Gathered on Saturday in Bourbriac for its return to the Breton activist scene, the collective Ai'ta! awarded its first "Disprizioù ar brezhoneg," satirical distinctions given to local authorities, media, and officials deemed unfavorable to the Breton language.
BOURBRIAC — As announced, the collective Ai'ta ! made its return to the Breton activist scene this Saturday, June 6, in Bourbriac by organizing the first ceremony of the “Disprizioù ar brezhoneg” (“Me-prizes for the Breton language”), a presentation of satirical awards aimed at highlighting the actors deemed most contemptuous towards Breton speakers.
In front of several dozen people gathered in the square of Bourbriac, the activists awarded prizes in several categories, mixing humor, irony, and political critique.
Signage
In the signage category, the first prize goes to the municipality of Bulat-Pestivien (Côtes-d'Armor), accused of having recently renovated all of its municipal signage without including a single word of Breton. Larmor-Baden receives the second prize for the disappearance of numerous Breton place names from its signs, while the En Arwen festival in Cléguérec is recognized for the absence of the Breton language in its communications. A “special jury prize” was also awarded to Locronan for bilingual signage whose translation, carried out by artificial intelligence, reportedly contains numerous errors.
Media
In the media category, Ai'ta ! awards the first prize to Ici Breizh Izel, whose management is criticized for the gradual reduction of the Breton language on air. France 3 Bretagne receives the second prize, particularly due to frequent programming changes affecting the show Bali Breizh. The third prize goes to the show C Jamy dedicated to Brittany, which the collective accuses of perpetuating clichés and falsehoods about the Breton language.
Education
In the education category, the first prize is awarded to the municipality of Bourbriac and its elected officials, notably former mayor Claudine Guillou, for failing to maintain the Diwan school in the municipality. The Côtes-d'Armor departmental council receives the second prize for its lack of support for the Diwan college project in Perros-Guirec and for concerns surrounding the future of the Diwan college in Plésidy. The Brittany Academic Inspection completes the podium due to its cuts in bilingual education positions.
A special “Benjamin Morel” prize was awarded to former Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer for statements deemed hostile to minority languages.
Finally, the “Grand prize for the non-Breton speaker of the year” was awarded jointly to Pierre-Yves Thomas and Julie Dénès, opposition municipal councilors in Carhaix. Ai'ta ! criticizes them for their positions regarding the use of Breton in municipal life in Carhaix.
As none of the winners were present to receive their trophy, the collective indicates that it intends to send them their awards. This ceremony officially marks the return of Ai'ta ! after several years of discretion. The collective is already announcing new actions in favor of the Breton language.
