On March 19th the opening event of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022–2032), declared by The United Nations General Assembly, will take place in the Livonian National House in Irē (Mazirbe). Symbolically the opening event will combine one of the most unique Livonian traditions – bird awakening – and initiatives of establishing Livonian language and culture in the digital environment.
IDIL 2022-2032 was declared as a continuation to The Year of Indigenous Languages (2019). The goal of The Decade is to attract attention to the role the indigenous languages play in language diversity as well as preserve these languages, the majority of which are endangered.
Livonians are indigenous people in Latvia and Livonian is one of the most endangered languages in the world. This makes The Decade and its planned activities important in Latvia in order to ensure survival and continuation of Livonian.
The opening of The Decade has been aligned with the bird awakening, which is one of the most unique Livonian traditions. Livonians believe, that the migrating birds do not depart in the autumn, but rather sleep within the depths of the sea, rivers and lakes or along the shoreline and that they need to be awakened in spring. Bird awakening signifies the beginning of the year for Livonians and this time the ritual will also mark the opening of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
Bird awakening will take place on the beach of Irē (Mazirbe) at 11:00, it will include the ritual, Livonian greetings, decorating a spruce and songs. At 13:00 the event will continue in the Livonian National House, with greetings by guests, presentation of the new platform of the Livonian language and culture Livonian.tech, and presentation of the initiative of the National Latvia’s encyclopaedia about including the Livonian language into the titles of the entries of the encyclopaedia. The opening event of The Decade will be accompanied by a mixed choir “Lōja” from Salaspils, Livonian song ensemble “Laula” from Kūolka (Kolka) and a Livonian singer and song author Julgī Stalte.
The event is organized by UL Livonian Institute in cooperation with the Livonian community organizations and Latvian National Commission for UNESCO. Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, Minister of Culture of Latvia, the UN coordinator of the International Decade of indigenous languages from UNESCO, Secretary General of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and vice-rector of the Humanities of the University of Latvia also participate in the event.
The event is supported by the University of Latvia and Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Latvia.
Information:
Valts Ernštreits,
valts.ernstreits@lu.lv
+37126424566