Westray
Heritage
This project will focus on documenting the social, economic, and cultural history of the North Isles, and the various dialects within each community, as well as identifying past and present connections between the different islands.
The North Isles have such a varied and unique history, with so many stories people can tell about their ancestors, the local landscape, the industries they have witnessed and worked in, and the changes they have seen in their communities over the years. Whilst the older generation will play a crucial part in this project, it is important the narratives of younger generations are also captured.
Interviewees will benefit from the passing on of their local knowledge, experiences and memories, while those involved in the production of the project, and others living on the island, will gain a valuable insight into their community’s past.
The finished project will also be of interest to visitors and island ex-pats living around the world.
Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology & Orkney College UHI has teamed up with Dr Tom Rendall and Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon to deliver this project.
Project Director Tom Rendall will be visiting the North Isles over the next while so that people can learn more about how the project will work. He'll be looking for volunteers to be interviewed as well as people to carry out interviews. The project will record memories, experiences and reminiscences but what's exciting about this project is that it's not just the older voices that'll be recorded but also younger folk and people that have more recently moved to the islands.
If you want to hear more about the project contact the ORCA Archaeology team by email [email protected]
You can also join the conversation through Twitter on #northislesnarrative
