Northton Heritage Trust (NHT) recognises the Gaelic language as central to the future delivery of its services in Harris, with particular emphasis on promoting and celebrating local culture and heritage.
NHT currently offers Gaelic classes in partnership with UHI North, West and Hebrides, for which there is continued demand, with ambition to expand and enhance them.
The Trust is also planning to develop new exhibitions featuring Harris and St Kilda as part of an upcoming major redevelopment of the visitor centre, working in collaboration with academic partners. These exhibitions will initially present materials in Gaelic before translating them into English.
Conversations with other community organisations in Harris have highlighted the absence of a unified strategy to support Gaelic as a living language island wide. NHT recognises the opportunity for partnership working with community landowners and other stakeholders to explore options, conduct consultations, and develop a Gaelic language plan, helping to secure, as much as possible, the future of Gaelic in Harris.