The impact of the Scots immigrants on life in North America is beyond doubt – three quarters of US presidents have had Scottish roots and Canada's first Prime Minister hailed from Glasgow. Americans have celebrated Tartan Day every April 6th since 1998. Now, with the number of people around the world interested in their Scottish roots and ancestry increasing, from New York, to Buenos Aires to Melbourne, Tartan Day has become Scotland Week!

Keep up to date with the Scotland Week thoughts and impressions of the Scottish Government's new Minister for Culture External Affairs and the Constitution as he blogs his way across the US and Canada.