WHITHER CENEDL GLYNDŴR - The Confident Nation.

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16 'Dydd Glyndŵr' September 2009 Statement.
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Whither Cenedl Glyndŵr – More than just a confident Nation!
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Embassy Glyndŵr awaits eagerly the forthcoming statement on a 'Welsh Heritage Strategy' scheduled to be issued this month by the Minister of Welsh Heritage Alun Ffred Jones. We are aware of his interest in the history of Glyndŵr, noting his visit in July, with representatives of Cadw, to Canolfan Senedd-Dŷ Glyndŵr Machynlleth, Capel Pennal and Cefn Caer – National Repository of restored national treasure ‘Coron Glyndr’.

(Pic opposite: The Minister of heritage being shown 'Coron Glyndŵr by its Custodian Elfyn Rowlands of Cefn Caer)
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Having read preliminary discussion documents concerned with the forthcoming statement, I welcome much proposed therein. I have noted also, that the Minister of Heritage states in various media releases publicising this forthcoming statement, that he believes Wales to be now a more ‘’confident nation’’. Embassy Glyndŵr strongly believes that Wales would show itself to be more the 'confident nation' if the Minister of Heritage was to announce, on 16 Medi 2009, that this day, 16 Medi, would be officially declared a 'national day' - ‘Dydd Glyndŵr’ and that henceforth, the Glyndŵr flag would be officially flown on all public buildings at request of the Welsh Assembly.

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Of course, Wales would become more than just a ‘confident nation’, if the Welsh Assembly were to follow the example of Bolivia concerning the native Indian flag and declare the Glyndŵr flag to have equal status with Y Ddraig Goch, and that it will be flown, throughout the year, side by side, with that flag on all public buildings. I can hear you all say now, "dream on Siân" but i live in hope!

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In association with the above, Embassy Glyndŵr must state that we believe, that the removal of Welsh Assembly Government jobs from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth is not only a devastating blow to employment in Machynlleth but demotes the status of the town, as 'Prif Ddinas Tywysog Owain Glyndŵr'. Hopefully, the WAG will reverse this decision and not only restore these jobs to Machynlleth but also create more WAG jobs in the town, so providing much more solid foundations for the restoration of Glyndŵr’s 1404 Parliament in his capital once more; such is as inevitable as will be the re-establishment of Cenedl Glyndŵr one day.
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Also associated with the aforementioned Heritage statement, is the matter of the involvement of the Civic Trust who have not only taken over responsibility of 'on going developments' associated with this Heritage Statement, but are taking aboard more than just a pastoral interest in the advancement of a ‘Heritage Network’ to take over the work of the Heritage Environment Group (HEG) and Treftadaeth 08 and 09 conferences. Bearing in mind the Civic Trust's annual September Heritage ‘Open Days’, It concerns me that such a body, along with the National Trust, RCAHMW and CADW, all with their emphasis on the "built heritage" allows other 'historical heritage' to be made of little priority, not least concerning medieval Wales and Hanes Glyndŵr as associated with the month of September 1400.

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On the other hand, the Minister of Heritage is, it seems, very much concerned with this 'peoples history' as much as the 'built heritage'. Thus to rectify the above, we call upon the Minister to declare September: Mis Medi - Mis Glyndŵr – Mis Hanes Cymru with 16 Medi also, annually, recognised as a 'National History (and Identity day)'. I envison such to be on similar lines to the well established 'Black History Month' and there is no reason why such broadening of 'heritage' matters cannot work in a parallel way to the Civic Trust’s Heritage ‘Open Days’. Not only would such a move make sense but it would also act as guarantee that whatever the new Heritage Statement says and whatever developments follow on the work of HEG, our national ‘Sense of Nation’ history will not be in second 'non priority' position or even, forgotten.

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Of course, Pobl Glyndŵr and other Welsh History enthusiasts do not have to wait for official approval for a 'Mis Medi - Mis Glyndŵr – Mis Hanes Cymru' designationary statement from the Minister and WAG, you can just make it happen in any number of ways. Quite simply, organise Welsh History events and activities, such as exhibitions, in your communities for the month of September - but focused on Glyndŵr history on 16 Medi, and make the week following, a 'Wythnos Glyndŵr Week'.

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At the end of the day, no matter what the Minister of Heritage says, and no matter how much the WAG may nod towards "nation building", If they are afraid and avoid all the time the use of ‘’sense of place’’ and ‘sense of nation’ and if they focus on the word ‘’bro’’ at the expense of ‘cenedl’ then they're deceiving everyone including themselves. The problem is, of course, that so many of the 'so called' professionals and civil servants involved in our 'Welsh Heritage Industry' are often ex – 'English Heritage' employees or heirs of the 'Festival of Castles' mentality, as far from Postcolonial thinking as you can get! Whatever, one cannot really trust in what they might say but, it will be very interesting indeed to see if the Cadw marriage with the Arts Council of Wales to deliver a Welsh contribution to the British Cultural Olympiad will be very much witness to a 'real' cultural revolution or just more of the same of the "cultural soft sell" of the 'arty farty brigade' and 'rose tinted' soft ‘’cultural nationalism’’.
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A sure way of seeing if these people are serious, is to see if they are all up for a major push promotion for a huge national commemoration and celebration of the 660th anniversary of Owain Glyndŵr's birthday (1354) throughout 2014. Despite all their "national sound bites", this year, CADW & Co totally forgot to mark the 600th Anniversary of the fall of Harlech Castle (1409) and instead of Glyndŵr themed events at that Castle, just fed us more of the Shakespeare 'virus' that brings on the Shakespeare fever that keeps the Welsh mind struck useless by cerebral colonialism.

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So, can they be trusted to advance the 660th Commemoration? Well you can try badgering the entire Welsh Heritage Industry and WAG but, at the same time, its just as well that you rally to Embassy Glyndŵr to ensure something is done. We have 4 years to organise and raise funds from everywhere to do it - and do it well - and in style! this time together in the greatest ever show of patriotic unity and solidarity.

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*Note: much more information on this in due course
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Towards the above end, Embassy Glyndŵr has already been working on a major commemorative Initiative to go beyond what we achieved in 2000 and 2004 re commemorating 1400 and 1404. Please inform asap of your interest in being involved, be you a national professional 'heritage' Interest body, an organisation, society or individual. We shall, in due course, invite one and all to a major conference to discuss and develop such a commemorative programme that can be applied on a community and national level. .

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I shall set up a 'Geni Glyndŵr 660 Commemoration blog in time, to provide further information and to post ideas and proposals for concrete projects and initiatives but first, over the weeks ahead - through Mis Medi - Mis Glyndŵr – Mis Hanes Cymru, lets all badger WAG, CADW & CO to deliver on this as well, lets see if they are up to making Wales a really ''confident nation'' in 2014, or, the alternative is, that they might back peddle to come up with a commemoration of Azincourt 1415 – 2014, Henry IV and Shakespeare and all that; God Forbid!

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Siân Ifan.