Chronicle-summary of the retreat “Cuidar l'activisme”
 
Image item
 
The approach:
WHY was it necessary to hold a RETREAT 
for MINORITY LANGUAGE ACTIVISTS?
 
 Being an activist for minority/indigenous languages ​​can be draining, and sometimes we forget what meaning or direction we are going towards. The hostility towards our languages ​​can gnaw at us. We are human and it is normal to decay, and if we are especially sensitive it can be difficult for us to regain hope and keep our self-esteem strong.
 
Winter is a time to look within, to stop, to listen to ourselves. We deserve to hibernate, and that is why I believe it is worth meeting in a retreat when the cold locks us in inside our homes. What for? 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 see that we are not so different?
 
We want to light the flame of community, to remind ourselves that we can make a bonfire when we need it most. We have resources, we are resources, let's bring them together and make the most of them.
 

 
What was the retreat like?
 
Image item
 
A motivated, fun and sensitive group. Fifteen activists came from different parts of the Iberian Peninsula, representing Aragonese, Catalan, Occitan, Basque, Galician, Spanish... from near and far away places (three activists were from Poland, Chile and the United States, respectively). Creating a tribe feeling was almost instantaneous, and there were moments to laugh, work, walk and rest. Everyone was super eager to open up, chat and connect with others.
 
 

Key shared ideas
 
 
Above you have a sample of ideas that we collected in the dynamic "How to care for activism" on Saturday morning. Based on questions that concern us, we divided ourselves into small groups, discussed our concerns and sought our own solutions.
 

Our own “language grief” & emotions
We wanted to collect a summary of the painful emotions related to our languages (specifically their minoritisation), which are very varied and extremely personal that emerged during the “Dolor de llengua” ("language grief") activity. To preserve the privacy and safety of the participants, we have summarized and shared them anonymously.
 
Language grief encompases much more than what is showed in the document, and there is much to do and explore in this sense, but the first step is to share it in a safe space, in a group, to realise what form it takes.
 
(in Catalan only)
 

What did we do? Programme of activities
 
Image item
 

Feedback from participants
“Quería conocer a gente con las mismas inquietudes que yo, pero encontré un espacio de confianza plena, alegría, activismo, naturaleza y bienestar. Además, la interdisciplinariedad y la variedad de los contextos de origen fueron muy enriquecedores. Y también los abrazos”
 
("I wanted to meet people with the same concerns as me, an I found a space of full confidence, joy, activism, nature and well-being. In addition, the interdisciplinarity and the variety of contexts of origin were very enriching. And also the hugs")
 
“Compartint experiències i sentiments, vaig poder reflexionar sobre mi i sobre les decisions que s'han pres a la meva família respecte la tria de llengua. Va ser un gir en la manera com em sento amb mi i amb els meus i crec que m'ajuda a avançar en el camí cap a estar més còmode amb mi mateix”
 
("By sharing experiences and feelings, I was able to reflect on myself and on the decisions that have been made in my family regarding the choice of language. It has meant a turning point in the way I feel about myself and my family and I think it will help me move forward on the path to being more comfortable with myself")
 
“La retirada per ieu a provocat una presa de consciéncia novèla : quitament se de lengas minorizadas son oficialas coma lo catalan e l’euskera, es complicat pels locutors viure lor lenga. Soi estada estonada del viscut dolorós de mantuns bilingües dins aquel país. Ai aprés fòrça, e me dona enveja de ne saber mai, de vos conéisser melhor. Me dona enveja de fargar quicòm de pedagogic e internacional per far comprendre l'importancia de parlar sa lenga sens jutjament exterior, e que es pas una arma de destruccion massiva!”
 
("The retreat has brought a new awareness to me: even if minority languages ​​are official like Catalan and Basque, it is complicated for the speakers to live their language with naturality. I was shocked by the painful experiences of bilingual people in that country. I learned a lot, and it makes me want to never know, to get to know you better. It makes me want to make someone pedagogical and international to make understand the importance of speaking your language without external judgment, and that it is not a weapon of mass destruction!")
 
(in Catalan only)
 

 
FAQ · Frequently Asked Questions
Next editions 
 Will there be more editions of the retreat? When will it be?
- The next retreat will continue to have as its theme the language love and language grief, and will have a focus on introspection and healing. There will be the presence of an active Gestalt therapist to increase the group's security and be able to go more in depth. Obviously, good vibes and contact with nature will have an important presence (one thing does not take away the other!). The dates will be announced through the newsletter, expect it to be around October/November 2024, on a weekend.
 
 
Each person speaks their language
What language is spoken at the retreats? How do we understand each other?
The idea is that there is no vehicular language. Everyone can speak their own language. We put into practice Romance intercomprehension between Catalan, Aragonese, Occitan, Galician and Basque (with the latter it isn't possible, but we are always trying to find a way to integrate this difficulty and be respectful).
 
After the first retreat, we can say that the Romance intercomprehension worked perfectly with the exception of Basque.
 
Audience
 
For whom is this retreat? Can I come if I am not a minority language activist?
- The retreats are designed for two types of audience: a) people who speak minoritised languages, and b) minority language activists, that is, people who are professionally dedicated to minority languages, whether through teaching (teachers), research, technical management, outreach, etc. and/or who are not professionally dedicated to language but who in their daily lives give attention and time to language volunteering, to raising awareness about language marginalisation dynamics, creating content for social networks, etc.
 
Can I come if I don't speak a minority language / if I am speaker of a majority language like Spanish?
- Yes, that's fine. The retreats are open to everyone, even if they don't speak a minority language. The important thing is that you know what you're coming to, that you respect the intention of the retreat and contribute to creating a safe space for speakers of marginalised languages, and that you come with an open and curious mind. It is advisable that you have a degree of passive competence in understanding other minority languages ​​in order to be able to understand them and communicate without problems.
 
 
Is there a minimum/maximum age to participate in the retreat?
- No! At the first retreat there was a majority of young people, but the beauty is that we mix people of many ages, backgrounds and experiences to learn from each other. There are no age restrictions.
 
Duration of the retreat
When is the retreat held and how long does it last?
- The retreat is usually held on a weekend. Arrival time is on Friday between 5 and 6 pm, and departure time is on Sunday at 5 pm.
 
 
Coming just for a day
Can I come just during the day?
- No, these retreats are designed for a single entire group from Friday to Sunday.
 
Face-to-face mode / online
Can the activities be followed online?
- No, the retreats are designed to do in-depth work on important and delicate issues for the participants, and the best way to do this is in a small group. The group has a strength and potency, yet at the same time to keep the safety and intimacy of it, it is very important to maintain the same composition throughout the three days. Moreover, we believe that in the society in which we live, it is very important to nurture coexistence and create community, and above all, disconnect from screens for a few days.
 
Code of conduct
Is care an important part of the retreat? Do you have a code of conduct?
We believe that every group, and especially every group meeting, works better if there is agreement on shared values ​​and we make super clear the discriminations we fight against in advance, and that is why we developed a code of conduct, which is very important to us, and sent it to all participants of the retreat before it took place. Download it here. (In Catalan only: Descarrega'l sencer aquí.)
 
Price
What is the price of the retreat?
If we organize a retreat again, the price will be around 250 euros, taking into account that it will not be a self-managed retreat (we will not cook, the retreat house will provide complete and healthy meals), and this price includes two nights of accommodation, all meals during the retreat and the dynamics and activities.
 

 
 
Image item
 
"In the end it is not your intellectual capacity what counts,
but the capacity to emotionally manage
the circumstances of our life" Enric Corbera
 
 
Image item
 
Image item
Who am I? To know more about me, read my bio. 

You can Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences all you want, but you’ll always be in our heart.

Carrer de Sant Hilari
Lleida, 25008, Spain