Vancouver has a large Scottish diaspora.  There is a Scottish Cultural Studies program at Simon Fraser University, also home to one of the best bagpipe bands in the world.  There is a stature of Robbie Burns in Stanley Park.  There are TWO Robbie Burns dinners in Vancouver Chinatown... the 45+ year old tradition by the Chinatown Lions Club which is a traditional Burns type supper... and of course the wild and wacky Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, created by yours truly - Toddish McWong

It is this latter dinner that is considered a "Friend of Scotland" and posted on the web page article A Thistle Wrapped in Maple Leaves.

This month we are celebrating Scotland's national bard, Rabbie Burns. All over Scotland, and the world, people are organising Burns Suppers and ceilidhs celebrating the poet with a supper of haggis, neeps and tatties.

Burns Night brings all of Scotland's cultures together to celebrate our country's national poet, beloved songwriter and cultural ambassador. The range of Burns' work is vast. Writing in the late eighteenth century, he dealt with major themes of his day such as politics and the role of the Kirk; as well as the eternal questions of love, social justice and nationhood.

The Scotland of Burns' day owed him much. Burns not only helped to restore Scots' pride and confidence in the nation. He also did his best to support the Scots language when it was under threat. Published in 1786, the 'Kilmarnock volume' – or Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect – contained some of Burns' best work and it was a timely boost for Scotland's language and culture.

Modern Scots also owe a debt to Rabbie Burns. As one of our nation's greatest figures, he embodies many of our distinctive qualities: compassion, humanity and a passion for learning – as well as a sharp wit and an urge to question conventional wisdom. When we honour Rabbie Burns, we don't simply remember a great poet and songwriter. We also pay homage to a man of enduring vision and values; a Scot who showed us our uniqueness and our huge potential.

The celebration of our national Bard doesn't end at our shores. Events will be held across the world. From St Andrews to St Petersburg, Burns is celebrated in every corner of the globe. The Bard's universality is shown by the number of events today, remembering him with a dram of whisky, Burns Supper, and recital of his inspiring poetry.

This year, Burns Night will also close Scotland's first ever Winter Festival. Looking back to the wonderful events we have held for St Andrew's Day and Hogmanay, the Winter Festival has been a huge success for our nation. I am greatly looking forward to the celebrations in years to come and to our Homecoming 2009 celebrations –www.homecomingscotland.com.

Here's to Burns, his enduring legacy, his pride in our nation and his inspiration for our Homecoming celebrations – for auld lang syne.

Yours for Scotland
Alex Salmond MP MSP, First Minister of Scotland
 

Russell Walker

International Networks - "Global Friends of Scotland"
Europe, External Affairs and Culture
 Scottish Government
   5 Cadogan St
     Glasgow
     G2 6AT
    Scotland

 +44 (0) 141 242 5791

 Read our features on modern Scotland at

www.scotland.org

www.scotland-now.com

www.friendsofscotland.gov.uk

 
Head Tax Consultation meeting in Montreal: report from Victor Wong

The Montreal consultation was restorative for many in the audience. George Lau, Binh Chow, Mr. Ng, Doug Hum, representing the Ontario Coalition, Maria Chan from CBA Toronto and others including yours truly drove up from Toronto. Jonas Ma (CCNC Ottawa) from drove in from Ottawa. Yat Lo and Christina Samfat (Amite Chinoise) spoke. Doug, Maria Chan and Jonas spoke. Everyone urged the govt to move quickly and do the right thing. Please see William’s report below.

Many families spoke from their heart...Mrs. Wong's presentation was very powerful especially when she held up her father's laundry bag. Many of local  laundries in Montreal were run by Chinese families (check out William’s film: Moving The Mountain). 

Filmmaker Karen Cho, who is also a descendant, gave a strong presentation. I was sitting beside the microphone where she spoke and her voice shook the entire room. Karen recalled the stories she heard from the many families she met while making her film “In The Shadow of Gold Mountain” and presented a DVD copy to Minister Oda. Please see the CanWest/National Post news article below; the Gazette has an edited version.

I spoke about CCNC's work, my own family's experience under the HTEA (more than 50 years to unite our family in Canada and I consider my family lucky because so many people never met their father or grandfather), and I paid tribute to the local groups including Amite Chinoise, Redress Alliance, NCCC (Quebec) and CBA-Canada affiliates. Only local NCCC reps spoke and they pitched the AiP but they didn’t oppose the families. I asked the govt to include a meaningful gesture of regret to the families. 

William, May and Walter spoke. Doug Hum got the last word in: "Leave the head tax money for the head tax payers and their families."

We still have to work hard to convince the govt to resolve this issue in a just and honourable manner, in a manner that respects our common interests of family, respect and dignity and to do this preferably by July 1st.

BBC News reports: 
A Scottish-Chinese Tartan 
- I am NOT making this up!

Grant Hayter-Menzies saw this story on BBC News Online and thought I
should see it. 

The idea of a McWong tartan, or a Clan Gung Haggis Fat Choy tartan
is not too far off.  A few years ago, Ian MacLeod, President of 
Clan MacLeod Canada, volunteered to help me register a McWong tartan.
It would have to be yellow like the McLeod tartan because in Chinese,
"Wong" means yellow (just like the Wong River or Wong Mountain).

** Message **
Very interesting!  Elizabeth Wayland Barber's book on the Xinjiang 
gravegoods tartans deals with this topic in spectacular fashion.

** Chinese-Scottish tartan launched **
A new Chinese tartan aims to boost tourism and business to Scotland.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4876622.stm >


Chinese-Scottish tartan launched
				

The new tartan incorporates colours of the Saltire and Chinese flag.

A Chinese-Scottish tartan has been created to strengthen links between the two countries.

It was inspired by Chinese Consul General Madame Guo Guifang, who said tartan was a key to the appeal Scotland holds for Chinese tourists.

The creators hope the tartan will boost tourism and business opportunities between China and Scotland.

It was specially designed by the Strathmore Woollen Company and the Scottish Tartans Authority.

The company is also hoping to link up with a business partner in China to launch a clothing label using the design.

3,000-year link

The new tartan incorporates blue and white from the Saltire and the red and yellow featured in the Chinese flag.

The tartan will be officially unveiled in Angus on Tartan Day, on 6 April.

Angus provost Bill Middleton said: "The new Chinese-Scottish tartan symbolises the co-operation and harmony that exists between Chinese people and Scottish people everywhere.

"As this tartan belongs to the Chinese as a nation, we hope to see it worn around the world."