The Taxonomy of North by Gemma Lord

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH ARCTIC ALBA APPENDIX

GEMMA LORD

This book first arose out of a passage in Borges, out of the laughter that shattered, as I read the passage, all the familiar landmarks of my thought - our thought, the thought that bears the stamp of our age and our geography - breaking up all the ordered surfaces and all the planes with which we are accustomed to tame the wild profusion of existing things, and continuing long afterwards to disturb and threaten with collapse our age-old distinction between the Same and the Other. This passage quotes a ‘certain Chinese encyclopaedia’ in which it is written that ‘animals are divided into: (a) belonging to the Emperor, (b) embalmed, (c) tame, (d) sucking pigs, (e) sirens, (f) fabulous, (g) stray dogs, (h) included in the present classification, (i) frenzied, (j) innumerable, (k) drawn with a very fine camelhair brush, (l) et cetera, (m) having just broken the water pitcher, (n) that from a long way off look like flies’. In the wonderment of this taxonomy, the thing we apprehend in one great leap, the thing that, by means of the fable, is demonstrated as the exotic charm of another system of thought, is the limitation of our own, the stark impossibility of thinking that. – The Order Of Things, Michel Foucault 1

1 Michel Foucault, ‘The Order Of Things’ (London: Routledge, 2002), <http://beautifuldata.metalab.harvard. edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Foucault_The-Order-of-Things.pdf> [accessed 19 April 2015], preface

ARCTIC ALBA

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

CONTENTS 02

INTRODUCTION

06 09 10 12 17 18

THE NATURAL KINGDOM ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHICAL ECOLOGICAL SCIENTIFIC CLIMATIC

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

23 24 28 30 32 35 37

CULTURAL GENETIC HISTORIC CULTURAL CONDUITS TOURISTIC EXPLORATIVE MEDIA

39 40 42

POLITICAL POLITICAL NOSTALGIA INTERNATIONAL

45 46 48 49

SOCIAL CHALLENGES EDUCATION RURAL LIVING

53 54 56 60

ECONOMICAL PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGICAL

THE MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOM

65 66 68

EMOTIONAL MYTHOLOGICAL IDEOLOGICAL

PART B 71

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HYBRID SPACE

LIST OF FIGURES

ARCTIC ALBA

INTRODUCTION

For centuries, the idea of ‘North’ has passed in and out of popular imagination in Scotland in various forms. The Taxonomy of North is an attempt to document contemporary expressions of ‘northernness’ in Scotland and analyse how the idea of North might change if Scotland looks to become more active in the Arctic region in the near future. As an appendix to ‘Arctic Alba, A Design Exploration of Northern Narratives’, the Taxonomy of North is the result of the research phase of the project. This taxonomy explores expressions of northernness that can be found in the individual consciousness, are shared collectively or reproduced nationally. There is a dilemma when it comes to dictating whether or not something is, or is not Northern and so included in the taxonomy are phenomena which people implicitly or explicitly believe, perceive or imagine to relate in some way to the North. Therefore the taxonomy encompasses a wide spectrum of Northern expression, from the socio-political to the cultural, and the mythological to the geographical. Through aggregating these expressions the taxonomy can be read as an alternative definition of ‘North’ in its own right.

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

The Taxonomy of North is a culmination of ethnographic research and observation as well as expert interviews and desk research. While the information it contains is a combination of fact and opinion, it offers detailed insights into Scotland’s fascination with the North, and attempts to capture some of the ways in which Scotland might transform into a North facing nation as the Arctic becomes an international arena of economic activity. To gain an understanding of the macro scale of Scotland’s place within the North I attended conferences and talks such as the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, the True North Conference in Helmsdale, the launch of the Kelvingrove Review Issue 14: Myth and Nation, and New Northern Frontiers in Glasgow. Speaking at the latter three of these events enabled me to receive direct feedback from my audiences and hear people’s thoughts on the subjects that appear within the taxonomy. As well as explicit facts I wanted to learn more about Scottish people’s tacit knowledge and their emotional connections with the North. Therefore I conducted a workshop in Lairg, with a small group of people from different locations across Scotland. I designed three activities in this workshop which enabled me to find out more about the participant’s concerns about Scotland and their hopes and aspirations for the future. This workshop not only enabled me to identify numerous opportunities for Scotland to make more use of latent Northern potential, but gave me rich insights into some of the emotional connections people in Scotland have with the North. Interviewing individuals with expertise in Scotland’s Arctic activities and ambitions proved insightful and really helped in shaping the taxonomy. From Arctic explorer to Viking archaeologist, the people I engaged with through interviews gave me in-depth knowledge of some of the issues at the heart of Scotland’s Northern rhetoric. These people are also some of the more strongly captivated by the allure of the North, and were instrumental in showing me the values of these relationships. The taxonomy divides and reorganises expressions of northernness in Scotland, a kind of map of connectivity with the Arctic. Synthesising the research through the means of the Taxonomy of North has acted as a way of reframing expression of northernness in Scotland, exploring the changes people are likely to experience if the Arctic becomes an area of intense economic activity. The Taxonomy can be seen as a new definition of ‘North’ and a framework for future possibilities, questioning Scotland’s role in the emerging Arctic arena.

ARCTIC ALBA

Through affinitising research into Scotland’s relationships with the North it has been possible to identify a series of genera, families, classes and kingdoms by which expressions of northernness can be divided to better understand the kinds of relationships that exist. By structuring my research in a similar way to Linnaeus’s Classification System, insights can be largely grouped into three kingdoms - the Natural Kingdom, Human Kingdom and Mythological Kingdom. Within the kingdoms are classes, types of phenomena, which I have identified as environmental, cultural, political, social, economical and emotional. These six areas frame the ways in which the research is analysed and considered in terms of the changes that may occur if the Arctic becomes an area of growing economic activity. Linnaeus’ model is used as the basis for the Taxonomy of North as it focuses on the characteristics of each Northern expression. This system is useful when identifying the type of Northern relationship something has, and recognising where it fits within the broader landscape of Scotland’s identity.

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

ARCTIC ALBA

THE NATURAL KINGDOM ENVIRONMENTAL

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

The Natural Kingdom encompasses all that is Northern in Scotland’s environment. This includes Scotland’s landscape, with the Cairngorms being home to Britain’s only sub-Arctic plateau and the North’s southernmost herd of reindeer. The Highlands and Islands also feature topographies similar to some of those in the Arctic. The climate in Scotland is in many ways Northern, with high winds, rain, snow in winter and long periods of dark in midwinter. As global warming induces change more severely in the North, it is likely to have a bigger impact on Scotland than the rest of non-Arctic Europe, especially if the Gulf Stream slips south. Scotland also experiences Northern phenomena such as the aurora borealis. Ecologically, Scotland shares many of the same flora and fauna as the Arctic region, with several marine and bird species migrating between Scotland and the Arctic. As activities in the North threaten the Arctic biosphere, Scotland’s ecologies could also be threatened. In light of the loss of biodiversity, the ‘re-wilding’ movement – where once native species are re-introduced – is gaining momentum. Scotland is already home to several species that were once extinct in the UK and is progressively becoming home to even more, such as wild cats, boars, beavers and, potentially, even wolves.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

ENVIRONMENTAL The Arctic region and Scotland’s environments are inextricably interlinked. As global warming has an adverse affect in the Arctic, the impacts could spread far and wide, not least in Scotland as the Arctic’s closest neighbour. With shared ecologies and weather systems, similar topographies and environmental challenges, change might be felt in Scotland as well as the Arctic in the coming years as the planet continues to warm. Some of these changes could be direct consequences of economic activity in the Arctic region.

As Terry Audla stated at the Arctic Circle Assembly, if we are to ‘save’ the Arctic as many a campaign poster would have us believe needs doing, we (being non Arcticindigenous individuals) need to ‘look in our own back yards’ and make changes there.2 Scotland has particularly strong capabilities to conduct scientific research, expertise that is becoming increasingly important as attempts are made to analyse change in the Arctic and model the impacts this might have in the rest of the world.

Not only are the consequences of global warming beginning to be experienced in Scotland, but the activities in Scotland that contribute to global warming, air and water pollution have an enhanced impact in the Arctic.

2 Terry Audla - National Inuit Leader and President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, ‘Indigenous Voices From The Arctic’, 2014.

ARCTIC ALBA

GEOGRAPHICAL

The northernmost tip of Scotland is Shetlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Out Stack, which lies only four hundred miles from the Arctic Circle and two hundred and eighty miles from the Faroe Islands - the nearest Arctic landmass to Scotland.

Scotland is home to the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only subArctic terrain in the Cairngorm plateau. This landscape features distinctive granite mountains, corys and lochs which can only be seen in similar regions such as Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic.

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

Bizarre geological formations such as the hexagonal stacks in Fingalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cave on the isle of Staffa offered the opportunity for the telling of myths and legends about how they were created, perhaps by early settlers or Norse travellers from the North who based these tales upon their Gods.

As the ice melts due to global warming, there may be fewer differences between Scottish and Arctic topographies. People may begin to perceive Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landscape to be more similar to that of the Arctic than it is perceived today.

ARCTIC ALBA

ECOLOGICAL

The height of the Cairngorm landmass and its distance from the coast means it sustains cold winter temperatures and therefore supports multiple species of Arctic flora and fauna that thrive in such an environment. A rare example of this is snow algae that blooms red and is considered to be a blueprint for life as it can survive at freezing temperatures. There are many shared ecologies and ecosystems between the Arctic and Scotland. Some species are native to Scotland such as the mountain hare and snow bunting, whereas other species have been reintroduced through the re-wilding movement. An example of this being the reindeer herd that lives ‘free range’ in the Cairngorms. Scotland’s skies and waters are also home to a number of species that migrate between Scotland and the Arctic, with birds such as the Arctic tern and skua and whales like the orca and Northern bottlenose. Some ‘hybrid’ species of animal in the UK have been bred to look specifically like Arctic animals, such as the Northern Inuit dog which was selectively bred in the UK to look like a wolf. This perhaps indicates a desire to create aesthetic connections with the North.

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

ARCTIC ALBA

“The problem is if you reintroduce bears, you couldn’t have tourists.” “I imagine you could if it were properly managed.” “Bears are the only wildlife we have that are not scared of humans. All other wildlife from wolves to deer are afraid of humans.” “I know they talk about the Lynx as well don’t they. There’s all sorts of animals they want to bring back.” “Lynx, wolves are perfect, I am really in favour, but not bears.” “Just not bears.”

Workshop in Lairg (2015), Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

As Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winters are affected by climate change, the Arctic species that thrive in upland areas are running out of places to live as temperatures creep up at ever higher altitudes. The scarcity between populations of certain species is leading to genetic isolation in some cases.3 If interest in the North increases to the point where outdoor pursuits such as winter hiking and skiing increase in popularity, these species face further threat from human activity. Migratory species of bird and marine creatures are becoming increasingly endangered due to climate change and pollution of their habitat. Many of these species are extending their territories and ranges further North in search of cooler climates.

If additional keystone species such as the lynx and grey wolf are re-introduced to Scotland it could have a positive effect on the ecosystem, as deer would become more widely distributed, allowing natural vegetation to flourish and become host to many other sub species. Species like the reindeer bring additional tourism to the area. If the idea of being a Northern nation becomes more popular, attractions like this are likely to experience a surge in popularity too. On the other hand the re-introduction of predators like the lynx or grey wolf could have an adverse effect on tourism as people have a fear of them.

3 Plantlife.org.uk, 'Upland: The Issues | Upland | Habitats | Wild Plants', 2015 <http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/habitats/ upland/uplandissues> [accessed 9 April 2015].

ARCTIC ALBA

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

SCIENTIFIC

The UK has a large scientific community and is capable of using this expertise to generate new and necessary knowledge about the Arctic environment. The recent report by the House of Lords, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Responding to a Changing Arcticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; highlights the need for the UK to take a more active role in researching the changes afoot in the North. Scientific research is an area of expertise that the UK could export to the Arctic states. For example in Scotland there is the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) which is able to offer specialist marine science and observation facilities. If Scotland becomes more involved in the Arctic, facilities like those SAMS has to offer will become more in demand. This is an

area of expertise that Scotland could really excel in, offering its services to research programmes internationally, and developing research facilities as a specialist industry. Shifts in the climate and uncertainty over the future is prompting additional efforts in the science industry to answer some of the unknown questions we have about the Arctic. This knowledge is likely to shape future Arctic activity and so it is vital that it portrays an accurate picture of the fragility of the region and the changes that are likely to occur if the Arctic is exploited. Science facilities in the UK are likely to spend more time and money in modelling these future scenarios and exporting the knowledge that they uncover.

ARCTIC ALBA

CLIMATIC

It doesn’t require a great leap of the imagination to see that the climate in Scotland is a milder version of the Arctic’s weather, particularly in winter. Scotland experiences long, dark nights in winter and extended daylight hours in summer. Although less severe than the far North, this has a seasonal effect on Scottish people and effects the activities that take place at particular times of year more so than in southern countries.

Scotland is positioned far enough North that people can experience phenomena such as the Aurora Borealis if the conditions are right. Many people aspire to witness events like this, and they strengthen the perception that Scotland is a country located in the North. Some people actively ‘hunt’ the aurora in Scotland, and it might be possible that online images of the phenomena can stimulate tourism in areas where it is dark enough to be seen at night.

THE NATURAL KINGDOM

Climate change is one of the main areas of concern in the Arctic, and its impacts could certainly be felt in Scotland. The warmer Arctic air is reducing the speed of the jet streams that pass high over Scotland. This might have an effect on the weather, heatwaves are likely to be more frequent and weather won’t ‘move’ so quickly, meaning climatic conditions are likely to stay for more days at a time and pollution could linger for longer. As ice melts the oceans too might change, causing Scotland’s waters to rise as well as changing their chemical properties. Warming oceans could lead to a bloom in the microflora that live in the surface layers of water. This would have a trophic cascade effect and the oceans would be able to produce more. This might instigate a shift in our diets if we begin to look to the ocean for increased food production.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM CULTURAL POLITICAL SOCIAL ECONOMICAL

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

The Human Kingdom contains all that is constructed by humans, whether that be political agendas such as the movement for independence, distributed, localised powers across Scotland or new bodies such as the Scottish Rural Parliament and the Common Weal. Culture also falls under the Human Kingdom. This incorporates the likes of Scotland’s rich music scene, ceilidh dancing, hunting traditions and explorative attitudes. Scottish culture has a tendency to be nostalgic about its northernness, with writers like Walter Scott romanticising the ideas which carry forth to this day. This can also be seen through cultural conduits such as TV shows like Game of Thrones and Fortitude, which bring northernness directly into the popular imagination, and traditions such as the Up Helly Aa festivals in Shetland, which celebrate the community’s Northern heritage. Ancestral tourism is on the rise in Scotland, with many people speculating that they may be descended from Norse lines. Moving forward, Scotland will witness the rise of a new generation of people who are genetically tied to Scandinavia as a result of being conceived from the use of Danish sperm banks, a growing industry.

The Human Kingdom also includes Northern economic activity, which in Scotland centres around the energy, fishing and maritime industries. Scotland’s economy depends heavily on these activities — for example Scotland lands 400% more fish per square nautical mile of its waters than the EU average. With these industries expanding to the North and opportunities arising from new needs in the Arctic region, such as search and rescue and a stronger military presence, Scotland’s economic activity is highly likely to become Arctic-centric in the near future. Social expressions of northernness include certain traits found in rural and remote Scotland. Particularly in the North of Scotland, some communities experience parity with both the challenges and strengths faced by Arctic and Inuit populations. For example education in remote areas is still a large problem, with some children having to leave home at a very young age. On the positive side these communities benefit from inter-personal trust, cottage industries, community spirit, support networks and a sense of belonging. Social movements such as the ‘A Thousand Huts’ project are gaining momentum, spreading Nordic tradition. Possible land reform might also transform the way people interact with nature, the land and communities around them.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

CULTURAL Scottish culture is derived from a wide range of influences and other cultures, however there are clear examples of Northern influences, where culture has been shared, borrowed, exaggerated or fictionalised from the North, the Nordic countries in particular. In some instances it is clear that certain traditions and cultures were fabricated at a point in time to support a particular version of events. By forming a culture or tradition, an idea moves from the individual mind to the collective, shared world view. It transforms from fiction to reality, at least in the popular imagination. An example of this is the Up Helly Aa festival in Shetland, a tradition that only began in the 19th Century but which popularises a sometimes romanticised image of the Vikings who used to inhabit the Islands.

Culture is an important component in forming an idea of individual or collective identity. In this case cultural conduits such as the media, music, literature, television shows and artefacts have all at times contributed to the reproduction and distribution of the ideas of North in Scotland. If the UK becomes more active in the Arctic, it might be possible to use culture as a way to manifest the symbols and ideologies of North and bring them into the popular imagination.

ARCTIC ALBA

GENETIC

“[Genetics are] the great controversial topic right now in archaeology in that there’s a lot of people saying, ‘genetics say that this percentage of people in Scotland are this, and this percentage of people are that – Pictish or Scandinavian, or Celtic or whatever.’ And it really is contentious. A lot of other people in Archaeology are saying ‘hang on a minute. You’re not accounting for a whole lot of other factors.’ But it’s funny to see the impact that’s had on the popular imagination. It is making it into a lot of TV shows like ‘Niall Oliver’s history of Scotland’ type stuff. If you spend any time in the Highlands you meet a lot of people who are from there and they’re always really, really proud of their Scandinavian heritage, that you don’t really seem to get elsewhere.”

Craig Stanford (2015) Interview on Vikings in Scotland, genealogy and Northern ideologies, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Glasgow, 11 March 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

Some people and species in Scotland are believed to be genetically linked to the North. With advances in genetic science, ontological uncertainty is becoming a thing of the past as people (and species) can be tested to see if they carry one of the known Viking marker genes. This information could be seen as a form of genetic archive, each individual organism offering its own genetic version of how it came to be. It is thought in Scotland that the genes of many of those who live in the North can be linked to Norse genes, particularly inhabitants of Orkney and Shetland, as the islands were ruled by the Norse until much later on in history than the rest of Scotland. Similarly there are inhabitants of countries like Norway and Iceland who have Scottish genes, showing the way in which Scottish citizens were taken aboard Viking ships and sold as slaves or married to Scandinavian people abroad.

As changes to the climate and human activity bring numerous species under threat, and force others to move from their usual habitats, we face losing even more Scottish biodiversity than has already been lost through human exploitation. The loss of a species is also the loss of a genetic archive, the end point of a long line of evolution and genetic history. While genetic histories are being lost, we are also making new ones, through activities such as hybridisation and selective breeding to recreate lost species or create breeds like the wolf dog that have an aesthetic as well as a genetic link to the North.

ARCTIC ALBA

On a human level there is an emerging generation of half Danish, half British children, as a result of being conceived using Danish sperm donors. This is partly due to the regulations surrounding sperm donation, with Denmark now counting the industry as one of its main exports. It could also be partly due to the somewhat misguided perception that Danish genes hold desirable traits, and that they are more similar to those of native Brits than other nationalities, therefore the offspring of such sperm might be more recognisable to British recipient parents.4

4 Anonymous, Danish sperm recipient (2015), Interview on personal reasons for using a Danish Sperm Bank, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (via email), 18 March 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

“Do you consider yourself to be Northern? If so, in what ways?” “I certainly do but my husband is very much Southern! Being originally from the North of Scotland I feel a certain affinity with the Scandinavian countries. I lived in a Nordic country for a while. I suppose one of the things that makes me feel comfortable using a Scandinavian bank is that it feels quite ‘known’. The genes of the donor aren’t a factor and we didn’t have a choice, but I do wonder if I would feel equally as comfortable if it was a less familiar country - say the south of Europe or another continent. Maybe there is something there. An ability to imagine the place and the people and recognise them as the same. Possibly a similar reason that I was quite happy to find out that our donor was American. It is also familiar to us. There is a big anxiety about the how your child might be ‘different’ to you and your husband when you are going through this. We obviously tried very hard to find a donor physically similar to my husband. We had lots of conversations about why this mattered because we

felt that it shouldn’t but at the end of the day it just feels easier. I like to think it will help us recognise our baby. Maybe that’s how white British families feel about Danish donors. Maybe it would be different if the biggest sperm bank was in Italy or something. Would couples feel as comfortable with an olive skinned dark haired baby that would prompt all of the dreaded ‘so he must take after your husband then’ or ‘where did this one come from - the milkman?’ I reckon a British bank would probably be the preference though. I wanted the donor to be as like my husband as possible!”

Anonymous, Danish sperm recipient (2015) Interview on personal reasons for using a Danish Sperm Bank, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (via email), 18 March 2015

ARCTIC ALBA

HISTORIC

The ancient Kingdom of Alba was possibly the first time that the entity of the Scottish nation existed in a similar form as it does today. It is thought that Alba was formed when the Gaelic Kingdom of Dál Riata joined forces with the Pictish Kingdom, or Pictland, to unite against the threat of the Vikings who were attacking from the North. This is perhaps where Scotland’s fascination with the North originated, and its traces can still be seen in current day Scotland. The further towards (grid) North one travels in Scotland, the more Scandinavian it gets, at least according to some of the people interviewed in the research phase of this project. In Orkney and Shetland in particular, place names, ruined settlements and archaeological finds still point towards their Viking heritage. Interestingly however some of these connections might be seen as ‘pseudo’ expressions of Nordic culture. The Victorians

in particular were keen to romanticise the North and had a tendency to invent Northern connections where there were none. One example of this is Jarlshof, a ruin in Shetland named (with the most Viking sounding of names) by Walter Scott, in reference to a fictional manor house. Coincidentally it later transpired that the site was home to an ancient Viking settlement which had been exposed during a storm.5 Capitalising on the idea of Viking heritage continues to this day in the North of Scotland with the likes of the Up Helly Aa festival, which annually celebrates the end of the Yule season. However this festival, and others like it, are a relatively new phenomenon, beginning in the late 19th Century.6 The way in which the Vikings are symbolically represented is in fact also largely a fiction, the horned helmet for example coming from Wagner's costume designer, Professor Carl Emil Doepler around the same period as the origination of the Up Helly Aa festival.7

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

It might be that more and more aesthetic references to Scotland’s Northern heritage appear in everyday commodities as Scotland looks to align itself with the North.

How history is communicated and reproduced through culture in the present day may change if Scotland looks to redefine itself as a Northern country. It is mainly through history that we have a perception of who we are today and how we arrived at this point. Igniting ideas of a Norse heritage, even if much of the evidence has become exaggerated and re-imagined through time, could enable people to justify the reframing of Scotland’s identity towards the North. An example of this that can already be seen today is the Hilton of Cadboll stone, a Pictish engraving, the pattern of which features on the label of Glenmorangie whisky.

5 Shetland-heritage.co.uk, 'Jarlshof | Shetland Heritage', 2015 <http://www. shetland-heritage.co.uk/jarlshof> [accessed 12 April 2015]. 6 Anna Hart, ‘Up Helly Aa: Inside Shetland’s Spectacular Festival Of Fire’, Telegraph.co.uk, 2012 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/festivalsandevents/11430445/Up-Helly-Aa-inside-Shetlands-spectacular-festival-of-fire.html> [accessed 12 April 2015]. 7 Roberta Frank, ‘The Invention Of The Viking Horned Helmet’, Scribd.com, 2015 <http://www.scribd.com/doc/51267328/Frank-Invention-of-Horned-Helmet> [accessed 12 April 2015].

ARCTIC ALBA

CULTURAL CONDUITS

Well known writers such as Walter Scott, Edwin Landseer, and Robert Louis Stevenson had a hand in shaping the cultural identity of Scotland, and the romanticised clichés we recognise today. It could be argued that this view of Scotland has become abstracted, and is distant from contemporary Scottish culture. Conduits of Scottish culture include storytelling, which in often takes the form of music and dancing. The ‘Seanachaidh’ is a teller or stories and folk tales, ‘a genealogist, a historian, a documenter of events and agreements, a walking library.’8 A parallel can perhaps be drawn between the ‘Seanachaidh’ and the elders, who govern over smaller communities in the Arctic. If the symbols associated with nationality are no longer relevant for citizens, then a space lies open for the assertion of a new identity and dominant culture. In an Arcticfacing-Scotland the conduits that reproduce and record Northern culture could well be different from the idea of the ‘Seanachaidh’ or the romantic writer. Modern day cultural conduits include online and televised material, such as the shows Game of Thrones and Fortitude. These programmes dramatise the idea of North and bring it into popular culture on a mass scale.

8 Ansgeulaiche.co.uk, 'What Are Traditional Scottish / Irish Storytelling And The Cèilidh?', 2015 <http://www.ansgeulaiche.co.uk/ ceilidh.html> [accessed 12 April 2015].

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

G - The current clichés may no longer be relevant for contemporary Scotland. If we need a new set of things to identify with, why can’t those be set in a Northern context? J - “I think a lot of Scots have recognised that and have moved on. I think that bringing it into the literary sphere, [...] certainly Walter Scott [and others like him] formed the whole kind of keel yard tradition. Obviously there was a backlash against that, this kind of image of portraying Scotland as some kind of romantic wilderness that [is seen by everybody for a generation] as some heathen landscape. So you had the backlash and you had Scott but then you had people like Finn McCullough who really threw off a more realist outlook of Scottishness. So I think that a lot of people for a while have backlashed against that cosy idea of Scottishness and are really ready to embrace something different. Orcadians and Shetlanders in particular, they’ve been in this agenda for centuries.” - Excerpt from interview with John MacDonald, Director, Scottish Global Forum, 24/03/15

If a Northern cultural identity is to be negotiated in Scotland, it must hold relevance for citizens, and utilise engaging and contemporary touchpoints to succeed.

ARCTIC ALBA

TOURISTIC

Tourism is one of Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary economic activities but it is highly seasonal, particularly in rural areas. Some communities in The Highlands for instance feel that tourism is under-exploited in Scotland, and there is great potential to improve this sector. There is concern from some residents that new-comers move to areas popular with tourists in an attempt to make easy money, however they are not necessarily respectful of the traditional, hospitable ways of Northern communities. In some instances there is a lack of communication and cohesion between businesses in the hospitality sector, and there is possibly latent potential to be tapped into in this area. One example is that of visiting cyclists, who flock to Scotland for the scenic yet challenging routes such as the Highland 550. There are several villages in great need of touristsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; business along these well known cycling routes, yet they offer nothing in the way of cycling cafĂŠs, water refilling stations or rest stops. Instead of investing in cycling initiatives, which would benefit economically challenged communities over a wide geographical area, money is pumped instead

into the skiing industry in the Cairngorms, for example. Skiing in the Cairngorms is a lost cause according to some, as if there is enough snow to ski, then the roads to access the mountains are closed off. In addition the industry usually operates at a loss, and the economic benefits are not widely spread.9 Scotland has the opportunity to make much more of its tourism sector, in connecting latent assets and businesses, ensuring standards of hospitality are met, and utilising tourism to aid remote and economically challenged areas that struggle in the lowseason. If Scotland were to become a Northfacing-nation, there are many ways in which tourism could be utilised to redistribute opportunity across the country. The re-wilding movement for example has brought reindeer to the Cairngorms; further re-wilding initiatives could see a plethora of Arctic wildlife experiences across Scotland. Activities associated with the North are also possible in Scotland, such as the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, that sees hundreds of teams race through the Cairngorms demonstrates.

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

Ancestral tourism is one area that is likely to see an increase in numbers as genetic science and public records become more easily accessible. As people search for their roots, Scotland could cater specifically to this group of tourists by offering bespoke ancestral services. Scotland could also make more of its Northern biosphere and encourage pastimes like foraging for mushrooms – mycotourism – a popular activity in Scandinavia, but underexploited in Scotland even though the Scottish countryside offers an abundance of fungi and other esculents.

9 Workshop in Lairg (2015), Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

Scotland is in the strong position of having a rich portfolio of offerings for potential tourists wishing to connect with the North, yet is more accessible than many Arctic states. Exploiting the increase in tourism to the North that will come with the Arctic ‘cold rush’, could redistribute opportunity across Scotland.

ARCTIC ALBA

“I don’t think Scotland does enough for their tourists.” “No, especially the East, the North East.” “It’s hit and miss isn’t it, it’s not joined up.” “I feel people just give the tourists lip service, they want the tourists but they don’t really do enough for them.” “But we have so much to offer.”

Workshop in Lairg (2015) Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

EXPLORATIVE

The United Kingdom has a long legacy of exploration and colonisation of lands near and far. Scotland has played its part in terms of exploration with the likes of William Speirs Bruce, who led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition in 1904 and multiple Arctic expeditions. This spirit continues today, an example being Scotland’s explorer in residence, Craig Mathieson who is using Arctic exploration as a means of inspiring and educating Scotland’s youth through the Polar Academy. In an interview with Craig, he explained that polar explorers were his main role models in his childhood, and that in Inuit communities this position is fulfilled by a child’s parents - every boy wants to be like his father and every girl like her mother. But in Scotland this is almost unheard of, where celebrity culture is the dominant mode and materialistic aspirations dominate.10

10 Craig Mathieson (2015), Interview on the Arctic Academy and personal experiences of the Arctic, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Bo’ Ness, 8 February 2015

In a Scotland, where the North is the land of opportunity, will new, Northern role models emerge, entering the popular imagination and inspiring future generations?

ARCTIC ALBA

In an age where technology is at the tip of our fingers and barely any land on Earth remains ‘undiscovered’, the role of the explorer is changing. Taking on a pedagogical role, as Craig Mathieson does, could be the way forward in steering future generations to make wiser choices about our planet. This is pertinent in a time when material culture overwhelms us from infancy. In a world where people are constantly connected, we risk becoming disconnected from the natural world that supports us. Exploration might take on a new role in helping people to rediscover wilderness, in an age where it is forgotten, or simply viewed from Google Earth instead.

G - ‘Sustainable’ development might actually mean not going to the Arctic at all. How does a place change when it moves from being ‘undiscovered’ to discovered? C - “The places I go, for true exploration, places no one has been to before, that’s where I truly love going. Because usually it’s that hard to get to you know no one’s going to try it again after you have been there. And that’s great but again there’s lots of places I’ve been to that I never ever talk about just to keep them special in my head. The only place you’ll discover them is in my diaries. It’s too much of a privilege really, when you go up there, to abuse anything at all.” Craig Mathieson (2015), Interview on the Arctic Academy and personal experiences of the Arctic, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Bo’ Ness, 8 February 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

MEDIA

Printed, televised and social media are incredibly important means of shaping popular opinion and proliferating ideas. Media also plays a vital role in reproducing ideas around national identity, often in ways that affect us subconsciously but has the effect of creating communities.11 Following the Scottish referendum, media is facilitating the discourse around Scotland’s future. A new daily paper, The National, has emerged to extend the rhetoric around the ‘yes’ movement. In addition to printed media, several high profile Scots from the ‘culture’ sector, such as the comedian Limmy and author Irvine Welsh actively contribute to cultural and political independence discourse through social media.

If Scotland is to continue along its current trajectory and become more politically, economically and culturally independent, media could play a vital role in the transition to new, Northern, cultural references and attitudes. Whether existing media will adapt to encourage this Northern directive, or new forms of media emerge to meet the growing market, remains to be seen.

11 Michael Billig, Banal Nationalism (London: Sage, 1995), pp. 109 - 127

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

POLITICAL In the post industrial age Scotland has persistently tried to differentiate itself politically from the rest of the UK. Notably a referendum was held in 1979, a devolved Scottish government was achieved in 1997 and a second referendum on Scottish independence was held in 2014. Today the Scottish National Party is gaining rapidly in popularity, receiving an unprecedented amount of support in the 2015 General Election. Over the next few months and years Scotland may well spread its wings even further, gaining more control of Scottish national affairs and flourishing on an international political stage.

In a time of globalisation, when the whole world is being commoditised, we are witnessing a change in the status quo and the emergence of a paradox where the desire for regionalisation is growing, amidst the seemingly unstoppable force of globalisation. It could be that in an age of abundance, nations are looking for alternative ways to differentiate themselves.

ARCTIC ALBA

POLITICAL NOSTALGIA

Much of the dialogue around the Scottish Independence movement is derived from the political models that emerged during the ‘golden age of social democracy’ in Scandinavia in the 1970s. While in many respects the Nordic model is superior to the system in place in Scotland today, such as better levels of equality, welfare and consideration for future generations, they are often viewed in a nostalgic way, in a more positive light than is perhaps the reality. The emergence of groups like the Common Weal and Nordic Horizons in Scotland act to proliferate political and social models similar to Nordic Models. While relatively successful, these groups are bound up in the ‘Yes’ movement, meaning they could easily be dismissed as propaganda by a portion of the population. Scotland is unlikely to ever attain the status of being a Nordic Country as despite similarities such as population size, economic activity

“This idea of the Nordic model has got massive appeal. I really think it has underpinned and saturated a lot of the ideas which are flowing around the Scottish Political dialogue just now. [...] There’s a really strong archetype for talking about Northern politics, for talking about the Northern social fabric and just how stuff is done.” John MacDonald (2015), Interview on Scotland’s political relationships with the Arctic, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Glasgow, 24 March 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

Geographically speaking, Scotland is strategically positioned within the West Nordic Council region. If Scotland were to receive further devolved powers or even independence in the future then it could potentially look to the West Nordic Council for greater involvement in Nordic and Arctic affairs. and geography, there remain fundamental differences such as the attitude towards land ownership and privatisation of public services.12 However there is no reason why Scotland canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look towards the Nordic countries as examples. If Scotland chooses to take further advantage of its proximity to the Arctic, then it may need to employ political or economical models like those of the Nordic countries in order to maximise the opportunities it has access to, such as more distributed decision making powers or a fund that is set aside from profits made in the North to benefit future generations, as Norway has done with its oil money.

12 Richard Milne, 'Scottish Nationalists Look To Nordic Model For Independence - FT.Com', Financial Times, 2014 <http://www. ft.com/cms/s/0/57664dc2-8bf8-11e3-bcf2-00144feab7de.html#axzz3X7E1gqLJ> [accessed 12 April 2015].

ARCTIC ALBA

INTERNATIONAL

The independence referendum has offered Scotland a fantastic ‘springboard’ from which to re-imagine Scotland, Scottishness and northernness.13 Groups like the Scottish Global Forum are looking at Scottish foreign policy, exploring how Scotland relates to its neighbouring countries and what messages about Scotland are being exported to the rest of the world. The Scottish Global Forum’s activity involves examining how changes in the Arctic might affect Scotland and how this might be responded to by the Scottish Government. The UK has long been an observer at the Arctic Council, but in the last few years has been taking an increased interest in Arctic affairs and the opportunities the opening of the Arctic might pose. Recently the House of Lords Select Committee on the Arctic published a report stating the ways in which the UK might take more responsibility for the development and stewardship of the Arctic region, also highlighting that there are benefits to be gained in doing so.

13 Interview with John MacDonald, Scottish Global Forum 24/03/15 14 Scotsman.com, ‘Pat Kane: We Have The (Soft) Power’, 2012 <http://www.scotsman.com/news/pat-kane-we-have-the-softpower-1-2136445> [accessed 13 April 2015].

Scotland rates well in terms of ‘soft power,’ meaning, by Joseph Nye’s definition, “the ability to influence others through culture, values and ideology rather than threat, violence or other forms of coercion”.14 With this in mind, Scotland should have the ability to assert itself in the North, participating in foreign affairs and using its influence to help determine the future of the Arctic region.

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

Internationally speaking, Scotland needs to consider what it can export in terms of Arctic expertise, and the role it may take in Arctic stewardship. Fora dealing with issues to do with the opening of the Arctic are increasingly being held by think tanks and advisory bodies. These are a strong indicator of the ways in which involvement in the North may proceed in the coming years. The fact that the House of Lords have recommended the appointment of an Arctic Ambassador would suggest that the UK is attempting to increase its involvement in Arctic affairs. In addition the latest report has conceded that there may be additional interests in the Arctic from the Scottish perspective, as a devolved government and a nation that is located further towards geographical North than the rest of the UK.15

15 House of Lords, Responding To A Changing Arctic, 1st edn (London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2015) <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldselect/ldArctic/118/118.pdf> [accessed 9 March 2015], p113

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

SOCIAL Scottish communities have much in common with Arctic communities. As a country with a relatively small population and large distances between communities in rural areas, people may experience some of the same advantages and disadvantages as experienced by Inuit communities. Equal access to education, jobs, medical facilities, broadband and social support systems are just some examples of challenges shared by remote areas of Scotland and Arctic communities. As political movements see people living in rural Scotland attempt to gain more control and govern their own communities, it is worth asking whether lessons can be learned from similar communities in the Arctic. The Scottish Rural Parliament was recently founded to give rural communities a platform from which they can discuss issues that are important to them, and air opinions that are perhaps lost in decision making centres like Inverness, Edinburgh or London. Platforms like this are increasingly important and are beginning to play a key role in the development of Scotland and the redistribution of opportunities to underprivileged, remote and rural communities.

ARCTIC ALBA

CHALLENGES

People living on the periphery of Scotland can feel very distant from decision making centres and the people who make those decisions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only politics but also amenities that can seem incredibly far away from those living in remote areas. One example in Scotland is that of care networks and medical facilities. While people living in communities in the Northern and remote parts of Scotland are renowned for being supportive and trusting of each other, they lack essential care systems such as care homes and hospitals. Both of the hospitals in the North West of Scotland are under threat from closure, and residents could find themselves hours from help if in need. One participant in the workshop I conducted in the research phase of this project explained to me that she has lived in Lairg for her entire life, yet will have to move to another town or city once she grows too

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

old to care for herself. She will have to spend the later years of her life living in a strange place away from the community she has known for all her days. On the other hand remote communities benefit from healthy relationships with their neighbours, and strong bonds of trust between residents. This could in part be down to the way in which many of these communities have traditionally followed a Christian moral code. Small communities are also often highly resilient, and try to adapt to change rather than being overcome by it. Emerging platforms like the Scottish Rural Parliament are working towards providing a voice for these communities, and in collaboration with the Scottish government they can look to create more distributed networks of services and amenities. If Scotland becomes more active in the Arctic, there may be the

chance to redistribute access to opportunities like industry and amongst peripheral communities in Scotland, which in recent years have known rural deprivilegisation and a drain of talent and resources to more central areas. If this is to be changed then new opportunities arising from possible relationships with the Arctic, like new, green industries and increased tourism, could be utilised to create a fairer, more equal society and even help to reverse rural depopulation. Social challenges such as depression, alcohol abuse and higher than average suicide rates are problems that Scotland and the Northern nations have in common. The reasons behind this are complex, and could be something that an Arctic initiative in Scotland could look to solve through collaboration and the sharing of knowledge with Arctic states.

ARCTIC ALBA

EDUCATION

When it comes to education, children living in remote areas of Scotland can suffer from the challenge of distance if they have to leave home at the age of twelve to attend a secondary school. Similar problems are reported in Eastern Greenland where people struggle to adapt to student life in Denmark where they are offered free education, and so their levels of aspiration and uptake of more senior job positions at home in Greenland, such as being teachers or pilots, remains low.16 People are generally proud of Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s record for producing pioneering people such as Bell and Fleming, amongst others. Past achievements and inventions in fields like science, literature and engineering show that Scottish people have a reputation to be innovative and talented.

16 Craig Mathieson (2015), Interview on the Arctic Academy and personal experiences of the Arctic, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Boâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ness, 8 February 2015

It will be key to educate future generations who will be involved in Arctic affairs in the true nature of the complexity and fragility of the Arctic region if they are to play a successful role in the sustainable development in the region from a Scottish perspective.

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

RURAL LIVING

Swathes of Scottish countryside is owned by private estates who use it for country sports and agriculture. These traditional forms of land ownership are coming into question in Scotland with debates opening up around land reform. As in Inuit communities, hunting is a traditional way of life in Scotland, but has become something of an activity for the wealthy aristocracy rather than people who would use it for sustenance. These landscapes and the people who manage them are imbued with tacit knowledge that has been passed down between generations, as oral memory or learned knowledge. This is often reflected through language and culture, and is distinct to particular regions. One example of this is on the Isle of Lewis, where Gaelic

names for places often reflect the histories and events that have happened there over time . If Scottish land and the activities possible on it were made more accessible to the public, or the purpose of the land were changed altogether, the landscape would look quite different from how it does today. What is perceived to be ‘wilderness’ in many instances is actually over-grazed or heavily managed land for agriculture and game sports. The debate over Scottish land ownership could change people’s connection with the land, food and nature, things that many people are being increasingly distanced from due to today’s commoditised lifestyle.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

Land reform might enable people to learn to live from the land, as Inuit communities do, rather than to ‘profit’ from the land as large corporations desire. However it is essential that the sensitivity of the land is respected, and the old ways of managing populations of flora and fauna retains its integrity. Tacit knowledge should be treated as expertise that will surely be needed in any future development, or preservation of the Scottish landscape. Efforts are being made to prevent further decline of the Gaelic language, and ensure its continued use. In a way these communities are Scotland’s own Inuit, knowledgeable, resilient and independent. Celebrating this could help reverse the pattern of people leaving for jobs in the economic centres of Scotland if opportunities, homes and jobs were provided in more peripheral areas.

The hutting movement is experiencing somewhat of a revival at the moment, with movements such as the ‘A Thousand Huts,’ Reforesting Scotland’s campaign widening the community of hutters throughout Scotland, and in doing so bringing about an alternative way of living. This could be compared to the way in which Scandinavian families often have a hut that they go to in the summer months for recreational activities and a break from urban life. The growth of ‘hutters’ is another sign that the Scandinavian lifestyle is growing in popularity in Scotland. There is the potential for this to become a widespread trend in the future if Arctic culture and social patterns makes it into the mainstream, public domain in Scotland, becoming not just a hobby for enthusiasts but a way of life for the majority.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

ECONOMICAL Scotland relies on economic activities that are in some ways similar to those of Arctic nations. With a strong emphasis on energy, maritime and fishing industries, Scotland is likely to witness huge change in these activities if the Arctic becomes an area of intense economic activity. If the Arctic does become an area of greater economic importance then its territory may become increasingly contested, in which case Scotland may play a key role in the development of technology for reconnaissance, surveillance and defence.

Some more rural Scottish communities rely on small scale production and cottage industries, with craft and production based micro-economies supporting businesses and livelihoods. If Scotland looks to the North it could have the opportunity to create new industries, redistributing economic activity and wealth across the North of Scotland. However the motives for doing so would need to be questioned and the wider implications for both Scotland and the Arctic considered.

ARCTIC ALBA

PRODUCTIVE

It is well known that Scotland has access to large reserves of oil extending into the North sea, something that it holds in common with Norway. However Scotland is making rapid advances in generating renewable energy, with a focus on distributed community energy and electrification. There are plans afoot to construct large energy interconnectors with Norway and Iceland, meaning that Scotland could form a link in an electric energy grid spanning the Northern hemisphere. This could possibly change the ways in which Scottish commercial and private sectors consume energy, as well as altering the traditional power relationships with those nations that currently supply energy to Scotland. Expertise in the oil industry, as well as engineering in remote and extreme environments is something that could be exported to the Arctic region and remote communities as they look to develop

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

infrastructure to meet increased economic activity. Questions must be asked around how this can be done in a sensitive and sustainable way, if it is to be done at all. Industries emerging in the ‘green sector’ are stimulating the growth of a green economy, and are beginning to create new jobs in remote areas such as the Highlands and Islands, where conditions for renewable energy production are ideal. The negative side of this is that people ‘prospecting’ for new energy sources risk negatively changing entire communities and landscapes in sensitive areas, a problem also being experienced by communities in Greenland who face massive changes if their land is exploited for resources. Consideration must be made into how resource extraction and increased productivity is used to benefit the people and ecosystems affected.

“They’re building too many wind turbines concentrated in one place, [...] you can’t see for wind turbines. We’re putting off tourists. Who wants to look at that?” Workshop in Lairg (2015) Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

ARCTIC ALBA

INDUSTRIAL

The UK was once a part of important international trade routes such as the Hanseatic League which spanned the North of Europe. Scotland was also heavily involved in the Hudson Bay Company, which used Orkney as a place to source essential workers and supplies. As the Arctic ice melts, the North may once again become the focal point of international trade and one of the main routes for the distribution of goods from the East to the West. Because of Scotland’s geographical position it has the opportunity to become a hub for international ships passing via the Northern Sea Routes. This would potentially create many jobs in the North of Scotland, and possibly even rekindle

Scotland’s ship building legacy. If there were a large container terminal in Orkney for example, as proposed by the Architecture studio Lateral North, then a whole network of supporting industries would arise and new infrastructures would be built, bringing an economic boom to the North of Scotland.17 In their scenario Scotland could act as the ‘hub’, where expensive ice-class ships would drop off their cargo at a point in the North (in this case Orkney) and it would then be distributed to the rest of Europe using less fuelintensive ships. 17 Tom Smith and Graham Hogg, ‘Regional / Infrastructure / Possible Orkney’, Lateralnorth.com, 2013 <http://lateralnorth.com/gallery/possible-orkney/> [accessed 9 May 2015].

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

Scotland has a huge stake in the maritime and fishing industries, landing 80% of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fish and 400% more than the EU average per square nautical mile of water. These are industries that Scotland will likely aim to sustain as best possible, as they are key areas of expertise and export. As fish species move further North in search of colder waters, so might the Scottish fishing industry. How this develops could significantly affect the Scottish economy and all of the links in the chain of the fishing industry, including our diet.

Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maritime sector could also look to develop in the North. It is likely that shipping in the Arctic region will soon become a major activity, and there is currently very little supporting infrastructure like search and rescue should something go awry or if an accident such as an oil spill should occur. Scotland has expertise in these areas and is geographically positioned to be able to offer assistance, so could develop its search and rescue capabilities.

ARCTIC ALBA

“It’s nearly all cottage industries in the North of Scotland.” “There are few industries.” “Fishing, and yes, cottage industries.” “The oil industry is a danger to the environment.” Workshop in Lairg (2015) Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

“All I know how to do is make things with my hands, there are real skills that have just gone, that’s what I’d like to see back.” Workshop in Lairg (2015) Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

Wealth is not definitively about money, and many would perceive Scotland to be a very wealthy nation in terms of the skills and craft knowledge of some of its people. There are many examples of cottage industries and small scale makers across Scotland, especially in the textiles and food industries, but it is felt by some that these industries are not celebrated or capitalised upon to their full potential. There is also a concern that some of these skills are dying, being lost between generations. Initiatives such as Make Works aim to connect Scottish industries and craftsmen with people in need of their skills. If cottage industries in Scotland were better connected and their skills utilised more widely, the benefit could be widespread and prosperity returned to under-privileged rural communities and small businesses.

ARCTIC ALBA

TECHNOLOGICAL

With the digital revolution has come the rise in the need for places to house servers and store data. Digital giants like Facebook have begun to utilise the cold, Northern climate to reduce the cost of operating so called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;server farmsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as the cost of cooling the facilities is dramatically reduced. This trend could expand rapidly as technological companies look to save money and reduce their carbon footprints, so are therefore searching for locations in the North where server farms might be built. It is possible that businesses will emerge that offer services around the planning, construction and operation of such facilities. This could give Scotland the opportunity to tap into this growing industry and offer similar facilities; while not as cold as the Arctic, Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessibility and strong service sector could appeal to those looking to open new server farms in the North.

THE HUMAN KINGDOM

As the Arctic becomes a zone of increasing industrial, military and commercial activity, it is likely that technology will be required to support and aid in reconnaissance and surveillance of the region. Drones in particular are anticipated to be a technology that can perform tasks which are either difficult, or highly expensive to do manually. As the technology is currently in its nascent stages, there is a clamour from technologically driven countries like China and the US to build up expertise so that they might have an advantage in an Arctic future. This is an area that Scotland could look to develop if it wants to be a player in the Arctic region; drone technology could help with search and rescue and surveillance efforts off the North coast for example.

The UK has a legacy of military strength and is a member of NATO, however in recent years austerity measures have seen military spending cut, leading to the closure of some facilities like RAF Leuchars in the North of Scotland. Controversy around nuclear defence is taking the majority of the current military spending limelight, however if the UK is to play a role in defence, search and rescue in the Arctic region then this will have to be negotiated. Scotland is the logical point from which such activities would launch from the UK, due to its expertise in warfare and proximity to the Arctic region.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOM EMOTIONAL

THE MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOM

Harder to define, the Mythological Kingdom encompasses both deeper, more emotional relationships with the North and pseudo, skeuomorphic Northern interpretations. Many people will say they are Northern without really knowing why. This is perhaps the result of inherent belief systems which perpetuate the idea that they ‘belong’ to the North. These ideas are sometimes reproduced through folkloric culture, such as the telling of myths and legends, tales of the Kraken and kelpies. Paganism is a living religion to this day in Scotland, with many of its belief systems coming from the Norse gods and ancient worship. The Mythological Kingdom also deals with ideas around the Northern condition. Some people describe the North as a ‘homeland’ and somewhere that they aspire to be. Northern values such as stoicism, honesty and hospitality are often considered desirable attributes, and people may seek to possess these values in themselves as well as searching for their Northern ‘roots’. Pseudo nordicity might also be considered within the Mythological Kingdom due to its superficial nature. This includes the aesthetic side of being Northern as seen in, for example, fashions such as Fair Isle sweatshirts or pets such as the Northern Inuit dog, selectively bred in the 1980s in the UK to resemble a wolf. Many of the expressions of northernness in the Human and Natural Kingdoms also fall under the Mythological Kingdom due to their skeuomorphic nature: for example the Viking festivals in Shetland borrow heavily from a romantic aesthetic created in the Victorian era, which is not an accurate representation of actual Norse culture.

ARCTIC ALBA

THE MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOM

EMOTIONAL How people relate emotionally to the North is very hard to pinpoint. When geographical and tangible factors are set aside, the emotional class of the Taxonomy of North deals with what remains - the internal feeling of being Northern. This is not something that can be determined as easily as say a political model or a cultural similarity with the North, it is more about peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deeper, psychological connections. It could be said that this is actually the most powerful of all the classes, as it is the feeling of belonging that will shape the behaviour and attitude of people in relation to the North.

In this taxonomy, the emotional class explores the different elements that might contribute to this sense of connection. How is it that people, who may not necessarily be born in a Northern part of the world, feel like they are Northern?

ARCTIC ALBA

MYTHOLOGICAL

For hundreds if not thousands of years the North has been shrouded in mystery and mythologised by the people who encounter it. From Olaus Magnus’ Carta Marina which depicts a Northern ocean full of monsters, to tales of giants forming geological features like the Giant’s Causeway on the West Coast of Scotland. Scottish legends relating to the North include takes of the ship-sinking Kraken, the name of which is now a popular brand of rum. Some myths such as that of the Kelpie or the Burryman have long lingered in Scottish folklore and can be experienced today in traditional festivals, music, storytelling and creative tributes. Norse gods are still occasionally worshipped in the North, with a church recently opening in Iceland to celebrate them. The Norse influence is highly visible in the North of Scotland, in particular through place names. Some of these are legitimate whereas others are the product of overly-imaginative Victorians such as Walter Scott, who ‘branded’ particular places (such as Jarlshof) with a Viking name. This goes to show that myths can be created and traditions can live through many generations, even if they are imagined pseudo-myth in the first instance.

Myth could be used as a conduit to explore an emerging emotional connection to the far North.

As the World becomes ever more researched, observed and quantified, we are losing the last true wildernesses. As undiscovered ‘terra incognita’ becomes ‘terra cognita’, we may well lose a place to posit our imaginations. As people look to connect emotionally with the North, the creation or proliferation of pseudo-myth could act as a catalyst. Tapping into people’s emotions and even belief systems could create more profound relationships with the North than through the other kinds of northern expression in this taxonomy.

ARCTIC ALBA

IDEOLOGICAL

During the research phase of this project I asked certain individuals whether or not they considered themselves ‘Northern’. The answers I received were revealing. Initially people tended to say ‘yes’ and then reason this against some kind of geographical justification, such as that they grew up in the North of Scotland. But where it became interesting was when people were not from the geographical North, yet still connected emotionally to being Northern. This was the case for two individuals in particular who I engaged with during the research phase. To illustrate the point I shall now refer to them as Person A and Person B: Person A grew up in Mississippi in North America, but to a Scottish parent. When he left home he moved to Scotland to study, and has never looked back. When asked why he felt Northern, Person A initially referred to superficial things, such as the people he has become friends with and his material culture, the clothes he chooses to wear. When probed deeper, Person A related to the North as a ‘homeland’, and the place where he ‘aims to be.’ This, he admitted, was probably to do with his personal values, such as being genuine and stoic in social situations. Person B is Italian, and moved to Scotland several years ago where she now resides. For her, the North (of Scotland) is a sense of belonging, it makes her ‘feel better’. In particular, Person B connects emotionally to the landscape. When questioned why this connection might be for her, Person B suggested it might be to do with a genealogical link, that her great, great grandfather was from Scotland. What I can draw from these examples is that both people feel a sense of belonging in the North, which from their perspective means Scotland. In both cases this could have something to do with a genetic link, an idea of returning to their ancestral origins.

As science is able to reveal more about our pasts, both from genetic and archaeological advances, it might become easier to trace links between ourselves and our ancestors. As more people find they have a connection with the North in this way, it could be that they choose to return to their origins, adopting a Northern lifestyle and connecting emotionally with the idea of the North as a place, a root.

“I like to spend hours and hours in silence. It’s like the land is speaking back. The stories that were there before me. I often think if the walls could talk, they would.” Workshop in Lairg (2015) Real, Perceived and Imagined Northern Identities, Gemma Lord, 5 March 2015

G - What is it that draws you to the Arctic? C - The Arctic’s one of those places where noone ever just goes once, to the true Arctic. The first time I was there, stepping off the plane, it sounds cheesy but you do feel a draw to it. You miss it, your body needs it, your should needs it every now and then. For me personally it’s getting back to how it was – the culture there and meeting the people, the survival existence in a lot of the small villages. There’s the draw, really, that’s what I like, and the brutality of it. The harshness, it’s just incredible, everything about it. Craig Mathieson (2015), Interview on the Arctic Academy and personal experiences of the Arctic, Interviewed by Gemma Lord (in person), Bo’ Ness, 8 February 2015

ARCTIC ALBA

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

PART B

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HYBRID SPACE

ARCTIC ALBA

Through conducting ethnographic research, desk research, attending conferences, public talks, observing and interviewing people from across the themes explored in the Taxonomy of North, it is possible to identify different ways in which people in Scotland might relate to the Arctic. These relationships are often complex, not always explicit and as numerous as there are people in Scotland. However in order to be able to explore how Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationships with the Arctic might evolve if the Arctic does indeed become an area of significant economic activity, I have tried to summarize the types of relationships people might experience. Within each of the relationships described there are many possible variables and subtleties, but they act as a basis for understanding some of the real, perceived and imagined ways that Scottish citizens currently think about the North, as discovered in this research.

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HYBRID SPACE

PHENOMENOLOGICAL

PARALLEL

EXPLORATIVE

ENVIRONMENTAL

HERITAGE/ GENETIC

ECONOMICAL

SKEUOMORPHIC

ECOLOGICAL

ARCTIC ALBA

SKEUOMORPHIC

Skeuomorphic relationships occur when people imitate the Arctic in some way. There are numerous examples of this occurring in Scotland, from the mimicking of political models based upon the ‘golden age of social democracy’ to an obsession with the Northern aesthetic such as breeding Northern Inuit dogs to look like wolves. Skeuomorphic relationships are usually intentional and the person or people involved have entered such a relationship to fashion a likeness with the Arctic. This could be because they believe Arctic models to be superior in some way, because they find the Arctic aesthetically pleasing (and therefore desirable as a style) or perhaps because the idea of North brings with it a sense of authenticity.

ENVIRONMENTAL

One of the main ways in which people in Scotland feel connected to the Arctic is through the environment. This is largely due to the amount of media coverage the Arctic receives, highlighting the amplified effects climate change is having in the region. This relationship might be experienced through feelings of concern or even guilt in Scotland, if people feel they should be doing more to reduce their impact and protect the environment. As climate change becomes more extreme, it is likely that people’s environmental relationships with the Arctic will also become more acute, and people may become aware of the effects the warming Arctic has on Scotland as well as the effects Scotland has on the Arctic.

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HYBRID SPACE

HERITAGE/ GENETIC

Many of Scotland’s fascinations with the North stem from the knowledge that the Vikings once invaded and settled in Scotland, and their heritage may still exist in particular people and places. Often this is an imagined relationship, and is expressed through cultural conduits such as festivals and the arts. In some instances this merges with the ‘skeuomorphic relationship’ already described. Genetic relationships may be formed between a person and the Arctic if they become aware of their genetic ‘archive’ and whether or not it contains a specific Viking marker gene. As children born to Danish sperm donor recipients grow older, they may or may not choose to discover their genetic relationship with the North.

ECONOMICAL

Some people see the Arctic primarily as a huge opportunity to extract as yet undiscovered resources and harvest the region for food, minerals and energy. This relationship could become one of exploitation, but a more positive angle might also be found in people who wish to share expertise with the Arctic region, such as wanting to aid Arctic communities in engineering infrastructures for remote and harsh environments. Economical relationships with the Arctic, if developed in the right ways, would help distribute opportunity to communities across the North of Scotland, and bring prosperity to de-privileged areas. For this reason people with interests in developing Northern tourism might also be said to have an economical relationship with the Arctic, but an indirect one.

ARCTIC ALBA

ECOLOGICAL

Humans and non humans might have ecological relationships with the Arctic. The many flora and fauna that inhabit both Scotland and the Arctic rely on particular conditions and ecosystems. If human activity and changes to their environments become too severe then certain species of flora and fauna become isolated and their existence threatened. As disconnected as we may feel from it at times, humans are inextricably reliant on these ecosystems and so have an ecological relationship with the Arctic. This relationship may prove beneficial or detrimental depending on how it is managed. Rises in ocean temperatures mean that an ‘Arctic bloom’ is likely and Scotland’s waters may become more productive. At the same time the species of marine life we currently consume are moving further North and so either our fishing habits, or diets, will have to adapt. On land people attempt to manage ecological relationships with the Arctic, preserving, or recreating Arctic biospheres through movements such as re-wilding. Introducing new ecological relationships, like the re-introduction of a keystone species, has a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem and affects many of Scotland’s ecological relationships directly and indirectly.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL

This is a kind of shared relationship between inhabitants of Scotland and the Arctic. Phenomena such as the aurora borealis, certain cosmological, weather or climactic conditions and the effects of particular meta-conditions like global warming may be experienced by humans and non-humans living in the Arctic and in Scotland, although to varying degrees. In Scotland this kind of a relationship is likely to have the effect of reinforcing or amplifying the notion that Scotland is proximate to the Arctic and that people have a connection to the North. Phenomenological relationships might often be described as romanticised, and the phenomena experienced (in particular the aurora borealis) may become sought after, and clichéd.

RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HYBRID SPACE

PARALLEL

Parallel relationships describe the ways in which individuals or communities may experience the same conditions as individuals or communities living in the Arctic. In particular this is the relationship experienced by those on the ‘periphery’ of Scotland, living in remote and rural locations. Strengths of such communities such as trust and inter-personal support networks can be seen in both Scotland and the Arctic. Yet with strengths come weaknesses - the challenges these communities face such as rural de-privilegisation and social problems are also witnessed in Inuit communities. By exploring parallel relationships like those shared by remote communities, it might be possible to find solutions to their problems. Some groups in Scotland aspire to create parallel relationships with the Arctic, especially in the political sphere. By basing Scottish social, economical and political models on those in Scandinavia, parity is formed and a parallel relationship entered. While there are significant differences between Scotland and the Nordic nations, such as sovereignty, parallel relationships are seen by some as a way to create alternative systems and redistribute wealth and power across Scotland.

EXPLORATIVE

As much of the Arctic remains largely ‘unknown’, some people and organisations in Scotland embark upon explorative relationships. In addition to the well known activity of going on an expedition to the North, attempts are being made to gain a better understanding of the science and geography of the Arctic region. This is leading to increased efforts to explore unknown territory and solve unanswered questions. Primarily this kind of relationship is one of curiosity, but could amount to becoming an economical relationship if enough research is conducted to be exportable and profitable. By building expertise in the Arctic, Scotland is positioning itself to be able to take up a more active role in the economical development or stewardship of the Arctic in the future.

ARCTIC ALBA

LIST OF FIGURES Cover

Contents

Gemma Lord, Migrating Birds, 2015

Gemma Lord, Industrial Structure, Iceland, 2014

p 02

Gemma Lord, Diagram Showing Scotland’s Proximity to the Arctic, 2015

p 05

Gemma Lord, Diagram of The Taxonomy of North, 2015

p 06

p 08

Gemma Lord, Polar Bear Swimming. Mask from Wintercroft http://wintercroft.com. 2014

p 10

Mike Pennington, Out Stack From Saxa Vord <http://ukbeach.guide/ photos/uk-photos.php?photo=1616168> [accessed 28 April 2015].

p 10

Gavin Shaw, Southern Cairngorms From Carn Bhac <http://www.landforms.eu/cairngorms/geology.htm> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 11

Atlas Obscura, Fingal’s Cave, Staffa, 2013 <http://atlasobscura.tumblr.com/ post/49869655113/fingals-cave-staffa-scotland-queen-victoria> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 12

Walk Highlands, Reindeer In The Cairngorms <http://www.walkhighlands. co.uk/cairngorms/meallabhuachaille. shtml> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 13

Trish Thomas, Northern Inuit Dog <http://www.accalianortherninuits. com/Durham25.jpg> [accessed 28 April 2015].

p 13

Woodland Trust, Juniper Tree <https://wtcampaigns.wordpress. com/2013/11/15/scotlands-national-tree-juniper/> [accessed 3 May 2015].

Gemma Lord, Reindeer, Sweden, 2012

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

p 15

p 16

p 18

p 20

p 22

Gemma Lord, Wolf Illustration, 2013

p 25

T. C. Hsu, Human Karyotypes, 1979 <https://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/ Human_Karyotype.html> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 26

Orlando Sentinel, Tank Containing Sperm Straws <http://www. orlandosentinel.com/health/os-cryossperm-bank-orlandob-jpg-20150411photo.html> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 28

Andy Buchanan, Viking Celebration Of The New Year In Shetland Islands, Scotland, 2012 <http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/01/31/10279299viking-celebration-of-the-new-yearin-shetland-islands-scotland?lite> [accessed 3 May 2015].

Gemma Lord, Bear Illustration, 2013

Clive Fox, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Herring Larval Survey, 2015 <http://www.sams.ac.uk/clivefox> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 29

Feel Grafix, Northern Lights <http:// feelgrafix.com/862228-Northern-lights. html> [accessed 5 May 2015].

Glenmorangie Whisky, 2011 <https://ahintofgarlic.wordpress. com/2011/10/06/whisky-review-glenmorangie-10-year-old-original/> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 30

Henry Raeburn, Portrait Of Walter Scott (1771 - 1832), Novelist And Poet, 1822 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scott#/media/File:Sir_Henry_Raeburn_-_Portrait_of_Sir_Walter_Scott. jpg> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 33

Southern Daily Echo, Dawn Raids Hit New Forest Fungi Crops, 2013 <http:// www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10781331. Dawn_raids_hit_New_Forest_fungi_crops/> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 34

Gemma Lord, Workshop in Lairg, 2015

Gemma Lord, Geothermal Energy Landscape, Iceland, 2014

Gemma Lord, Tupilaq from Greenland, Scotland, 2015

ARCTIC ALBA

p 37

Press Association, The First Edition Of The National, 2014 <http://www. huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/24/ scottish-independence-the-national_n_6211674.html> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 49

Gemma Lord, Moorland in Perthshire, 2014

p 50

The Bothy Project, Inshriach Bothy,, 2012 <http://www.thebothyproject.org/ some-huts/> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 38 Gemma Lord, New Northern Frontiers Talk, Lighthouse, Glasgow, 2015

p 41

Adapted from S Solberg J, Member States And Regions Of The Nordic Council, 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Nordic_Council#/media/File:Location_Nordic_Council.svg> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 51

Norman Shaw, Tigh Nam Calliach, Glen Calliach <http://www.thebothyproject. org/some-huts/> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 42

Gemma Lord, Arctic Circle Assembly, Reykjavik, 2014

p 52

Gemma Lord, Geothermal Energy Landscape, Iceland, 2014

p 44

Gemma Lord, Cottages in Helmsdale, 2015

p 54

Gemma Lord, Wind Turbine, Forres, 2015

p 56

Arctic Portal, Northern Sea Routes, 2010 <https://agmetalminer. com/2010/09/02/russians-prove-Northeast-passage-is-viable-route-to-asia/> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 57

Maritime London, Ship In Icy Waters <http://www.maritimelondon.com/ ml_newsevents20January2014.html> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 57

The Independent, Anglers Blame Indiscriminate Trawlers For Overfishing, 2014 <http://www.independent.co.uk/ environment/anger-over-eu-plansto-limit-anglers-to-catching-onesea-bass-a-day-to-combat-worryingdecline-9832949.html> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 46

p 48

p 49

Gemma Lord, Workshop in Lairg, 2015

move.shetland.org, Dingwall Primary School, 2014 <http://move.shetland. org/primary-schools-compete-in-scotland-wide-euroquiz> [accessed 3 May 2015].

Gemma Lord, Partridges and Pheasants, 2014

Gemma Lord, Gundogs, 2014

THE TAXONOMY OF NORTH

p 58

p 60

Shetland Hand Knitter, Shetland Heritage Wool Used In Ronas Voe, 2013 <https://shetlandhandknitter.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/shetland-heritage-wool-my-first-jumper-creation-ronas-voe/> [accessed 5 May 2015].

BBC, Arctic Wind Used To Cool Server Farms, 2013 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/business-22879160> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 67

Kraken <http://non-aliencreatures. wikia.com/wiki/Kraken> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 70

Gemma Lord, Archaeology Tour of Caen, Helmsdale, 2015

p 73

PHENOMENOLOGICAL

PARALLEL

EXPLORATIVE

ENVIRONMENTAL

HERITAGE/ GENETIC

ECONOMICAL

p 61

David Neale, The Golf Ball, 2002 <http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/ index.php/Secrets/RAFBaladoBridge> [accessed 5 May 2015].

p 61

LT. Col. Leslie Pratt, MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aircraft <http://www. theguardian.com/news/datablog/2015/ mar/16/numbers-behind-worldwidetrade-in-drones-uk-israel> [accessed 3 May 2015].

p 62

Gemma Lord, Smoke from Volcano, Iceland, 2014

p 64

Gemma Lord, Archaeology Tour of Caen, Helmsdale, 2015

p 66

Gemma Lord, Puzzlewood, 2013

SKEUOMORPHIC

ECOLOGICAL

Gemma Lord, Diagram Showing Relationships Between Scotland and the Arctic, 2015