Why should the Cornish be recognised as a national minority within the UK? As described in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities www.cornwall.gov.uk Yth On Ni A’n Le Ma We Are Of Th is Place Yth on ni a’n le ma We are of this place Ni re berth hy ebrennow We suff er her skies Ni re gervyas agan trevow We have carved our towns Diworth hy menydhyow From her hillsides Ha ni a soenas And we have charmed Hy holonn voen Her mineral heart Ni re vywas rygdhi We have lived for it Merwys rygdhi Died for it Trevys yeyn rygdhi Grown cold for it Friys rygdhi Fried for it Diworth an bannow Bronn Weneli From the peaks of Brown Willy Dhe Dhorkoth dhown To deep Dolcoath Ni re vywas rygdhi We have lived for it Merwys rygdhi Died for her Trevys yeyn rygdhi Grown cold for her Friys rygdhi Fried for her Yth on ni a’n ma. We are of this place. Paul Farmer (Kernewek translation by Pol Hodge) 4 Executive summary / Berrskrif gweythresek 7 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction Contents 11 Cornish - defi ning a national minority 13 Th e Cornish - who are we? 13 National origins 15 Language 16 Religion, traditions and politics 16 Culture 18 Food and drink 19 Sport 20 How we self-identify as Cornish 21 Th e impact of including the Cornish as a national minority 21 Managing expectations 21 Are there additional burdens on Government departments? 22 Are there additional burdens on the UK for European reporting? 22 What about the English counties? 24 Th e advantages of including the Cornish people in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Berrskrif gweythresek Yn unn aswonvos an Gernowyon avel minoryta An Kessedhek Kussulya KFMG Konsel Europa kenedhlek a-berth y’n Ruvaneth Unys dell veu a breder an gor-fydhyans war an breusverk deskrifys y’n Kuntelles Framweyth rag Difresyans ‘bagas-hilek’ heb arbrisya an perthynuster a Vinorytys Kenedhlek a via fordh heb kost dhe possybyl a vreusverkow erel, a alsa sewya yn afi na pella bri an RU avel bro hag a solempen ha ekskludyans a vagasow neb a’s teves chalenjys skoodhya diversita a’y thrigoryon. Y tiskwedhsa laghel dhe vos komprehendys. ynwedh diblanseth an bobel gernewek, hag avonsya amkanow erbysek a Gernow, ha’n re na an Y hwra provia jynnweyth dresto may hyll an Ruvaneth Unys dien. Gernowyon fondya ha krevhe kolmow gans bagasow erel yw grontys gre hevelep dres Europa Kernow re omjersyas dasserghyans an taves ha war an norvys. Hemma a wra provia yn y dro kernewek, kovheans solempnius a dhiwysyanseth chonsyow rag moy a geschanjyow freth, nag usi Kernow, diskwedhyans krev a honanieth der yn unnik yn fordh a wonisogeth, mes ynwedh yn an Niveryans ha dres oll yn-mysk tus yowynk, fordhow erbysek ha kenwerthek. displetyans krev yn fylm, lyen, gwariji, sport ha politegieth. Pub a’n re ma a dhastewyn hy savla Kernow gans moy a gyfyans, attes gensi hy honan fyrv gans an Teylu Keltek. ha kenerthys gans aswonvos a’y dhiblanseth, a sev dhe wari rol posedhek ha dynamek a-berth y’n Agan tus yowynk yw troboyntel dhe’n sewena Ruvaneth Unys. Aswonvos a assa rag avonsyans dhevedhek a Gernow. Aswonvos yn-dann an brassa a negysyow kernewek, gonisogeth ha Kuntelles Framweyth rag Difresyans a Vinorytys honanieth a-berth y’n Ruwvaneth Unys, Europ Kenedhlek a wra skoodhya speda erbysek, afi na ha pella, ha provia rosweyth parys a gestav gans gonisogeth Kernow war wariva an RU ha keswlasek ranndiryow erel hag a omjers seulabrys aswonnvos ha gallosegi agan tus yowynk dhe omaswon gwell a’ga dihevelepter. Henna a servsa an prowyow gans aga honanieth wonisogethek. Y hwra kenertha erbysek ha gonisogethek a Gernow ha’n RU studhow may hyll tus kernewek omglewes gordhys ledanna. ha talvesys yn settyansow kowethasek, oberi ha sodhogel. Dhyworth poynt a vu a savla Kernow y’n RU, gre Minoryta Kenedhlek a servsa dhe grevhe hemma An paper a dhevnydh styr ledanna a’n pyth dre dhiskwedhes y hyll hi gwari rann vewek yn yw minoryta kenedhlek, dell veu derivys gans kowethas predennek, ha kevri dhe dhiversita Kessedhek Kussulya KFMG Konsel Europa: solempnys an RU. 4 Why should the Cornish be recognised as a national minority within the UK? Executive summary “A nation is a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, and psychological make-up manifested in a common culture”. John Hutchinson & Anthony D Smith Oxford University Press 1994 Acknowledging the Cornish as a national minority Th e Council of Europe FCNM Advisory within the United Kingdom as described in the Committee considers the over-reliance on the Framework Convention for the Protection of ‘racial-group’ criterion without evaluating the National Minorities would be a cost-free way to possible relevance of other criteria, may result further enhance the UK’s reputation as a country in exclusions of groups that have legitimate that celebrates and supports the diversity of claims to be covered. its inhabitants. It would also demonstrate the distinctiveness of the Cornish people, and further It will provide a mechanism whereby the Cornish Cornwall’s economic objectives, and those of the can establish and strengthen links with other United Kingdom as a whole. groups accorded similar status across Europe and around the world. Th is will in turn provide Cornwall has enjoyed a revival of the Cornish opportunities for more vigorous exchanges, not language, a celebratory commemoration of just in terms of culture, but also in economic and Cornwall’s industrialisation, a strong expression commercial ways. of identity through the census and particularly amongst young people, a strong showing in fi lm, A more confi dent Cornwall, comfortable with literature, theatre, sport and politics. All of these itself and encouraged by the recognition of its refl ect its fi rm place with the Celtic family. distinctiveness, stands to play a positive and dynamic role within the United Kingdom. Our young people are crucial to the future Recognition would allow for a greater promotion success of Cornwall. Recognition under the of Cornish business, culture and identity within Framework Convention for the Protection of the UK, Europe and further afi eld, and provide a National Minorities will empower our young ready-made network of contacts with other areas people to better identify with their own cultural which already enjoy recognition of their diff erence. identity, enhance Cornwall’s culture on a UK Th is would serve the economic and cultural and international stage and support Cornwall’s interests of Cornwall and of the wider UK. economic prosperity. It will encourage conditions in which young Cornish people can feel respected National minority status would serve to strengthen and valued in social, working and formal settings. Cornwall’s place in the UK by demonstrating that it can play an active part in British society, and A wider defi nition of what a national minority contribute to the celebrated diversity of the UK. is, as stated by the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Advisory Committee (FCNM): Cornish National Minority Advisory Report 5 6 Why should the Cornish be recognised as a national minority within the UK? Acknowledgements A signifi cant number of individuals and organisations have contributed to this paper and through the Cornish Minority Reports One and Two. Th ese combined eff orts over a number of years have resulted in the Coalition Government’s intent to recognise the Cornish as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP on 24 April 2014. Cllr John Pollard Paul Farmer Richard Ford Gorsedh Kernow Cllr Bert Biscoe Pol Hodge Dr Amy Hale Th e Federation of Old Cllr Julian German Phil Hosken Cornwall Societies Cllr Dick Cole Annie Moore Ann Trevenen Jenkin Celtic Congress (Kernow) Cllr Malcolm Brown Jenefer Lowe Richard Jenkin Cornish Constitutional Cllr Douglas Scraft on Stephen Horscroft Cllr Colin Lawry Convention Paul Masters Cllr Alastair Quinnell Joseph Rowntree Dan Rogerson MP Prof Philip Payton Reform Trust Stephen Gilbert MP Cllr Doris Ansari Ronald Perry Tinopolis Andrew George MP Cllr Alec Robertson Alan Prisk Cornish Solidarity Cllr Neil Plummer Ian Williams Eurolang Ian Saltern Cllr Mark Kaczmarek Peter Wills ELEN Ed Rowe Cllr John Wood Graham Sandercock Maureen Fuller Cllr Jude Robinson Hugh Rowe Will Coleman Claire White John Angarrack Prof Anthony Alcock Nigel Hicks Dr Davyth Hicks Adam Killeya Jim Pengelly David Read Peter Burton Stephanie Vandike Colin Murley Mary Neale Miranda Bird Bernard Deacon David Fieldsend Cornish National Minority Advisory Report 7 Introduction Why should the Cornish be recognised as a national minority within the United Kingdom as described in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities? Because this would be a cost-free way to recognise the distinctiveness of the Cornish people, and to further Cornwall’s economic objectives, and those of the United Kingdom (UK) as a whole. 8 Why should the Cornish be recognised as a national minority within the UK? National and linguistic minorities are an asset “Th e culture, communities and environment of for the economic and cultural development of all Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will remain special countries. Th ese minorities represent a potential and unique.” Guiding principle of the Cornwall that can oft en be neglected. Yet when this potential and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and is properly harnessed, it can stimulate cultural and Local Nature Partnership2 economic activities and make a strong contribution to the prosperity of a country, in this case the UK.