Plana Gàidhlig Iar-Thuath Leòdhais
North West Lewis Gaelic Plan
’S e Iar-thuath Leòdhais aon de na sgìrean mu dheireadh far a bheil Gàidhlig fhathast na cànan coimhearsnachd, ach tha sinn a-nis aig àm èiginneach. Tha an àireamh de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig nar coimhearsnachdan traidiseanta a’ crìonadh gu luath. Às aonais plana soilleir air a stiùireadh leis a’ choimhearsnachd, an lùib goireasan freagarrach agus maoineachadh, leanaidh an crìonadh seo.
Tha cànan, cultar agus dualchas aig cridhe coimhearsnachd Iar-thuath Leòdhais. Tha iad nam pàirt den dearbh-aithne againn agus bidh iad a’ cruthachadh chothroman sòisealta is eaconamach luachmhor. Tha am plana seo ag amas air na gluasadan cànain a tha sinn air fhaicinn sa choimhearsnachd againn a thionndadh air ais, àireamh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig àrdachadh, agus daoine a bhith a’ faireachdainn nas misneachaile ga cleachdadh nam beatha làitheil. 'S e an t-amas gum fàs an cànan anns a' choimhearsnachd.
Buinidh am plana seo don a h-uile duine sa choimhearsnachd, a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil ar cànan na phàirt riatanach den àm ri teachd.
Tha sinn airson gun aithnich a h-uile duine sa choimhearsnachd gu bheil Gàidhlig deatamach nar dearbh-aithne, nar dualchas, agus nar àm ri teachd. Le bhith ag obair còmhla, ’s urrainn dhuinn dèanamh cinnteach gum bi an canan na phàirt bheothail den choimhearsnachd. Tha Gàidhlig na pàirt deatamach de ar coimhearsnachd agus ar dearbh-aithne, agus às aonais sin, caillidh sinn ar cultar. Chan eil crìonadh ar cànan do-sheachanta.
North West Lewis is one of the last remaining areas where Gaelic is a living community language, but we are now at a critical point. The number of Gaelic speakers in traditional communities is declining rapidly. Without a clear community-led approach, as well as the appropriate resources and funding, this decline will continue.
Language, culture, and heritage are central to North West Lewis. They shape our identity and create valuable social and economic opportunities. This plan aims to reverse some of the language shifts we have seen in our community, increase the number of Gaelic speakers in the area, and help people feel more confident using Gaelic in all aspects of daily life. The goal is to ensure that the language is not just maintained but thrives within the community.
This plan belongs to everyone in the community, ensuring that our language is an integral part of our future.
We want everyone in the community to recognise how vital Gaelic is to our identity, heritage, and future. By working together, we can ensure that the language remains a vibrant, living part of our community. Gaelic is a critical part of our community and who we are; without it, we will lose our culture. The decline of our language is not inevitable.