Note: this newsletter / retreat announcement was originally published in Catalan, because the public of the retreat were minority language speakers of the Iberian Peninsula. It's been translated into English in March 2024 for dissemination purposes
Our approach:
WHY is it necessary to organise a RETREAT
for MINORITY LANGUAGE ACTIVISTS?
Being an indigenous / minority language activist is something which can end up draining our vital energy, and sometimes we forget what is the meaning or the direction we are going towards. The hostility towards our languages stings. We are human, and stumbling down is normal; and if we are especially sensitive it can be hard to recover hope and to maintain our self-esteem in a healthy level.
Winter is a time for looking within, stopping, listening to ourselves. We deserve to hibernate, and for this reason I think it is worth it to meet in a retreat at a moment when the cold locks us inside our homes: to connect, to get to know each other, to rest, and to let go of what we no longer need together.
What would it be like to discover how other activists feel, and to understand that we are not so different?
We want to ignite the flame of community, to remind ourselves we can light a fire when we need it the most. We have resources, we are resources, let's bring them together and make the most of them.
Retreat organisers
The retreat is organised by Mariona Miret, with the help of two other language activists from the Valencian community and from Chile.
A cheerful, motivated and sensitive group came to the first edition of the retreat. Fifteen activists coming from different corners of the Iberian geography, representing the Aragonese, Catalan, Occitan, Euskera, Galician and Spanish languages… from nearby, and from afar (three of them were originally from Poland, Chile and the US).
Feeling like a family was almost instantaneous, and we had moments of laugh, work, walking in nature and resting. Everyone was very eager & looking forward to opening up, talking and connecting with others.
Key ideas we shared
This is a selection of ideas we gathered from the dynamic “How to take care of our activism” from Saturday morning, which stemmed from questions we pose to ourselves because they are worrying us. We divided in small groups, shared our worries and looked for our own solutions. They've been translated to English only for dissemination purposes.
Our “language griefs”
We wanted to collect a summary of the painful emotions which are related to language. They are very varied and extremely personal. They arised during the dynamic “Dolor de llengua” ("Language grief"). To preserve the privacy and emotional safety of participants, we have summarised them and shared them in an anonymous way.
Language grief is much more than this and there is a lot to do and to explore in this regard, but the first step is sharing it in a safe space, opening up and being vulnerable with the tribe, to discover what shape language grief has for you (what it looks and sounds like).
“I wanted to get to know people who had the same preoccupations I had, but what I found was a space of full safety, joy, activism, nature and wellbeing. Moreover, the multidisciplinarity and variety of contexts of origin of the participants was very enriching. And the hugs as well”
“By sharing experiences and feelings, I could reflect on myself and on the decisions which have been taken in my family with regards to the language choice. It has meant a turn in the way I feel with myself and with my people and I think it will help me advance towards being more comfortable with myself"
“The retreat for me represented an acquiring of a new awareness: even with minority languages which are official in their territories like Catalan and Basque, I've realised it is a struggle for the speakers to live their own language. I've been absolutely surprised by the painful experiences of some bilinguals in their regions. I learned a lot, and I want to learn more, I want to get to know you better. It makes me want to build something pedagogical and international to make others understand the importance of speaking their language without external judgement, and that languages aren't a mass destruction weapon!"
Future editions Will there be future editions of the retreat? - The first retreat was a success and we are considering organising another one. The topic would be language grief and language love and it would be focused on introspection and healing.
This doesn't take away from the fact that other retreats may be organised in the future about other topics related to minority languages.
The dates could be October/November 2024, on the weekend.
Speaking our mother tongue at all times
What language(s) are spoken at the retreat? How do we understand each other? - There is not a single language of communication in the retreat. Our concept is that each of us speaks their mother tongue with the others at all times. We don't need to go through the means of Spanish to understand each other. We practice Romance language intercomprehension amongst Catalan, Aragonese, Occitan, Galician and Basque/Euskera (with this last one it is very difficult because it is not a Romance language, but we'll try to find a way, using more Spanish possibly).
After the first retreat, we can say that Romance language intercomprehension worked perfectly with the exception of Basque/Euskera.
Public
Can I come if I am not a speaker of a minority language from the Iberian Peninsula, and/or if I speak only Spanish?
- Yes, of course. As long as you don't need to make their participants switch their mother tongue to a language you understand. The important thing is that your life / activism / work is related to minority or indigenous languages and that you have a certain level of passive comprehension competence of the languages spoken at the retreat.
Is there a minimum / maximum age to participate in the retreat?
- No! In the first retreat the majority of participants were young, but the idea is that we mix different age groups, countries of origin and life experiences so that we can learn from each other. There are no age restrictions.
Duration of the retreat
When are the retreats happening and how long do they last?
- The retreat happens usually during a weekend. Arrival time is Friday between 17 and 18h, and departure time is Sunday at 17h.
Coming only one day
Can I come only to one of the three days? - No, our retreat is designed for a single group that does the whole experience together from Friday to Sunday.
In-person / online Can we follow the dynamics and activities online? - No, the retreat format is specifically chosen to be able to work deeply on important topics which are usually very close to the hearts of the participants, and the best way to treat that with care and respect is in the privacy of a small group. The group carries a strong force within it, and it is very important that it has the same composition (participants) during the three days of the retreat. We believe that in the society we live in it is incredibly important to nourish coexistence and community, and above all, we need disconnection from screens!
Code of conduct
Is “caring” taken into account as a pillar of the retreat? Do you have a code of conduct regarding shared values and how we'll take care of each other if any kind of abuse happens?
We believe every group and every gathering works better if there is agreement in our shared values and if we are crystal clear about the discriminations we are fighting against, so we've created a code of conduct of the retreat. It is very important for us. We sent it to all our retreat participants a few days before it started. You can download it (in Catalan)here.
Price
How much does a retreat cost?
- If we organise a retreat in the future, its price will be around 250 euros. The price will include two overnight stays, all the meals and all the activities and dynamics of the retreat.
"At the end what counts is not your intellectual capacity, but your skill for emotionally navigating the circumstances of your life" - Enric Corbera
