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What we learned
Social historian Catrin Stevens (pictured) studied the
individualities discovered through Wales Identity Day 2006 as well as the
common bonds within the geographical areas.
She found that “people across Wales still identify with ‘y Filltir Sgwar’,
or ‘the Square Mile’ – a particularly Welsh concept, all about the
influences on our doorstep that shape our core identities. It is clear that
physical environment is a key part of this but the initiative has also
shown that it represents family, friends, local heroes, industry and even
gossip – it is literally our heritage packaged up into a manageable size.
“Visiting the different areas of Wales made me think of words like ‘cynefin’
and ‘bro’ which mean habitat but also encapsulate the relationship between
people, their history and culture – a region with its very own heartbeat.
“All of these concepts together mean that Wales Identity Day 2006 has proven
that these elements of heritage, physical surrounds and personal
relationships, are the overriding bond that connects us as a nation – our
sense of identity is very local and, ultimately, personal.”
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