The heritage of the Vlach ethnolinguistic minority
The word Vlach is an exonym, as they are known to themselves as Arāmān/Rāmān. They are an ethnolinguistic group distinguished by their language, which is a dialect derived from Latin, and their ways of living, based primarily on pastoral transhumance. The Vlach are initially mentioned in Byzantine sources of the 11th centu-ry. Even though during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires large numbers of Vlachs were living in swathes of the Balkans, there is scant historical information, and yet suggestive of their systematic discrimination based on ethnic ground. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the growth of nationalism and the establishment of national frontiers, it meant more damage for the Vlach ethnos. Moreover, the communist regime that came to power in Albania in the aftermath of WWII was more devastating for the Vlachs. The communist government encouraged an extreme nationalist ideology aiming at proclaiming a policy of homogeneous population, where it was harder for a minority to preserve its culture. It culminated in 1950’ when the Albanian state banned Vlach pastoral seasonal movement that had been going on for centuries in the region, including a larger territory of the mountainous area of the Upper Vjosa valley. Many Vlachs settled in the valley at this time, following an earlier sedentary movement in the Medieval times. During this time the Vlachs were regarded as decadent and their culture was seen as belonging to the past and largely rejected. As a consequence, cultural features, the language and everyday artefacts that could be interpreted as historical symbols of Vlachs began to gradually vanish from everyday social life.
While the communist isolation and the severe lifestyle conditions helped to some extend preserve the Vlach ethnos, in the years following the collapse of communism this became more difficult, influenced also by a severe and long-lasting political and economic crisis that stimulated people’s desire to abandon the country and to easily adapt a new national and cultural identity. At present, the Albanian state recognizes Vlachs as a minority and protects its cultural identity according to the national legal framework. However, the harsh historical trajectory, the rapid and unbalanced modernisation of rural societies, along with an increasing migration rate, has put at risk the survival of the Vlach heritage.
During the H2020 INCULTUM project, a Vlach dwelling site was constructed in the valley, representing their particular nomadic house type - the kalive - and a hiking trail that follows the historical transhumant route was also set up. The aims in the SECRreTour project are to continue supporting the maintenance and improvement of the ‘museum’ dwelling site as well as introduce additional typical elements of Vlach culture. These include the designation and promotion of Vlachs transhumant routes as possible touristic trails and the reconstruction and preservation of different aspects of their livelihood tradition, such as customs, rituals and material culture. We intend to develop an inclusive and bottom-up approach with the Vlach being the lead player and the primary source of information at identifying the valuable and distinguished aspects of their culture that can be utilized as new and alternative products within the tourism industry. In addition, it is very important to pay a particular focus to specific aspects of Vlachs everyday life, particularly their deep ecological knowledge of adapting to the sur- rounding environment, which they have known how to preserve and protect throughout their history. At present, it becomes crucial to record and preserve this expertise as a valuable source of information for generations to come.
This project will involve engagement of Vlachs people who will play a chief role in the project, as well as other members of the rural community, education institutions, representatives of local administration and tourists.
The project action intends to:
a) improve appreciation and understanding about protecting and promoting aspects of Vlach culture and the essen- tial role of the minorities in countries future tourism strategies;
b) establish recognition and respect of the valuable Vlach culture and maintain it alive for the future generations;
c) utilize aspects of their culture to produce tourism services;
d) share knowledge about Vlach and promote a tourism that involves a community-based tourism;
e) promote a responsible tourism which respects and protects nature and the historical landscape which has been cared and protected by locals for millennia;
f) create a minority narrative and a sense of belonging in the local and national tourism.
The initiative will be supported by the Municipality of Përmet.
Vlachs were a group that travelled continuously, without borders, by populating large areas of Balkans, therefore cross border is at its core and a significant part of their history.
Concept of ‘inclusive tourism’ and ‘cross-cultural tourism’
For tourists to enjoy the natural attractions & experience the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Vlach minority
Development of past narratives that evolves around the historic transhumant routes of the Vlach and their way of life
