AyeRight and Lankelly Chase are working together to shine light on the way Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and communities are interconnected with each other, the land and all forms of life, both human and non-human. This is because we believe that there is knowledge and wisdom in the cultures and histories and that this wisdom points to different ways we can connect with each other. This work makes visible and explicit community cultural practices and how those practices connect the communities to the land. And, through intergenerational work, build and/or enhance the capacity and social capital of a core group of young Gypsies and Travellers who in the future may multiply their learning to their peers across the UK.
With the support of community elders from across the UK, AyeRight we reached out to and connected with the artists, musicians, smiths, basket makers, storytellers, poets and writers from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and other nomadic groups and grass roots organisations such as Rajpot and Drive 2 Survive in the UK whose work is driven by their connection to the natural environment – land, forests, rivers and sea, flora and fauna.
In partnership with Article 12 in Scotland, an organisation working to build capacity and social capital of young Gypsies and Travellers living in Scotland, AyeRight worked with young Scottish Gypsies and Travellers who wished to engage with community elders to develop and/or enhance their oral tradition skills and knowledge and who, in turn, multiplied their skills and knowledge across their peer group/s. With the support of Author and Storyteller Richard O’Neill and David G Pullar, great grandson of Scottish Traveller author Betsy White, this work spotlighted the cultural practice of storytelling and how it connect the communities to the land and, through intergenerational work, built/enhanced the capacity and social capital of a core group of young Gypsies and Travellers.
Below are examples of videos produced by the project.
This land still sings: a history of renowned North East Gypsy Traveller singer Lizzie Higgins. With grateful thanks to Dr Fiona-Jane Brown for her research and production of this resource.
This Land: Scotland, an event celebrating the work of our artists, basket makers storytellers and musicians and looking at the issues the communities face, took place in October 2022.
This Land:UK Witness a triumph from a people with a past in the UK. With grateful thanks to Jake Bowers, the Gypsy Media Company for the beautiful words and the production of this resource