Koun Breizh asks Loig Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany region, and Megalis, to affirm the principle of full respect for our toponymy in the Breton language.
Subject: For the Full Respect of Our Toponymy in the Breton Language.
Mr. President,
We would like to follow up with you as the situation regarding Breton toponymy continues to concern us.
Indeed, for many years now, activists have been striving to raise awareness among various stakeholders, especially municipalities, about the complete respect for our toponymy in the Breton language.
However, we are noticing that nothing is changing and the hemorrhage continues. Our toponymy in the Breton language is fading away as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yet, toponymy is a cornerstone for our language. It reminds everyone, especially the younger generations, of the existence of our people within an institutional framework that does not recognize them.
Recently, we were alerted to the de-Bretonization of schools in Plouzané: Coat-Edern has become the Rosa Bonheur school and Kroas-Saliou (in project). By inquiring with our local activists, we learned that the addressing carried out a year ago by this municipality was catastrophic. The naming of the streets was done to the detriment of numerous place names in the Breton language, many of which have simply disappeared from the addressing.
Bretons are shocked to see that nothing changes despite all the talk.
Mr. President, we do not understand how this municipality, which is classified at level 2 of the Ya d’ar Brezhoneg Charter, can de-Bretonize without the slightest scruple.
It is with confidence that we ask you to intervene under this charter so that your services can address the municipality of Plouzané. The public office of the Breton language cannot ignore the exact situation of our toponymy in Plouzané.
Two years ago, in response to our request, UNESCO reminded us of the obvious fact that our toponymy in the Breton language is part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Our toponymy must be sacred.
Two years ago, we discussed with you the possibility of officially requesting the inscription of our toponymy in the Breton language as part of UNESCO's intangible heritage. A meeting was held with your services in Pontivy, and since then, nothing has happened. You have not followed up.
We must urgently continue down this path to find this protection that will deter certain municipalities from acting recklessly.
While the responsibility for naming streets lies with municipalities, your heritage and linguistic competencies allow you to take strong initiatives by contracting with municipalities, setting rules for good conduct, or even conditioning aid on the complete respect for our toponymy or its restoration.
It would finally be desirable for your services to prepare a report and communicate on the state of our toponymy in the Breton language by municipality.
What percentage of our toponymy has disappeared after the new standards? 10%, 20%, or 30%?
This is a matter of democracy, and Bretons have the right to know.
A strong action from the Brittany region is necessary because activist associations have already done a lot and only have their limited resources. Koun Breizh has filed an appeal with the Administrative Court to contest the catastrophic addressing in Plouezoc’h, but we cannot systematically carry out these strong symbolic actions. It is now up to politicians to act.
Finally, we regret having to discuss with you the deleterious role of Megalis, responsible for the implementation of fiber optics, of which you are the President.
Just like the postal service, Megalis has played a major role in de-Bretonization, as our field actions have demonstrated. In 2024, we already pointed this out to Paul Molac, and the Megalis website had been somewhat revised.
However, a quick glance at the Megalis website shows us today that despite all the usual precautions regarding toponymy in the Breton language, nothing really changes in that the naming of streets is still strongly recommended, which cannot be done without harm to our place names. The administrative bulldozer is still present, as highlighted by recent addressing cases like in Plouzané.
However, many municipalities, and this is a positive note, have managed to preserve the entirety of their place names in the Breton language. It is therefore possible to do so. Why is this principle of complete respect for our place names not clearly recommended by Megalis on its website?
Bretons are shocked to see that nothing changes despite all the speeches.
Megalis still claims that a new addressing system is essential to be eligible for fiber optics. On what grounds can this mixed union assert that?
On what grounds should the technical dimension take precedence over the human aspect, especially since no sanctions are planned in case of non-compliance with the 3DS law?
Megalis continues to insist on the necessity of naming all streets, while respecting, "when possible," the toponymy in the Breton language, even if it has to be placed in the complementary addressing. "When possible?"
However, the complementary addressing is a deception in that it always ends up disappearing over time. Ultimately, only the new name of the street and its number will be used. No one is unaware of this.
The Megalis mixed union has acted as a driver of de-Bretonization when it should have, as a service of the Brittany region, clearly affirmed the principle of full respect for our toponymy in the Breton language and adapted accordingly. The municipalities would have drawn all the necessary consequences.
Of course, it would have been possible to affirm the principle of full respect for our place names and not "associated" in the complementary addressing!
The sought-after administrative conveniences of simplification do not hold up against the imperative respect for our toponymy in the Breton language, at a time when geolocation is made possible by technology to within centimeters.
Instead of being a protective agent, Megalis has contributed to the de-Bretonization of our country and continues to do so. This is unacceptable!
As a result, we kindly ask you to:
- Relaunch studies for the inclusion of toponymy in the Breton language in the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
- Affirm the principle of full respect for toponymy in the Breton language.
- Have your services draw up a status report on Breton toponymy after the implementation of legislative and regulatory changes.
- Reflect and initiate a comprehensive reparative plan for the damages related to the municipalities.
In the Basque Country, all place names have been preserved. However, the Basques are subject to the same law as we are.
Mr. President, to endure, Brittany is always compelled to resist all winds, especially contrary winds. It harbors treasures that deserve to be defended.
Thank you for what you can do, please believe, Mr. President, in the assurance of our deepest respect.
For Koun Breizh
Yvon OLLIVIER
