Recently, Inclusive Journalism were partners on Newyddion i Bawb: a deep listening research project based in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Led by our founder Shirish Kulkarni – who was funded by Creative Communities to carry out the work along with a team of facilitators – the project followed on from the News for All report in Grangetown, asking the local community what journalism can and should be. One of the participants, Eva Mitchell, has written a reflection on her experience.
I first heard about Newyddion i Bawb through my links with Maes Y Plas Community Gardens; a place which has become an important part of my life since I moved to Blaenau Ffestiniog a year and a half ago. Wil, who runs the gardens, was partnering on a new research project in the area and invited me to come along. Over the course of four months, our group of local participants were taken on a journey through a range of workshops and discussions, bringing us closer in vision and appreciation for each other and what our community has to offer.
A theme that ran through the workshops was Blaenau’s history of sesiynau caban. I learned that during breaks, miners would share informal news, lessons and skills alongside their meals. Even more interesting to me was the perspective raised by a member of the group, pointing out that caban culture was being practiced predominantly by men. This made us wonder what the women were doing during this period, as this would likely have been just as crucial to the evolution of Blaenau’s history.
Although I did not grow up in Blaenau, my mam did, and my grandparents and great grandparents lived and died here. Understanding and learning about what kind of lives they may have had, and the origins of the values that have been passed down to me through generations has been very identity affirming.
Many conversations that emerged from the research made me face some uncomfortable and previously unexamined feelings around some deeply personal issues. A safe space was created from the beginning and I strongly believe these conversations will ultimately help our community work and live together more constructively. For example, considering the question of “Who do you trust?” in the context of journalism made me realise that I trust the people I work with in Bro Ffestiniog, the reason for this being accountability as we live alongside each other.
My favourite exercise was writing a poem which involved free writing around the prompt of “I am Blaenau Ffestiniog”. Later it was noted that we all have strong feelings towards the different parts of Blaenau we feel are home, and even in such a tiny place this is quite specific e.g. pobol Manod or Bethania considering themselves a distinct group in an almost tribal way. What did come through for everyone is that we love where we live for its unique characteristics – both the conventionally attractive and the understated down to earth gritty aspects.
"There is no shortage of (bad) news in this day and age, but staying up to date with the facts being presented to us in isolation makes us feel disconnected. We realised that what we need is to develop frameworks by which we can digest and reflect on that news together as a community."
Writer
Another exercise that I found identity affirming was when we were asked to explore our relationship with the Welsh language. This was really enlightening especially as my partner for the exercise was first language Cymraeg. The exercise led me to consider what it means to be a Welsh person whilst not being fluent, and with only partial Welsh heritage and exposure to its culture.
What I discovered and found surprising through discussing this with the other participants is that even some of the native Welsh speakers feel their Cymraeg is not good enough for formal settings. My own disenchantment with the Welsh language as a child and re-enchantment through the community I have found here is a good example of accepting my own imperfection, and through this, strengthening my connection to the landscape and feeling inspired to take Welsh classes. Through re-engagement with the language I am finding community, belonging, curiosity and a reconnection to my ancestry.
There is no shortage of (bad) news in this day and age, but staying up to date with the facts being presented to us in isolation makes us feel disconnected. We realised that what we need is to develop frameworks by which we can digest and reflect on that news together as a community. We need to process and assimilate the implications of that information in ways that serve us and enable us to not feel overwhelmed, helpless or misrepresented but instead understand how we feel and work out what we can change. This would enable us to think of solutions and take action in meaningful ways so that receiving news is empowering, inspiring and beneficial rather than harmful and isolating.
During the final research weekend we discussed a way to bring together people from all cultures here in Blaenau by inviting everyone to join community cooking events and shared meals. This would in turn help with the transmission of local news in our town as people eat and talk together. We decided that setting up a calendar for a monthly shared meal with different cuisines reflecting Blaenau’s diverse communities would be a good place to start.
Getting to know ourselves and our community seems to be an important first step towards making change. The process was rocky and uncomfortable at times but I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with my home. Using new tools and techniques I am hopeful that we will get the opportunity to share our learnings to improve the foundational economy here in Blaenau. In fact, this links in well with my work as a community researcher focusing on sustainable tourism, which has involved community inclusion and engagement rather than forcing change to the community without their consent.
Looking towards the future, discussions will soon begin between Maes Y Plas Community Gardens, the Gwreiddiol group and Black Mountains College, in the hopes of developing and running courses and workshops on sustainable practices including food production, agroecology and building. Offering these informal but accredited learning experiences and working together in an intergenerational way to develop practical skills, knowledge and creative practices will enhance our resilience against extractive operations that affect our community such as mining, energy generation and unsustainable tourism.
I hope to add my professional and educational experience to the wealth of knowledge already held in the area to reimagine the greatest aspects of caban culture in a more inclusive form. We wish to enhance opportunities, particularly for the younger generations in Blaenau, so that moving away for education and work is an option rather than a necessity, and help sustain and protect Welsh language, culture and heritage. On a personal level, my niece and nephew are growing up here in Blaenau and securing a positive future for them and all their friends in the place we call home is the ultimate goal.
The opportunity I was given to take part in the project and to write about my experience as a neurodivergent person with a learning disability has made me feel empowered and valued. I hope that we can create a framework within which everyone in Blaenau can use their voice, that we can all listen and respectfully cooperate with each other to appreciate what we have and realise the futures we envision.
I will close with a section of my “I am Blaenau” poem as I believe it’s a reflection of how our group was brought together when we dared to be vulnerable and share our raw creative output. Being given the opportunity to be heard was a beautiful experience and reflecting on this once again has made me realise how lucky I am to have participated in this journey. I hope we can share that now with everyone in our community by creating inclusive safe spaces for discussing, dreaming and creating together.
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog I am understated
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog I am born out of slate and rain
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog full of sharp angles and sheer outcrops, so that you never forget that you belong to the earth
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog I am magical, mysterious and shrouded in mist
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog I hold strength and l have earned my quiet pride
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog no one can own my heart
I am Blaenau Ffestiniog you are welcome to join in if you can appreciate my duality, the uncomfortable with the beautiful, because without both I would lose my soul
Eva Mitchell is a Sustainable Tourism Community Researcher based in Blaenau Ffestiniog. You can follow her on LinkedIn.
Photo by Lilia Strojec.
