserve the environment and spoke of the impact of climate change already being seen in his daily life as a farmer in the Highland.
The event demonstrated the close bond the people of these different cultures have had with the natural world which surrounds them and the role it has played in their lives, including the importance of medicinal plants.
Sitakumari, dancer/storyteller and director of Heartstone, presented the story of Cùra, the Scottish badger character in the Heartstone Odyssey series of books which provided the connection with all three cultures. Gae;lic speaker Iain MacIlleChiar welcomed the assembled representatives of Crow, Assiniboine, Cree, Blackfeet, Sioux and Lakota tribes, brought together by the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council in Gaelic, inviting response in their own tongue, making a bond of respect between the cultures through language.
The central role of the badger and the natural world in the traditional stories and lives of the tribes followed, including a demonstration of how every part of the tipi or lodge of the American Indians, has a connection with the environment in its construction, with the badger being essential for its foundations, its claws symbolic of the strength needed to keep the it rooted to the ground. Terry Tatsey of the Blackfeet tribe, shared the difficulties of preserving the cultural traditions, including the language, in a world where families still have to live with the split which followed the creation of the 49th parallel in 1846.
At a time when all those involved have been personally affected by the impact of Covid-19, the event provided a strong uplifting moment, a celebration of what is shared and a ray of hope for the future.
Heartstone and the organisation’s partners in Highland, India and American Indian Tribes brought together through this project will be building on this contact over the coming months.
Sitakumari said: "This event has brought people together across nationalities, cultures and backgrounds in a unique way, to share and celebrate a common humanity, at a timely moment for everyone."
Clan Chief, Hector Munro said: "The contact with the groups was inspiring, they share so many values, ancient traditions, and tragic history with the Highland clans."
Walks With The Pipe (aka William Snell, director of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council) said: “It was an honour to share some of our cultural ways with our brothers and sisters in Scotland as we come together to learn from each other during these uncertain times. The presentations were a breath of fresh air as we strive for a brighter futures for all people. I want to encourage the young 'student warriors' to never lose hope and keep your heads high.”
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