Tomasz Marciniak
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COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME TO COMBAT SOCIAL EXCLUSION 2002-2006 TRANSNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME: PHASE II COMBATING SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF ETHNIC MINORITIES & IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THROUGH CULTURE VS/2003/0644 NATIONAL REPORT OF GOOD PRACTICE POLAND Prepared by NICOLAUS COPERNICUS UNIVERSITY November 2004 Torun, Poland 1 1. INTRODUCTION Poland is a country where ethnic and national minorities constitute about 3% - 4% of the total population (38 millions). According to the Ministry of Interior and Administration's data, Poland is inhabited by the representatives of nine national minorities: Byelorussians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Germans, Armenians, Russians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Jews and four ethnic minorities: Karaites, Lemkos, Roma, and Tatars. Except for large-scale national minorities: Byelorussians, Ukrainians, Germans, Lithuanians and others there are some groups which at the moment consider themselves as Poles: Kashubians, old Armenians, Tatars and Masurians. Analysing the question of “strangers” in Poland today, we should also take into account a small number of immigrants and refugees. Such groups have been appearing in our country since the beginning of the nineties. According to the Nationwide Census which was carried in the year 2002, in Poland live: Bulgarians, Italians, Greeks, Americans, Frenchmen, and Vietnamese. Kaszubians and Silesians are Poles with strong self-feeling of alternation of their regional cultures1. Most of national minority organizations emphasize that data from the last census aren’t really reliable. To the question of nationality, only one answer could be given. While, in their opinion, a large number of these organizations` members see themselves as Poles at the same time. Further, numerous refusals to enter other nationality than Polish were noted down. Nationality of many people was not specified (774 885) or only `not Polish` nationality was entered (4227).A big number of people were not included in the research. This is the source of differences between the Nationwide Census and the real number of minority members. Because of this, not only the register but also the estimated data are given in the text. The estimated number of minorities: Byelorussians 500.000 Ukrainians 300.000 Germans 300.000 Lemkos 30.000 Czechs 3.000 Slovaks 20.000 Jews 7.000 Armenians 7.000 (without new immigration) 1 Nationwide Census 2002 data. 2 Lithuanians 20.000 Gypsies 30.000 Karaites 180 Tartars 7.000 The issues of indigenous minorities and immigrants are closely connected, so it seems that the basic question for such groups is the formal law, regulating their privileges and duties in our country. The persecutions of the former regime towards minority groups depended on the size of minority population. This situation changed in 1989 when the new law on associations was passed. The next step was made in 1998 – but regulations dealing with foreigners are seen by them as non-practical and complicated, which make handicaps as for permits for legal stay and work in Poland. The next significant question is ethnic stereotypes and prejudices. For example, a Ukrainian minority counts about 180 thousand people. They live on its indigenous territories in the southeast Poland and on the Western and North terrains incorporated in the country after the Second World War. They did not choose the latter place of settlement - as the effect of the so-called "Action W» (1947) and up to now it is felt as strange for them. My findings from 1992 – 1995 show that the negative opinions held so far are but partly modified by daily contacts. A positive feature, which seems to if shake the prevailing Polish stereotype is, for e.g. instance the diligence of the Ukrainians. Nevertheless, many of the formerly circulating stereotypes have survived and are still pretty lively. Everyday coexistence, not the media relations, is the best way to accept the “strange”! But we should have no stereotypes towards new “strangers” – immigrants. A few newcomers from India, Vietnam, Pakistan, Africa, former Yugoslavia or USSR ore only “drop in the sea” of our ethnic questions. But, as I mentioned above, such a sea seems to be rather an inner lake…. Nevertheless, bad stereotypes might create social attitudes, unacceptable in modern world: racism, xenophobia, and nationalism. States and nations of the early 21st century are not immune to such illnesses. If something like distinct inter-group conflicts do happen, the ethnic factor should play a secondary role, whereas, there appear tensions of universal character, which occur in every community: family and neighbourly problems or disputes between the employer and the employee. The third question is schooling. Part of groups mentioned above, some folk and ethnic ones until this moment have not tried to open schools different from the Polish ones, neither have they demanded to teach local traditions. During the communist period only some of ethnic minorities had a privilege to... own schools and cultural organisations. It seems that the role of schooling in maintaining national identity is significant. But at the beginning of political breakthrough in Poland Germans had problems with their learning and teaching; Gypsies still do not have their own system of schools and their cultural transmission still keeps a very traditional way, with some help from the 3 Catholic Church. Compulsory elementary education for immigrants’ children is retained to fulfil international law, standards of, but sometimes practice in Poland is rather different. The next important question for all immigrant and minority groups can be lack of formal contacts with many of migrant countries. Additionally, we have no embassies, no acceptable number of translators and specialists in cultural differentiation of newcomers. It's obvious that the possibility of foreign contacts and aid in reinforcing group identity is very desirable - in the case of our desire to see Poland as a country rich in cultures. The ethnic richness could be a treasure – it seems there is a good moment to be gifted. 4 2. INDIGENOUS NATIONAL END ETHNIC MINORITIES AND THEIR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES Byelorussians are a national minority traditionally resident in a Podlaskie province. The size of this group, according to many sources, can estimated at 200 000 to even 400 000 people. By the results of Nationwide Census, the Byelorussian minority was background declared by 47 6402 citizens of Poland. Most of them (over 46 0003) inhabit Podlaskie province. They also live in: Mazovian, Warmia and Mazury, Lubelskie, Pomeranian and also in West Pomeranian provinces. The Byelorussian minority of Podlaskie province is mostly accumulated in the South- West part of this province. This group makes up almost 40 percent of people of Hajnówka administrative district. Between Hajnówka and Bielsk Podlaski there are four communes in which the Byelorussian minority is dominant constituting almost 80 percent of the local population. The Byelorussian community is a significant political power in the Podlaskie province. They have representatives in local authorities and they create the majority in the councils of some districts and communes. There are two members of the Parliament and one Senator from the Belarusian minority (all from SLD-UP). The Byelorussian language is taught to 3 664 pupils in 40 public schools.4 Nearly all teachers are qualified to teach the Byelorussian language, since they are graduates from higher philological studies. The majority of this group cultivates Byelorussian culture and tradition. As a proof we can regard the fact that a lot of Byelorussians are members of organizations which make a great number of cultural festivals. Majority of Byelorussians are members of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The main organizations: Byelorussian Association in the Republic of Poland, Programme Council of the “Niwa” weekly magazine, Byelorussian Social and Cultural Society, Byelorussian Literary Association “Białowieża”, Byelorussian Democratic Union, Byelorussian Youth Union. Major press titles: the “Niwa” – weekly magazine, the “Czasopis” – monthly magazine, “Byelorussian Historic Notebooks” – semi-annual magazine. Major cultural events: Byelorussian Youth Music Festival “Basowiszcza”, Festival of “Byelorussian Song” in Białystok, Byelorussian Cultural Festival in Białystok, “Kupalle” Holiday in Białowieża. 2 Data from www.mswia.gov.pl 3 Ibidem 4 Ibidem 5 Czechs – the minority, which counts, according to many sources, from three thousand to four thousand people. In Nationwide Census, Czech nationality was declared by 3865 citizens of Poland. Representatives of Czechs minority resident in: Łódzkie, Silesian, Lower Silesian and Mazovian provinces. Mainly settled in the area of Kłodzka Valley and in Zelów (near Piotrków Trybunalski). The first groups of Czechs came to Poland starting from the 16th through the 18th centuries. They were mainly Evangelists who had to flee their country from religious persecutions. In the first half of the 17th century and the second half of the 18th century further emigration waves had place. Czechs created well organized centres in Wielkopolska and Silesia. Some 38 thousand of Czechs lived in the Second Republic of Poland (1931 Census). Most of them were handicraftsmen and workmen. A Czech minority didn’t take part in Polish political life. However, it is essential to continue their traditional and national character. There were Czech’s schools in Volhyn, Czech’s Matrix School and other local organizations like Agriculture Society and Sport