Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, has inaugurated a statue at Helmsdale in northeast Scotland in memory of the people that were cleared from the nearby Strath of Kildonan during the 18th and 19th century. The project was supported by a Canadian mining millionaire, Dennis Macleod.It is his ambition to erect more such statues at all places where Highland exiles settled across the world. The first outside the UK was put up alongside the Red River in Winnipeg, Canada. Initially, permission had been sought to demolish a statue of the Duke of Sutherland, situated on a hill several miles south of Helmsdale. The Duke is blamed for many of the clearances. This was denied, but the more constructive option of this statue was then supported by Mr Macleod.
Mr Salmond stated that the statue, entitled Exiles, was a tribute to those that remained, as well as to those that had to depart, to share their skills with people overseas.
The district of Sutherland, which encompasses the north and northwest of Scotland, is virtually empty of people nowadays. Only a few communities remain, dotted along its long coastline. Apart from mainland Scotland, thousands were also cleared from islands off the west coast. Skye was particularly cruelly treated, and many were also packed off from the Outer Isles. Here in Stornoway, we have a statue to Sir James Matheson, the only memorial to a drugs baron, overlooking Stornoway harbour. Matheson, who gained much of his wealth through the 19th century opium trade, facilitated the passage overseas of many people who he didn't really want on his estates in Lewis.
Alex Salmond's words grated with me, when I read the BBC report which prompted this post. He is putting a nice gloss on an appalling episode in Scotland's history, and he almost appears to condone the Clearances.
The Highland clearances were terrible. Yet another example of mans inhumanity to man.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting read i hope your day is good
ReplyDeletelove and hugs
Katie
One could believe the Highland clearances where a fine example of what was done to the Native American Indians here in America. I think everyone has examples of manmade extinction. (Hugs) Indigo
ReplyDeleteWait, CLEARED? People were cleared? Like clear-cutting a forest, killed and vanquished? I didn't know of this. It's not as if Scottish history, or European or anything of centuries ago, was studied in high school when I was growing up (perhaps in optional courses but I would have chose something else). This sounds horrid.
ReplyDeleteThat type of activity has been going on since the beginning of time. A sad part of our world's history. Linda in Washington state
ReplyDeleteHow awful... just like what we colonists did to native americans... so sad.
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/