A common good that we must know how to safeguard. This is how we could describe the Occitan language, whose roots extend from New Aquitaine, passing of course through Occitanie to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. A common good whose future we must know how to ensure and preserve. This is how the idea of organizing the very first Rencontres Occitanes in the Lot-et-Garonne territory was born. “Occitan is a language that covered 40% of French territory but has always struggled to find a place. It is a language that includes many dialects: langue d’oc, Gascon, Limousin and Provençal”, recalls Jean-Luc Armand, regional advisor responsible for regional languages and cultures and president of the Public Office of Occitan language (OPLO). Thus, in October 2023, the idea of creating these Rencontres Occitanes, moments of sharing and promoting the Occitan language, saw the light of day. “These are our roots, here in the South-West,” says Marcel Calmette, departmental advisor responsible for foreign languages. “It is a rich culture, which must be well maintained and transmitted to anchor them well. » This is how the event is decided, which will be held on June 13 and 14. The Occitanie/Pyrenees-Mediterranean and Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regions will take turns each year to organize the Rencontres Occitanes, mobilizing the strengths of the host territory.
In the heart of the South-West, these professional meetings will offer a platform for discussion on the place and future of the Occitan language and culture, by comparing testimonies and experiences from the various regional languages and cultures of France. The objective is to create a space where all those who are committed to defending the Occitan language and guaranteeing its future can meet, exchange and define common perspectives together. These reflections will be enriched by questions and experiences from other regions of France with regional languages.
Education, one of the keys to safeguarding
“We have to take an example from some of our neighbors,” explains Jean-Luc Armand. “We must draw inspiration from the Basque model, which relied on the education of younger generations to perpetuate the language. In addition to being an extremely distinctive department, it relies on very significant emulation as well as considerable financial resources. Proof of this is that the Basque OPLO is ten years ahead of ours,” says the elected official. Nevertheless, there is a generational shift observed in the territory with a gradual, although still timid, return to Occitan. Proof of this is that the Occitan school of Villeneuve-sur-Lot has apparently never seen as many visitors as recently. The town of Agen, which will host this first edition of the meetings, already has a few classes which teach Occitan, notably at the Chaumié college but also at the Marie-Sentini and Élisée-Reclus schools, in addition to teaching entirely in Occitan proposed by Calendreta Janseminata. Across the department, there are 18 Occitan classes, including Agen classes.
Workshops, round tables and conferences
“When we started to design the event, we quickly questioned the future of the meetings and their purpose,” continues Jean-Luc Armand. “We naturally approached our neighbor Occitanie to agree on a rotation to host the meetings. Hoping that these meetings will lead to others, we could quite imagine that the itinerancy of the event could take us to the Val d’Aran where Occitan is the official language. »
The Meetings were designed around workshops designed as spaces for sharing, work and reflection. On Thursday, at the Hôtel du Département, professionals will discuss with you on themes such as cultural creation, entrepreneurship and the media. The day will end with an evening at Florida, where, at 8:30 p.m., the groups Festegem!, Elimberri and Ciac Boum will perform, offering shows with Basque, Gascon, Catalan, Martinican, Corsican and limousine influences. Friday will be dedicated to interregional cooperation and education for young people and adults, with discussions at the town hall and at the Théâtre Ducourneau.
The meetings are free. For more details and reservations required: www.lotetgaronne.fr/actualites/les-rencontres-occitanes-des-langues-et-cultures-regionales.
