The Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection Project
Cainnt is Ceathramhan | Language and Lyrics is a collaborative project to catalogue, digitize, transcribe and facilitate access to the Gaelic songs and folklore of Nova Scotia.
Project Background, Partners, and Goals
The initial phase of the project (2018-22) produced a searchable index of over 6,000 records of Gaelic songs made or known in Nova Scotia with over 1,000 digitized texts. The database was created in close collaboration with the Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic (DASG), an online repository of digitized texts, language resources, and audio recordings for Scottish Gaelic, together with support from Gaelic Affairs Nova Scotia, the Beaton Institute and the Highland Village Museum.
The current phase of the project (2022-2026) is focused on the Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection (aka Sruth nan Gàidheal or Gaelstream), housed at St Francis Xavier University. Other key project partners include Cape Breton University, Gaelic Affairs Nova Scotia, Highland Village Museum, Colaisde na Gàidhlig | Gaelic College, staff at St Francis Xavier University and the collection’s creator, Dr. John Shaw.
The Cainnt is Ceathramhan team is re-cataloguing, transcribing and improving access to over 2,000 songs, stories, and other verbal expressions collected by Dr. John Shaw primarily in the 1960s and 1970s. We are redigitizing the original audio recordings, expanding the data about original contributors, and transcribing as much of the collection as possible. Once again, the results will be made freely available online through the Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic (DASG).
Seeking Biographical Information
One hundred and fifty-six people contributed to the Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection. Thankfully, we know something about the majority of them. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about approximately one third of the contributors, and we are missing some details about many others. That is why we are asking the community for any information they may have about any of the contributors.
Project Benefits
In the end, we hope to produce an online resource that will be of value to anyone interested in Nova Scotia Gaelic, including Gaelic learners, teachers, singers, storytellers, and researchers of all types. People will be able to find biographical information (and hopefully photos) of the generous contributors, details about the collection’s items (such as their origins, genre, subject matter, and creator), and many will have transcriptions.
Just as important as the resulting resource is the process involved in developing the project. We are proud to be supporting a range of Nova Scotia Gaels who, while working on the project, will improve their knowledge of Gaelic culture in Nova Scotia, improve their Gaelic language skills, and develop a range of skills such as data management, cultural research, and communication skills.
Please read the information below, provided to advise you of important details regarding the project for which we are asking your assistance.
Thank you for taking the time to consider being a part of this research project.
Primary Researcher & Contact Information
The Cainnt is Ceathramhan project is directed by Dr. Heather Sparling, Professor of Ethnomusicology (the study of the relationship between music and society) at Cape Breton University. You are welcome to contact her at any time should you have any questions or concerns:
Dr. Heather Sparling: (902) 563-1242 | heather_sparling@cbu.ca
Department of Literature, Folklore and The Arts
Cape Breton University, PO Box 5300, 1250 Grand Lake Road, Sydney, NS B1P 6L2
You are also welcome to contact the Cape Breton University research office:
Co-Chairs of the Research Ethics Board at CBU
Bishakha Mazumdar: bishakha_mazumdar@cbu.ca
Tracey Harris: tracey_harris@cbu.ca
Research Ethics Board Administrator
Jared Walters: (902) 563-3196 | ethics@cbu.ca
Information Being Sought
Project team members are asking for biographical information pertaining to original informants of the Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection who are now deceased.
Consent
We assume that any response you provide to a request for information via social media can and will be used within the Cainnt is Ceathramhan project unless you specifically request otherwise. This is true whether you respond publicly on a social media post or write to us privately (such as via private message).
Potential Risks
This project poses minimal risk to participants. “Minimal risk” means that the likelihood and severity of potential harm to research participants are no greater than the risks encountered in their everyday lives.
Participants will not be associated with specific biographical details, but they will be thanked publicly on a project webpage unless they specifically request us not to.
Participants’ Rights
Your participation in this research project is entirely voluntary. You may refuse to participate at any time or withdraw your participation at any time.
Dissemination of Results
Biographical data collected for this project will be made available in the final project hosted online at the Digital Archive of Scottish Gaelic. I anticipate that the project will be made available online in 2026. To follow project news and developments, please subscribe to our Substack newsletter, follow the project Facebook page, and/or visit our project website.
Identification of Participant
You will be thanked by name on the final project website (unless you request otherwise), but your name will not be associated with the specific biographical information you provide.
Data Storage & Accessibility
Any biographical information provided about a contributor to the Cape Breton Gaelic Folklore Collection will be entered into a spreadsheet, including a brief biographical description. We have no anticipated end-date for availability of the final digital project, and we will maintain all data files permanently in order to ensure the integrity of the digital project, should it ever fail or otherwise need to be reconstructed.
Cainnt is Ceathramhan 