Back to the Future
The aim is to find out what Mackay Country is today, what is was in the past and what local communities want it to be in the future. This work provides a way of shaping the future by looking at the past.
A team of seven part-time staff and three core volunteers was created and given a year to gather together as much material as they could about Mackay Country. Their main task was to create a new visual and oral history record to complement written sources through audio recording, video, photography and the establishment of a Mackay Country wide photographic archive.
Through photography over one hundred participants young and old recorded life today and their hopes for the future. Through oral history recordings a further fifty people discussed life in the past and possibilities for the future.
In Dùthaich Mhic Aoidh there are already a number of local groups who have created exciting local archives. Comunn Eachdraidh Sgeiradh has a very fine photography archive stored in an easy to view format. They also have a number of artefacts and mount annual exhibitions. Strathy and Armadale Local Studies Group also have a wonderful photographic archive and have taken a particular interest in local archaeology. Durness Development Group has a photographic archive and a collection of ‘Millennium Photos’ – a photo of every member of the community in the year 2000.
On a bigger scale still is Strathnaver Museum which was created by local people in the 1970s. It is housed in the old Farr parish church at Bettyhill. The Museum has a huge collection of artefacts and a range of permanent displays featuring everyday croft and household objects from the past. The well known historian Ian Grimble bequeathed his book collection to the Museum. On sale are books and booklets about local history.
Since Back to the Future started Kinlochbervie Community Council has created a Historical Working Group and Scourie people have formed a History Group.
Back to the Future does not duplicate this fantastic local level work. Back to the Future is operating at a bigger scale, seeking to create an account of Dùthaich Mhic Aoidh people and places past and present. This work compliments, supports and learns from local level archives and seeks to highlight where local people and visitors can access historical materials locally. Mackay Country archive materials will be made available alongside local archive materials for use by local groups, schools, businesses, individuals and visitors seeking interesting information or research opportunities.