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Oral history project reveals what Contin means to villagers as probe into past forges fresh links for the future


By Louise Glen

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The What Contin Means to me bench
The What Contin Means to me bench

A PROJECT in a Ross-shire village has made new connections and found out many details of the area’s recent past.

The project, What Contin Means to Me, that started in 2019, was lead by community councillor Phil Baarda – and has developed a better understanding of the village through an oral history and photograph project about buildings and walks around the village.

The project was a community initiative that came about after a few residents approached the community council to request funding for potential projects.

One resident had an interest in oral history and another was keen to do something about some of the neglected historical sites in the area.

The community council was able to bring these people together and help them get the project off the ground.

Phil Baarda in Contin.
Phil Baarda in Contin.

Mr Baarda said: “The community fund grant has been quite remarkable!

“We’ve found that local people within the village and wider community have become enthused about the What Contin Means to Me project.

“Many people have met up with us, told their stories and memories about Contin and its people, shared photographs, and been very happy to sit and chat and reminisce.

“We’ve learned a great deal about the village and community – much of which would have been “lost” in due course over the next few years, and we’ve found it a genuinely exciting way of bringing people together, and share what Contin means to them.”

The project involved gathering oral history in the form of memories and stories from residents and using this to promote a local footpath around Contin Island, known as the Bluebell Walk.

The project also involved installing a bench and developing a leaflet to promote wildlife and heritage that can be found on the walk.

The community council received a grant of £2600 in late 2018 to deliver this project which was fully funded by the EDF Renewables Corriemoillie Contin Community Fund.

Mr Baarda said: “A considerable amount of in-kind support was also kindly provided by a number of enthusiastic local volunteers.”

Investigating the archaeology of Contin Parish Church.Sherry Morris, Phil Baarda, Rachel and Drew Hardiman outside Contin Parish Church. Picture: James Mackenzie
Investigating the archaeology of Contin Parish Church.Sherry Morris, Phil Baarda, Rachel and Drew Hardiman outside Contin Parish Church. Picture: James Mackenzie

While installing the bench was straightforward and was completed early in the project, gathering the oral history took time, and the initial idea of organising workshops was modified as folk were not keen to come together in a group setting in order for their memories to be recorded.

Mr Baarda said: “While residents were not too keen about video and audio recordings of themselves being made publicly available, though they wanted the information preserved and shared somehow.

“Using skills they already had, the volunteer group decided instead to develop a narrative, combining stories from various residents, built around particular themes such as estate work, forestry and hydro-power.”

He added: “This resulted in the creation of a series of short videos and podcasts using relevant local imagery, landscapes and old photos from the Am Baile collection, with actors providing a voiceover recounting the local stories.”

“Watch this space as other projects are now under way in the village.

“The videos are available on YouTube, and the podcasts on Podbean with both promoted on social media and linked to the community council website.

“The stories also fed into the content for a leaflet, which is available online in both English and Gaelic.”

For more visit www.contincommunitycouncil.org/what-contin-means-to-me.

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