Rootedness

Last weekend, we went to the Filmoteca to see the documentary “Arraigo” (Roots), after receiving a message from Aitor sharing information about its presentation. We took the opportunity to invite several Spanish-speaking people from the coliving and some friends. They then showed a documentary about young people working in solidarity in Cantabria, and it was a nice coincidence that reflected my life today: volunteering and the countryside, cooperation and rural development, but above all, social entrepreneurship.

The first documentary showed the stories of several young people in the rural areas of the three Pasiegas villages: San Roque de Rio Miera, San Pedro del Romeral, and Vega de Pas. They talked about the challenges of generating income, having to travel far to find employment, and the need to start a business to be able to stay in their homeland. They share the example of the reduction in the price they pay for milk or the fact that companies simply don’t come to collect it due to the low volume produced and the difficulty of accessing these sources, forcing farmers to process the product and set up a cheese factory like Los Tiemblos in the heart of the Pasiegos Valleys and rent a cabin to supplement their income.

A farmer, deeply connected to tradition and nature, also spoke of the adventure of each day and the enjoyment of his profession, where the routine changes, where one day the shepherd has broken down, a wolf has killed a calf, or a cow has given birth and it needs to be cared for. This person commented that they sometimes feel viewed as illiterate by city dwellers, who are unaware of the importance of their work and the care of nature.

Another of the protagonists worked at the Pasiega Association for the social and cultural development of the region, and highlighted the significant challenges facing access to housing and how fortunate she was to be able to find a place in Vega de Pas. Problems such as mistrust and speculation make it very difficult to rent a home, and we experienced this when we returned to Cantabria a little over three years ago. For young people, it’s another barrier, undoubtedly driving them to leave the region.

Well, I won’t say any more, because other controversial topics such as wind farms and wolves were also discussed. A screening is now underway in the three valleys, and we have offered our coliving space for a spring viewing with friends and neighbors.

Regarding young people who are supportive, stories appeared about blood donors, a young woman who collaborates with an equine therapy project for people with disabilities, and volunteers who work in senior homes. It’s exciting to see young people without their cell phones, engaged in social projects, connecting with people of other generations, and volunteering their time for different causes.

However, the most wonderful part of the meeting was the discussion that followed, where people exchanged first-person views and called for the documentary to be shared in high school classrooms instead of being kept in a drawer. There was even time for a discussion on a sensitive topic, where two of the participants had different opinions and were able to freely present their arguments.

I believe that if these spaces for dialogue were held more frequently, among residents of cities and towns, we could resolve some of the major challenges we face without depending on politicians, who often don’t listen. We will continue to participate in these types of forums to learn and gain insight from different perspectives, to understand and take an interest in the reality our neighbors experience, to form a better opinion, and to be able to participate in the dialogue.

And you… Are you looking for spaces for dialogue to better understand perspectives different from your own?