The narratives that shape our institutions and community life are often just assumed—the way things are.
In the spring of 2020, a pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and a mass shooting in Nova Scotia disrupted dominant narratives. Through the cracks more became visible. We saw inequities, vulnerabilities, and embedded racism and violence. During those same months and continuing into the fall, the Narrative Project hosted an online space that invited alternative stories to shine through the cracks—stories that inspired, nourished, challenged and provoked. In the spring of 2021, the Nova Scotia Gaelic community then partnered with How We Thrive to host its own story-telling series, called Air Chéilidh.
Read more below and browse through the story galleries, which include recordings, summaries and quotes from each of the sessions.
This project builds on the inspiration and practices of Re-authoring, as developed by Chené Swart and introduced at How We Thrive gatherings in 2018 and 2019. Re-authoring is about “taking back the pen” and the story-telling rights to our own lives. When we witness one another’s stories and make meaning together, we begin to weave more truth, richness and complexity into the collective narratives we choose to live by. Read more here.
Returning soon
Air Chéilidh | The Gaelic Narrative Project
A partnership with the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs
For many English speakers, céilidh conjures up images of a musical gathering in a hall or pub where you pay to be entertained. But in Scottish Gaelic, a céilidh is a visit, where news is exchanged, stories and maybe some tunes or songs are shared, accompanied by tea and a bite to eat. A céilidh is a participatory affair, where you leave a bit more knowledgeable and uplifted than when you arrived. It is time well spent.
Hosts
Air Chéilidh visits
You are warmly invited to meet our guests and hear our stories. Nach tig sibh air chéilidh? Won’t you come for a visit? Ur Beath’ A-staigh. You are welcome in the house.
Click on each topic to listen to special guests and read what we said.
Thanks to our partner!
The project team was hosted by Frances MacEachen of the Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs. Air Chéilidh was supported by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Culture, Communities and Heritage and the Support4Culture program.
Spring and fall 2020
Stories we live by in Atlantic Canada/Mi’kma’ki
A partnership with WeavEast.
Fall 2020 team
Spring 2020 harvest
This video weaves clips from stories, music and quotes that showed up in our spring Narrative sessions.
Online sessions
Scroll through our gallery and click on each topic to find out what we heard, what we learned, what changed us.
Thanks to our partner
WeavEast was supported by funding from the McConnell Foundation. Both WeavEast and How We Thrive recognize the power of narrative to shift self-defeating patterns, shape culture, inspire action and transform systems. To meet some of the WeavEast change-makers, watch this video.
April 23, 2021. We shared stories, big and small, of how Gaelic culture already enriches—and might continue to enrich—our lives. Host: Mike Kennedy.