Glenys James speaks to Joe Thane.

Description

Glenys James talks to Joe Thane who begins by singing a traditional song learnt whilst at school in Tredegar. His involvement with the unions and loosing family and friends to the mines, meant he felt oppressed in Wales. Along with over 10,000 miners he took the offer to move to Canada, initially to collect the harvest, but eventually to seek employment opportunities. Mr Thane felt that much of the Welsh language and culture had been lost amongst the settlers because the language had not been taught well enough in school and therefore not passed on to their children. He also cites the lack of mixing between the ‘working Welsh and ‘intellectual Welsh as being part of the cause of the dying of the language. He did however keep as many keepsakes from Wales as he could, from woollen socks to LPs and newspapers to crockery to help protect the memories of home. He questions the Canadian governments drive to help preserve minority ethnic cultures present in Canada. He reiterates that he wishes to be a Canadian first but feels that it is vitally important to retain the Welsh language and its customs.