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[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Criosaidh Lawson, Criosaidh Mhurchaidh Iain Alasdair Bhàin à Seiseadair. Nurs uaireigin ach fad iomadh bliadhna sloinntearair còmhla ris an duine aice, Bill Lawson, anns na Hearadh. Fàilte oirbh, a Chriosaidh.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Tapadh leat.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Nise, thug mi a-mach an sloinneadh agaibh an siud oir tha cò sibh agus an sloinneadh agaibh garbh cudromach dhuibh, tha fhios.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Tha, tha gu dearbha. Nuair a chluinneas tu an-diugh cuideigin eile ga ràdh saoilidh tu gu bheil e cho neònach anns an latha a th’ ann an-diugh ach ’s e, tha thu ceart.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Agus thèid sibhse tòrr nas fhaide air ais na siud, tha fhios, nur sinnsearachd fhèin.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Thèid, gu h-àraidh le na Bànaich a bha sin. Bha iad, mar a bhiodh mo mhàthair ag ràdh, “bha iad anns an Rùbha bho a-riamh”, as bith dè bha sin a’ ciallachadh. Thèid mi air ais gu sia ceud deug ceithir fichead agus a deich.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] An tèid gu dearbha?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Mm-hum. Ann an Gallaibh. Chan ann ann an Leòdhas, ach thàinig mo shinn-shinn-seanmhair, thàinig i a-nall à Gallaibh agus tha, phòs i fear ann an Seiseadair. Tha mi a’ creids’ gur ann air taobh an iasgaich a choinnich iad agus sin an, tha mi a’ smaoineachadh, gur e sin cho fad air ais ’s as urrainn dhut a dhol. Agus ’s urrainn dhut sin a dhèanamh ann an clàran ann an Gallaibh, ach chan eil na clàran sin againn, gu mì-fhortanach, ann an Leòdhas ach dheigheadh mo mhàthair, bha mo mhàthair garbh math air sloinntearachd agus a bhith ag innse dhuinn a h-uile càil a bha sin.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Ach ged abhiodh , ’s iomadh màthair ’s seanmhair ’s sinn-seanmhair a rinn sin, ach thog sibhse ùidh ann. Ciamar a thàinig an ùidh sin?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill ’s e rud, cha robh càil a mhothachadh agam dheth ach, fhios agad, bha daoine a-riamh air ais ’s air adhart as an taigh againn a’ faighneachd dhi mu dheidhinn sloinntearachd ’s mu na teaghlaichean aca fhèin agus ge b’ oil leat bha tòrr dheth, fhios agad, a’ dol a-steach agus bha thu a’ cùimhneachadh air. Chanainn-sa gur ann ann an eachdraidh nan eilean a bha barrachd de dh’ùidh agam na bh’ agam ann an sloinntearachd ach an-diugh air sgàth an obair a tha sinn a’ dèanamh chan urrainn dhut sgaradh a dhèanamh eadar an dà rud. Ma tha thu a’ dèanamh sloinntearachd tha eachdraidh choimhearsnachd agad cuideachd.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Agus tha an ceangal sin gu mòr le ... gu h-àraidh Canada, tha mi a’ smaointinn, nach eil, ceangal teaghlaich?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Tha.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] ... taobh an teaghlaich?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Tha Canada dhomhsa ann an iomadach dòigh air sgàth an teaghlaich, teaghlach mo mhàthar agus teaghlach m’ athar, ach gu h-àraidh teaghlach mo mhàthar. Chaidh iad a-nall ann an sin, a bràithrean ’s aon phiuthar dhi agus bha sianar de a bràithrean thall ann an Canada aig aon àm agus aon duine aca, chaidh e a-nall air a’ Mhetagama ach thill e agus thug e timcheall air dà bhliadhna dheug ann an Canada ’s bha e a’ fuireach còmhla rinne fad a bheatha ’s mar sin bha mi a’ cluinntinn mu dheidhinn Canada fad na tìde.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Bhiodh e man ath-bhaile ann an dòigh.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill bha fhios a’m air tòrr na b’ fheàrr na bha fhios a’m air taobh siar Leòdhais.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Dha-rìribh?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill cha robh mise a-riamh air taobh siar Leòdhais gus an robh mi, tha mi a’ creidsinn gun robh mi còrr air fichead nuair a fhuair mi fhìn càr. Cha robh adhbhar agam a dhol ann. Bha mi a’ dol dhan sgoil ann an Steòrnabhagh agus bha càirdean againn ann an Tunga ’s bha càirdean againn air taobh a-muigh Steòrnabhaigh agus dheigheadh tu an sin ’s dòcha aon turas as t-samhradh. Ach bha fhios a’m air Canada bho litrichean ’s bho dìreach daoine a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Uill tha sibh air ur beatha a dhèanamh ga rannsachadh ’s tillidh sinn thuige, a Chriosaidh, ach ron sin, an dèidh na sgoile, chaidh sibh a nursadh ...

[Criosaidh Lawson] Chaidh.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] ... ann an Glaschu.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill bha ùidh agam a-riamh ann agus tha mise a’ smaoineachadh gun do thòisich e le rud cho suarach ri bhith a’ coimhead, fhios agad, na banaltraman a bhiodh a’ tighinn timcheall ’s iad air an sgeadachadh cho àlainn ’s bha thu a’ toirt aire dha na daoine sin agus nuair a bha mi nam nighinn bhig bha mi a-riamh ag iarraidh a bhith nam bhanaltram agus rinn mi sin nuair a dh’fhàg mi an sgoil agus thàinig mi a-mach a Ghlaschu agus rinn mi timcheall air ceithir, còig bliadhna a-muigh ann an seo agus chòrd sin gu mòr rium. Bha e dìreach ... ’S e a’ chiad turas a dh’fhàg mise an taigh a-riamh, a dh’fhàg mi an t-eilean a bu chòir dhomh a ràdh, nuair a thàinig mi a-mach a Ghlaschu ’s cha dìochuimhnich mi gu bràth. Chaidh mi a-mach dhan Ospadal Rìoghail ann an Glaschu agus nuair a thàinig sinn suas chun an ospadail bha e fair dhòmhsa man dealbh a bh’ agam air Prìosan Barlinnie.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Seadh?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Bha e gu math mòr na mo bheatha fhad ’s a bha mi ri obair ann ... anns an Ospadal Rìoghail airson bhiodh sinn a’ faighinn gu leòr dhaoine a-steach às an sin ...

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Prìosanaich?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Bha e dìreach fear man phrìosan nuair a sheall mise suas ris an togalach mhòr a bha sin ach chòrd e rium.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Cha do dh’fhuirich sibh, cha do dh’fhuirich sibh a’ nursadh. Bha sibh ann an Glaschu greis agus thill sibh a Leòdhas a’ nursadh an uair sin.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Thill.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Ach cha do lean e.

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill cha b’ e an aon seòrsa rud a bh’ ann. Fhios agad, bha am baile mòr cho tarraingeach,

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Carson a thill sibh dhachaigh?

[Criosaidh Lawson] An seòrsa obrach, eil fhios agad, airson innse na fìrinn, chan eil càil a dh’fhios agam ach dìreach bha e a-riamh na mo rùn gun deighinn a-nall a rìoghachdan eile agus bha ùidh agam a dhol a dh’Afraga, an creidseadh tu, aig an àm sin.

[Dòmhnall Moireasdan] Agus an deach sibh a-riamh?

[Criosaidh Lawson] Uill cha deach mi ann a-riamh! Agus saoilidh mi gur e, bhiodh m’ athair, chuir m’ athair seachad còig bliadhna den dàrna chogadh thall taobh a’ Mhediterranean ’s bhiodh iad a’ dol sìos gu ceann a deas Afraga ’s bha mi a’ cluinntinn an uiread mu dheidhinn. ’S bha caraid agam cuideachd a bha, a dh’fhàs suas còmhla rium ’s bha a h-athair ann an Afraga. ’S dòcha gur e sin an tarraing a bh’ ann. Agus chaidh mise air ais a Leòdhas. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh an diofar a bh’ ann an sin ’s e nuair a thigeadh tu dhan bhaile mhòr, nuair a thigeadh tu a-mach airson foghlam bha cothrom agad a dhol air ais an uair sin. Bha fhios agad gun robh obair gu bhith ann. An-diugh chan eil e cho furasta sin idir. Nuair a dh’fhalbhas an òigridh, gu mì-fhortanach, às na h-eileanan chan eil uiread de chothroman agad tilleadh ach bha againne.

Chaidh am prògram seo, Thuige Seo, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 2010.

[Donald Morrison] Chrissie Lawson, Chrissie of Murdo of John of fair Alexander from Sheshader. Once a nurse but for many years a genealogist together with her husband, Bill Lawson, in Harris. Welcome, Chrissie.

[Chrissie Lawson] Thank you.

[Donald Morrison] Now, I recited your geanology there because who you are and your geanology is certaintly very important to you.

[Chrissie Lawson] It is, it certainly is. When you hear someone else saying it today you think that it is so strange these days but yes, you are correct.

[Donald Morrison] And you can certainly go back much further than that in your own genealogy.

[Chrissie Lawson] I can, especially with those Bànaich They were, as my mother would say, “they were in Point since forever”, whatever that meant. I can go back to sixteen hundred and ninety (1690).

[Donald Moireasdan] Can you really?

[Chrissie Lawson] Mm-hum. In Caithness. Not in Lewis, but my great-great-grandmother came, she came across from Caithness and, she married a man in Sheshader. I believe that they met through the fishing and that is, I think, that is as far back as you can go. And you can do that in records in Caithness, but we do not have those records, unfortunately, in Lewis but my mother could go, my mother was very good at genealogy and telling us all of that.

[Donald Morrison] But even so, many’s a mother and a grandmother and a great-grandmother who did that, but you developed an interest in it. How did that interest come about?

[Chrissie Lawson] Well it’s a thing, I was no aware of it of it but, you know, people were always back and forth in our house asking her about genealogy and about their own families and lots of it, you know, went in regardless and you remembered it. I would say that I had more interest in the history of the isles than in genealogy but now with the work that we do you cannot separate the two things. If you are doing genealogy you have local history too.

[Donald Morrison] And that connection is really with especially Canada, I think, is it not a family connection?

[Chrissie Lawson] It is.

[Donald Morrison] ... on the family’s side?

[Chrissie Lawson] Canada is to me in many ways because of the family, my mother’s family and my father’s family, but especially my mother’s family. They went across there, her brothers and one of her sisters and there were sixof her brothers over in Canada at one time and one of them, he went across on the Metagama but he returned and he spent twelve years in Canada and he lived with us all his life and so I heard about Canada all the time.

[Donald Morrison] It would be like the next town in a way.

[Chrissie Lawson] Well I knew it much better than I knew the west side of Lewis.

[Donald Morrison] Seriously?

[Chrissie Lawson] Well I was never on the west side of Lewis until I was, I believe that I was over twenty when I got a car. I had no reason to go there. I went to school in Stornoway and we had relatives in Tong and we had relatives on ... outside Stornoway and you would go there maybe once in the summer. But I knew about Canada from letters and from people just talking about it.

[Donald Morrison] Well you have spent your life researching it and we will return to it, Chrissie, but before that, after school, you went to nursing ...

[Chrissie Lawson] I did.

[Donald Morrison] ... in Glasgow.

[Chrissie Lawson] Well I was always interested in it and I think that it started with something so insignificant as watching, you know, the nurses that would come around dressed so beautifully and you noticed those people and when I was a little girl I always wanted to be a nurse and I did that when I left school and I came out to Glasgow and I did about four, five years out here and I really enjoyed that. It was just ... It was the first time that I ever left home, that I left the island I ought to say, when I came out to Glasgow and I will never forget. I came out to the Royal Hospital in Glasgow and when I came up to the hospital to me it was like the picture that I had of Barlinnie Prison.

[Donald Morrison] Aye?

[Chrissie Lawson] It was very prominent whilst I was working there ... in the Royal Hospital because we would get plenty of people coming in from there ...

[Donald Morrison] Prisoners?

[Chrissie Lawson] It was just like a prison when I looked up at that large building but I enjoyed it.

[Donald Morrison] You did not stay ... You did not stay nursing. You were in Glasgow for a while and you then returned to Lewis to do nursing.

[Chrissie Lawson] I did.

[Donald Morrison] But it did not continue.

[Chrissie Lawson] Well it was not the same thing. You know, the city was so appealing, ...

[Donald Morrison] Why did you return home?

[Chrissie Lawson] The type of work ... Do you know, to tell the truth, I have no idea but just it was ... it was always my desire that I would go across to other countries and I was interested in going to Africa, would you believe, at that time.

[Donald Morrison] And did you ever go?

[Chrissie Lawson] Well I never went there! And I think that it was ... my father would, my father spent five years of the second world war over by the Mediterranean and they would go down to the south of Africa and I heard so much about it. And I also had a friend who, who grew up with me and her father was in Africa. Perhaps that was the appeal. And I went back to Lewis. I think that the difference there is when you would go to the city, when you would leave for education you then had an opportunity to go back. You knew that there was going to be work. Today it is not at all as easy. When the youngsters leave the islands, unfortunately, you do not have the same opportunities to return as we had.

This programme, Thuige Seo, was first broadcast in 2010.