The Edinburgh Reporter September 2023

2 NEWS

Editorial

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Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Felipe Perez

Photos: Martin P McAdam

WELL THAT WAS QUITE the month. For

the first time in years the number of tourists

outnumbered locals.

Between 13 and 19 August 126 people

had a confirmed positive Covid-19 test - an

increase of 51.8% on the previous seven day

period. But in spite of that there were

crowds in theatres, bars and restaurants

throughout the festivals which came to a bit

of an anti-climactic end without any

fireworks display.

We have a pyrotechnic photo for all you

enthusiasts to savour on page 9. Not

everyone is a fan. Those with pets and young

children are especially critical of the nightly

disturbance at the end of the Tattoo - and

the flypasts engendered another kind of

outcry entirely. One resident tracked the

A-400 which made a return trip from

Oxford, while another spotted that the two

Typhoons which flew over in the dark had

come from Lossiemouth. Edinburgh

declared a climate emergency some years

ago. Many say this kind of thing, though

thrilling for aircraft enthusiasts is at odds

with a net zero ambition.

All of the big names - Pleasance, Gilded

Balloon, Underbelly and Assembly reported

more Fringe tickets sold this year than in

2022, showing that things are returning to

normal. But the row over Short Term Lets

continues to dominate. On the one hand

there are local people who are

inconvenienced by having new neighbours

each night or every couple of nights, and

there are companies and individuals which

make their living from letting out properties

to visitors. There is no easy answer, but The

Scottish Government has confirmed it will

not allow any further delay to the

introduction of the licensing scheme which

begins on 1 October.

In another move towards “back to

normal” The Monarch of the Glen has

returned to the National Gallery of Scotland.

The new Scottish Galleries at the National

will be open to the public on 30 September

with Landseer’s work taking pride of place

in the free exhibition. A visit is highly

recommended.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

Bringing the news to you...

A HOUSE OF Ni’isjoohl 37 feet high memorial

pole is to return home to the Nass Valley this

September after almost a century in the

custody of National Museums Scotland (NMS).

The hand-carved pole will be sent back to

Terrace, British Columbia and onwards to the

Nass Valley after a year of discussion and

collaboration between the Nisga’a Nation and

NMS. The pole will be rematriated - and not

repatriated - to a society which follows the

female line.

Family members and supporters from the

Nisga’a Lisims Government travelled to the

museum to oversee the beginning of the

return journey. A spiritual ceremony was

conducted in private in preparation for the

first move of a totem pole in the UK. It is likely

the pole will have to be manoeuvred out of

a window.

The memorial pole belongs to the House of

Ni’isjoohl from the Ganada (frog clan) in the

Nisga’a Nation. In 1860, House of Ni’isjoohl

Matriarch Joanna Moody commissioned the

pole to be carved by Nisga’a master carver

Oyee to honour her family member Ts’awit,

who was next in line to be chief. Ts’awit was

also a warrior who died protecting his family

and nation.

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In our July issue we put forward the

suggestion that a new name is found

for people from Edinburgh rather

than calling them Edinburghers.

Dear Madam,

I’d caution against opening up a

public competition or poll for a new

name for Edinburgh citizens.

That carries a hidden risk – the

“BoatyMcBoatface” entry won the

#NameOurShip poll, for the, then new

British polar research ship launched in

2017. The ship was eventually named
      “Sir David Attenborough”, although
      few will recall it if asked. The name
      chimed with the public’s sense of
      humour and is now stuck in the public
      memory allowing a wry smile every
      time it is remembered.
      Given that Edinburgh, in the Fringe,
      has currency as the national capital of
      humour, comedy and satire, I suggest
      that “Edinburgher” or “Edinburger”
      plays the same?
      Then again your wrath is in

targeting Edinburgher rather than

Edinburger. The missing h makes so

much difference - is that intentional or

a keyboard slip? One of the the wider

dictionary definitions of burgher is as

the old term for a citizen of a town or

city and might lead many to conclude

that ‘burgher is entirely appropriate

and indeed respectable (ignoring the

additional connotation that burghers

were usually of some wealth and

influence.) Burger might then still be

retained for teasing, self deprecation

or just poking fun when needed!

All in all I think the ship has sailed

on anything other than Edinburgher

although if you demand a suggestion

then a logical alternative collective

might be Edinburghites; as in

Moscovites. And finally, believe it or

not, the citizens of Hamburg and

Frankfurt actually do call themselves

Hamburgers and Frankfurters without

difficulty. Personally I would let this

crusade gently fade away.

Yours etc, Peter M

Letter to the editor

Delegates from the Nisga’a Nation (L-R

Chief Ni’isjoohl, Chief Laay, Chief Duuk)

Totem pole returned to rightful home

Duncan McGlynn