Cslater91

There has been lots of discussion about the financial cost of building and maintaining fixed links to Unst, Yell, Whalsay and Bressay versus the running costs, maintenance and upgrading of the ferries and what this could mean for the islands economically. However, I was wondering if anyone has any views on what fixed links could mean in terms of islander identity and culture? Would they "loose" their island status and the things that make them unique or would it encourage more folk to visit the islands and learn about their interesting past?

Hi Lupine, Yes the Papa Stour sword dance is a really interesting piece of heritage, I was out in Papa Stour yesterday!

Hi Whalsa, yes I had seen the dialect map but it has been awhile so thank you for that! ETLerwick I have started making a list of things to look at/ listen to in the archives just need to find the time to get in as I am working full time too. My partners family have a lot of Shetland books and magazines that I have been looking at and I have just been speaking to folk about it in passing as well. I agree that the archivists have always been very helpful when I have been in. What is it that you are researching yourself?

Hi Whalsa, thanks for the response. I hadn't thought of the different dialects across Shetland so thanks for that! I have managed to attend some part of 7 Up Helly Aas this year and got some people lined up for interviews which will be good. Thanks Ghostrider I will have a trawl through facebook and see what I can find.

Hello, I am working on my masters project looking at intangible cultural heritage in Shetland. UNESCO define intangible cultural heritage as "the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity." Below are a list of areas that are included: oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;performing arts;social practices, rituals and festive events;knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;traditional craftsmanship So what things can you think of that would fall into the above categories? I want to try and make my project as wide ranging as possible to show what a rich and diverse place Shetland is!