Tour Scotland Photographs The Emigrant Statue Helmsdale Sutherland

Tour Scotland photograph of The Emigrant Statue at Helmsdale in Sutherland, Scotland. This statue was unveiled by The Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland with the following words, " Today's unveiling of this remarkable new presence in the Highland environment marks an important moment for Scotland. The impulse to create this statue came from a desire to remember, but also to reconcile; to reflect on the past, but to draw on it for the future's strength. The clearances that took place across Scotland in the eighteenth century were most acutely felt here in the Highlands, and rarely with such severity as in the communities like those around Kildonan. There is sadness of course in the recollection that this strath once played home to hundreds of families in dozens of small communities - a way of life that was transformed forever by the economic experiments of that period. But we should take heart, and pride too, from the resilience of those that left this country and made their contribution, often a significant one, to the communities of other countries that showed generosity in receiving them. Modern Scotland must learn from our history. Yes, we will continue to give our ideas and innovation and energy to the world, but we will recognise too that our people are our country's greatest resource and they must always be treated as such."

Tour Scotland photograph of The Eimigrant Statue at Helmsdale in Sutherland, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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