330: Na Cuimrich ann an Saskatchewan
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
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Na Cuimrich ann an Saskatchewan
Tha e coltach nach eil mòran air fhàgail an-diugh de na Cuimrich ann an Saskatchewan. Tha mi a-mach air na Cuimrich a chaidh a dh’fhuireach ann an Saltcoats ann an Saskatchewan ann an naoi ceud deug ’s a dhà (1902). Nuair a nithear rannsachadh air an eadar-lìon, feuch dualchas Cuimreach a lorg ann, gheibhear fiosrachadh mu chomann air a bheil The English/Welsh Society of Saskatoon. Is cinnteach, nan robh na Cuimrich làidir gu leòr, nach biodh iad air a dhol an co-bhuinn ris na Sasannaich airson comann a dhèanamh.
Carson a tha mi ag ràdh sin? Uill, cha robh na daoine às a’ Chuimrigh a rinn tuineachadh ann an Saskatchewan nan Cuimrich àbhaisteach. Gu dearbh, chan ann às a’ Chuimrigh a bha iad. Bha iad à Ameireagaidh a Deas.
Tha an stòiridh a’ tòiseachadh ann an ochd ceud deug, seasgad ’s a còig (1865) anns a’ Chuimrigh fhèin. Sheòl ceud is seasgad Cuimreach air an t-soitheach Mimosa, a-mach à Liverpool. Bha iad a’ dol a dhèanamh dachaigh ùr Chuimreach dhaibh fhèin aig ceann thall a’ chuain.
Aig an àm sin, bha iad airson Ameireaga a Tuath a thrèigsinn, oir chunnaic iad mu thràth gu robh an cànan aca a’ dol à bith gu luath fo bhuaidh na Beurla. Chuir iad romhpa dhol gu sgìre ann am Patagonia fad air falbh bho Bhuenos Aires, far an robh riaghaltas Argentina a’ tàladh in-imrichean. Ann a sin, fad air falbh o bhuaidh na Spàinntis is buaidh na Beurla, thog iad coimhearsnachdan Cuimreach. Chuir iad siostam lagha Cuimreach air dòigh, rud nach robh anns a’ Chuimrigh fhèin. Bha a’ Chuimris uile-chumhachdach mar chànan coimhearsnachd, co-dhiù anns a’ chiad dol a-mach.
Ach anns na naochadan dhen naoidheamh linn deug, thàinig atharrachadh air na bailtean as mò anns an sgìre. Bha iad soirbheachail gu h-eaconamach agus, air sàilleabh sin, chaidh mòran choigreach a dh’fhuireach annta. Cha robh Cuimris acasan. Chan e sin a-mhàin a dh’fhàg cuid de na Cuimrich mì-thoilichte. Bha an riaghaltas ann am Buenos Aires a’ gabhail barrachd gnothaich ris na coimhearsnachdan Cuimreach cuideachd. Bha iad ag iarraidh prìomhachas airson Spàinntis anns na sgoiltean, mar eisimpleir. Thòisich cuid de na Cuimrich air sùil a thoirt a-mach a-rithist – gu dùthchannan eile far am faodadh iad a bhith saor agus Cuimreach.
Chaidh buidheann dhiubh gu Saskatchewan, far an d’ fhuair iad cead grunn sgìrean a thuineachadh. Anns a’ Chèitean naoi ceud deug ’s a dhà (1902), dh’fhàg còrr is dà cheud Cuimreach Patagonia. Sheòl iad gu ruige Liverpool – an dearbh phort às an do sheòl an sinnsearan a dh’Ameireagaidh a Deas. An uair sin, lean iad orra air soitheach eile a Chanada. Ràinig iad Quebec anns an Ògmhios, agus chùm iad orra gu ruige Saskatchewan.
Air clàr an luchd-siubhail air an t-soitheach, tha Patagonia ainmichte mar dhùthaich am breith airson a h-uile Cuimreach, ach chan urrainn gu bheil sin fìor. Feumaidh gu robh cuid dhen fheadhainn a bu shine air am breith anns a’ Chuimrigh fhèin, is gu robh iad air imrich a dhèanamh dà thuras. Car coltach ris na Gàidheil Albannach a chaidh a dh’Alba Nuadh, is an uair sin gu Astràilia is New Zealand.
O chionn trì bliadhna, ceud bliadhna às dèidh do na Cuimrich Saltcoats a ruigsinn, chomharraich muinntir an àite “Bangor Heritage Day”. Ach, eucoltach ris na Cuimrich ann am Patagonia agus anns a’ Chuimrigh fhèin, cha do ghlèidh an fheadhainn ann an Saskatchewan an cànan, a rèir choltais. ’S iomadh rud a chailleas fear na h-imrich. ’S dòcha gun do rinn Cuimrich Saskatchewan cus dhith.
Faclan na Litreach: tuineachadh: colony, settlement; siostam lagha: legal system; naochadan: nineties; soirbheachail: successful.
Abairtean na Litreach: nach eil mòran air fhàgail an-diugh de: that there is not much left today of; tha mi a-mach air na Cuimrich: I am referring to the Welsh; nuair a nithear rannsachadh air an eadar-lìon: when research is undertaken on the internet; an co-bhuinn ris na Sasannaich: in conjunction with the English; bha iad à Ameireagaidh a Deas: they were from South America; ceud is seasgad: 160; aig ceann thall a’ chuain: at the other side of the ocean; fo bhuaidh na Beurla: under the influence of the English language; a’ tàladh in-imrichean: attracting immigrants; bha a’ Chuimris uile-chumhachdach mar chànan coimhearsnachd: Welsh was all-powerful as a community language; co-dhiù anns a’ chiad dol a-mach: at least to begin with; chaidh mòran choigreach a dh’fhuireach annta: many foreigners went to live in them; bha an riaghaltas a’ gabhail barrachd gnothaich ri:the government was getting more involved with; prìomhachas airson Spàinntis: primacy for Spanish; far am faodadh iad a bhith saor: where they could be free; an dearbh phort às an do sheòl an sinnsearan: the same port from which their ancestors sailed; clàr an luchd-siubhail: the passenger list; air am breith anns a’ Chuimrigh: born in Wales; chomharraich muinntir an àite:the local people marked, celebrated; eucoltach ris: unlike; ’s iomadh rud a chailleas fear na h-imrich: the flitting man loses much (proverb, see Litir 70); gun do rinn X cus dhith: that X did too much of it (migration).
Puing-chànain na Litreach: cha do ghlèidh an fheadhainn ann an Saskatchewan an cànan : those in Saskatchewan didn’t retain the (or their) language – as cànanis masculine to me, the article could mean either “the” or “their”. I am sometimes asked if cànanis masculine or feminine. In fact, it occurs in both genders. Traditionally it was feminine, and written (and pronounced) cànain. A’ chànain: the language; fuaim na cànain(e): the sound of the language; this is still how it is for some Gaelic speakers. This is natural enough as languages are conceptually feminine and most specific language names are feminine eg a’ Ghàidhlig, a’ Bheurla. But to many today the word for “language” is cànan, and it is masculine ie an cànan: the language; fuaim a’ chànain: the sound of the language. If you are not sure which to adopt, follow the example of your teacher or those in the community around you.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: chan urrainn gu bheil sin fìor that cannot be true.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 26
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