Extract from the discussion list "alt.scottish.clans"

Correspondent 1 : -

: > So what exactly were the clearances? Who did they affect; were they
: > directed toward any particular clan or clans? Who ordered them, and why?

Correspondent 2 : -

: In the county of Sutherland for example, the Countess and Marquess of
: Stafford, who between them owned over half the county, removed over
: 10,000 people in the early 19th century to make way for sheep farms.
: At one point Patrick Sellar, acting under orders from the Marquess,
: cleared people out of Strathnaver by forcing them out of their homes
: with dogs and then setting fire to their dwellings, sometimes with people
: still inside!

Alasdair McKay : -

If one accepts some analogy between the burning of roof trees and the destruction of computer files or between packs of dogs and packs of relocation psychologists, then the Nova Scotia government has been pretty active in promoting the Nova Scotia Clearances of the 1990s. The philosophy appears remarkably similar to that of those who held power in Scotland of the early 19th century : "promote development and forget about human beings who may inconveniently be in the way, even those with whom there has been a long-standing understanding of mutual trust." Many who have been so cleared out of their means of livelihood in Nova Scotia over the last few years have little chance of speaking out about it. Since I have the means, and care little about such people as would take any offense at my remarks, I feel a duty to continue to speak out.

My ancestors who were cleared out of Strathnaver were obviously resourceful and found themselves some new roof trees - I do not know just who their benefactors were - the family oral tradition does not record it. My "roof trees" were backed up on a computer in Japan. The Japanese can be kindly people indeed and I certainly know who were my benefactors in a bad situation. However, I would like to think that I too am resourceful.

Alasdair McKay

--------------------------------------------------------------------
( Since I posted this, I have discovered that I have been by no means alone in drawing such an analogy.)

The biggest laugh of all is that we now have an officially proclaimed commemoration in Nova Scotia and in many other provinces of Canada - Tartan Day by name. This has no significance whatsoever in the Scottish tradition, but it seems ideally suited, by its date, 6th April to commemorate the N.S. Clearances.

Return to Main Page