The ITM ethnicity campaign was launched on International Human Rights Day on the 10th December 2008, by Traveller activist and actor Michael Collins and by the Philip Watt, Director of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (which has been closed due to removal of funding).  The campaign was started following a motion brought forward and unanimously supported by the ITM members at the AGM in Donegal last June.  The aims of the campaign are to:

• CREATE AWARENESS AND DISCUSSION AMONGST TRAVELLERS and Traveller organisations on the meaning of ethnicity and what recognition could mean for Travellers
• CREATE AWARENESS AND DISCUSSION AMONG THE SETTLED COMMUNITY of Travellers distinct culture and identity and harness support.
• COLLECT AS MANY SIGNATURES AS POSSIBLE to present to the Minister of Justice Equality and Law Reform, calling on the government to recognise Travellers as an ethnic group.

There are two ways to sign the petition, on line by logging onto the ITM web site www.itmtrav.ie and following the link or by signing a hard copy.  Hard copies are also available on line and in Traveller organisations or by contacting the ITM office.

So far we have over 3000 signatures collected.  To ensure that we have as much discussion as possible, the ITM regional workers have organised regional discussions with Travellers and Traveller organisations and so far the reaction has been very positive. Regional Networks have been utilised to generate discussion on the campaign among members.  Membership workers are also giving inputs on the campaign to members by request. Travellers engaging within these discussions are expressing their opinions on ethnicity and the need for the campaign. They are also playing an active role in the promotion of the campaign and the collection of signatures for the petition itself.

The ITM has produced an information leaflet on ethnicity which can be downloaded here and  a DVD that can be used in workshops (which can be ordered by contacting the office and will be available on the website shortly) which explain why this is important and will create a discussion and answer questions Travellers have already raised about what ethnicity will mean.

Other key factors in relation to defining ethnicity and how they specifically relate to Travellers are:

• biological self perpetuation; in that Travellers typically marry within the group and group membership is determined by descent;
• shared fundamental cultural values in Traveller values in relation to self employment, occupational flexibility, priority of social obligations based on kinship, nomadism and distinctive pollution beliefs;
• a field of communication and interaction in that Travellers have their own language;
• a distinguishable category in that Travellers have a name for themselves as a group and know who belongs and does not belong to it, just as non-Travellers have names for Travellers as a group and know to whom these names apply.

ITM encourages all our members to promote this campaign whilst ensuring Travellers are centre to the discussions around ethnicity and the collection of signatures.  It is vital that we remember Travellers are the key players in this campaign seeking recognition of their ethnicity.

Sign the petition at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/itmethnicity/

[June 2009]