Northern California Celtic Organizations

2009 Events

Clan Gunn attended the following Games in 2009:

Calaveras (Sonora) (Photos)
Woodland (Photos)
Modesto (Photos)
Pleasanton (Photos)
Fresno (Photos)
Santa Cruz (formerly Loch Lomond) (Photos)
Clan Gunn annual picnic (Photos)
Here is a link to all the photos from the AGM in Charlotte, NC And here's a link to massed bands that we participated in.

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Here are Chuck's links to the Clan Gunn Scotland trip - July/August 2009
Edinburgh
Inverness
Caithness
Orkneys
People
Scottie Bear goes to Scotland

Rich and Linda Gunn links
Edinburgh
Inverness
Caithness
Orkneys
Scottie Bear

Todd Wall's photos

Video Links
Clan March
Moari ceremony - TV News
Moari Ceremony - V Gunn - Part 1
Moari Ceremony - V Gunn - Part 2
Moari Ceremony - V Gunn - Part 3
Moari Ceremony - V Gunn - Part 4
Moari Ceremony - V Gunn - Part 5
Another video of the Gathering

Eric's photo links
Parade
On our way to Inverness
Cawdor, Culloden, Fort George
Inverness to Thurso, via Dunrobin Castle and Hemsdale
Castle Sinclair
Portland Arms Dance
Prestonfield House
30 July
Lybster
Formal Dinner
Gathering and AGM
Kildonan

Photos from V Gunn

Here is Rich Gunn, President of the North American Clan Gunn Society's comments on the Maori Ceremony:

John "Jack" Mahiti Wilson was a proud member of the Clan Gunn Society of New Zealand. His grandparents left Scotland and moved to New Zealand where his father married a Maori woman." Jack was very proud of both his Scottish and Maori heritage and wore both the kilt and Maori garments. He intended to return to Scotland and take part in the 2009 Clan Gunn International Gathering. Unfortunately Jack died in September, 2008.

His widow, Christine, accompanied by members of his Maori tribe, the Ngati Awa tribe, including the second chief of the tribe, travelled to The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh to return Jack's spiritual essence to his homeland and to the Clan Gunn.

The video depicts the Maori people, accompanied by the wife of the Clan Gunn NZ President, Shiela Wall, entering the Clan Village area. They announce their presence and are greeted in return by the President of the Clan Gunn Society of NZ, Todd Wall, and the Piper from the Clan Gunn Society of North America, Chuck Jamison. Chuck pipes Todd to greet the Maori and they then are led back to the Clan tent area by Chuck and Todd. Once there they are greeted by Iain, flanked by the Clan Gunn UK President, Alan Robson, carrying Iain's house flag, and Clan Gunn NA President, Rich Gunn.

Once the greetings are made the Maori chief performs a ceremony to return Jack's spiritual essence to Clan Gunn and to Scotland. Later he and his wife will perform a more festive dance and Christine will talk about her deceased husband and the importance of returning his spirit to Scotland. The Maoris will present gifts to Clan Gunn and will receive gifts in return. Expressions of affection will be exchanged which include touching noses and foreheads.

Here are my comments on piping for the week with Clan Gunn:

It was my honour and privilege to be the Clan Gunn bagpiper for the 2009 International Gathering in Edinburgh on Friday 24 July through Sunday 26 July followed by the Clan Gunn 16th triennial clan tour from Edinburgh through Inverness and into Caithness.

As an Army piper for almost 19 years, I have been playing a lot of traditional tunes for all kinds of activities from military ceremonies and funerals to weddings, highland dancing, and Scottish gatherings. This trip brought home to me a lot of the meaning behind the tunes – place names and historical events – as well as the brotherhood of fellow soldiers and pipers in the land of my forefathers. Of particular meaning for me was the playing at Culloden at the Cairn of the Fallen and another military ceremony at the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre. More on that later.

Clan Gunn had a tent on Holyrood Field over the two days of the Games where all were welcome and I had the opportunity to play there a few times during the day. Saturday evening was the big clan march up the Royal Mile and then the show at Edinburgh Castle. There were 8,000 of us marching and an estimated 20,000 on the sidelines cheering us on. In our Gunn contingent, there were our Maori Gunns marching with their traditional feather capes. We were probably the most photographed clan in the march. I was proud to be marching in my Gunn kilt and American stars and stripes pipe bag cover.

On Sunday there was a very special homecoming for the Wilson Family of our Maori Gunns. Grandfather Andrew Wilson, born in Edinburgh, had left for New Zealand at the age of 17. His son, Andrew Wilson married a Maori woman and their son, John Mahiti Wilson, wanted to attend this gathering but unfortunately passed away last fall. A special Ceremony of Maori Protocol by his family in remembrance of Andrew and John Wilson took place at the Clan Gunn Tent. They were welcomed by the Commander, Iain Gunn of Banniskirk, supported by Presidents, Rich Gunn (Gunn North America), Todd Wall (Gunn New Zealand) and Alan Robson (Gunn United Kingdom). The Maori presentation that was made to the Commander and the Clan included the Haka, a traditional Māori dance which is an integral part of an official welcome ceremony for dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion. I was the welcoming and answering piper to the Maori chants. This ceremony was filmed by a New Zealand film crew and made its way to YouTube within hours.

Upon arriving at Cawdor Castle on Tuesday, I piped our merry band of clansmen and clanswomen across the moat and into the castle. Since there were about70 of us, we made quite a spectacle.

After a nice visit and tour we boarded the coach for Culloden, the site of the last battle of the Jacobite Rebellion in 1746. It was here that I played a lament at the Cairn of the Fallen at Culloden Battlefield. In my mind this was for all fallen in battle, not necessarily just the soldiers in 1746. Like in our American Civil War, this battle was brother against brother and not an English invasion.

Wednesday found us at Dunrobin castle where I performed with a local piper, George who was busking at the castle. Another very nice tour and a raptor demonstration in the gardens below. I had opportunity to play here for a while before we boarded the coach for our next stop.

On Thursday, we had a lovely lunch provided by the ladies at Clyth. I played a bit as a thank you before we left. After lunch we went to the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre and I played for a presentation to the Centre of the medals of the late Col. John Gunn who won them when he was serving with the Seaforth Highlanders. The medals were presented by Company Sergeant Major Robson of the Highlanders and one of his Company Reserve Sergeants, currently serving and recently returned from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Friday evening was for reception and dancing. While waiting for our coach, I played for the arrival of a bride and groom to our hotel for their wedding reception. We in turn went to the Commander’s house for a reception where I played in the garden for a bit, and then on to the Portland Arms for a dinner dance. I started dinner with a tune or two and later played along with the band for one of the dances. We had a marvellous time.

On Saturday I opened the Clan Gunn UK AGM with a tune. Later that night was our formal dinner where I played in the dignitaries and then the haggis. John Gunn the Younger recited the immortal Ode to a Haggis and we toasted with the traditional wee dram. Our honoured guests included the Right Honourable Earl of Caithness, Chief of Clan Sinclair and Jamie Stone, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.

On Sunday we attended the morning service at Kildonnan Kirk and I played for the recessional after the kirkin. This was pretty much the last of the piping as most our tour group headed off to airports to go home. We remained a few days to see the Orkneys and then returned home ourselves on the 8th of August.

As I said in the beginning, this was one of our best vacation trips. As a piper, this was very rewarding trip. I’ve played at the Pentagon and Congress, at Pebble Beach and other fancy resorts, cruise ships, battlefields, military and civilian ceremonies, but this was the chance to play where it all started for my forefathers and I am thankful for the hard work that went into the planning and the opportunities that were provided to me, primarily by Alan Robeson, president of the Clan Gunn UK Society.

Chuck Jamison
Piper, Clan Gunn Society North America
Piper, US Army retired

Some other links to events that week

Scottie's Diary

"The Gathering" in Edinburgh on 25/26 July was the major event in the Homecoming Scotland calendar this year. In addition to a major Highland
Games, pipe band performances and nearly 125 clans and family societies in the tented pavilions in the Clan Village, there was a range of events in
Holyrood Park, in the shadow of Arthur's Seat and next door to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. I personally enjoyed the performance of the Red Hot
Chilli Pipers on the main stage!

But the highlight of the Saturday (attended by over 30,000 people from Scotland and abroad) was undoubtedly the march in the evening by nearly
8,000 clanspeople from over 125 clans, walking from the palace up the historic Royal Mile to Edinburgh castle. Billed as one of the largest clan
gatherings on Scottish soil in modern times, the clans were also accompanied by a number of pipe bands. An estimated crowd of 20,000
bystanders lined the route to cheer on the marchers.

My illustrated account of the day can be found at Scottie's Diary

Although I didn't quite manage to get a photograph of all the clans on the march, I'm also working on separate "Photo Library" to display over 200
graphics of many of the clans involved. More on that later. Yours Aye, Scottie

Fraser Cardow | Web producer | email: fraser.cardow@stv.tv | website: www.stv.tv/sport

Greetings from Scotland,
I work for Scottish Television (stv.tv) and we thought you might be interested in some of the video we shot at The Gathering in Edinburgh. As you may be aware, The Gathering was Scotland's biggest meeting of the clans in Scotland since the King's Jaunt in 1822. We interviewed 18 clan chiefs and shot colourful and celebratory footage of what turned out to be a great event and a suitable centrepiece of the Year of Homecoming 2009. We'd love to share this material with you so feel free to link to any of the items listed below or forward them on as you see fit.
Best regards, Fraser

GENERAL LINKS
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/112729-the-gathering-attracts-back-long-departed-scots/
http://scotland.stv.tv/gathering/111174-can-scotland-learn-from-its-emigrants/
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/112721-the-gathering-parade-up-the-royal-mile
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/111185-what-is-a-scottish-clan
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/112019-the-gathering-hailed-a-great-success/
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/111686-scots-bask-in-homecoming-sunshine/
http://scotland.stv.tv/the-gathering/111685-prince-charles-speech-to-the-gathering-clans/
http://scotland.stv.tv/gathering/111137-clans-decend-on-edinburgh-for-the-gathering/