During the highly anticipated recent census of population in Poland 5,900 people registered as Lemkos. This number places Lemkos among Poland’s small minorities (between Russians 6,100 and Lithuanians 5,800). It also represents only (approximately) one tenth of the number that was unofficially claimed by Lemkos before the census (50-60,000) and therefore is certainly (somewhat) disappointing for the group.

The outcome of every census depends on many factors and no doubt this time around discussions regarding this particular census will be (actually already are being) held. For Lemkos (and every other minority) it is healthy to first take a hard look at themselves and conclude that they should use the coming decade to better educate their own people so that in 2012 more people will claim membership in each of Poland’s minorities. Ukrainians, for example, registered very similar census results to that of the Lemkos in the way that the number of 31,000 also represents (approximately) ten percent of the 300,000 universally claimed before the census. Among the shocking results of the census is the numbers of 1,100 Jews and 173,000 Silesians. The first number (despite the Holocaust and 1968 exodus) is quite unbelievably low, while the other group constitutes in fact the largest minority in Poland, but is still not recognized by the Polish authorities.

Only having one’s own cultural activity leading to the census reviewed by every minority and after developing new strategies for the future – close examination of the carrying of the 2002 census should be done. Actually the investigation of any possible mishandling and shortcomings of the 2002 census should in the first place be the responsibility of the Polish authorities. At this moment it is not clear how much investigation should be done, but there certainly were questions asked during the census regarding the conduct of some census workers who apparently either forced Polish nationality/language answers on respondents or simply assumed Polish nationality/language and did not ask the questions at all.

Former political dissident and an active player on Poland’s political stage (as well as a long-lasting supporter of minorities) Jacek Kuroń was quoted to have said that Poland’s citizens were forced to declare themselves Polish, or simply were not being asked the questions about their nationality and the language that they speak at home. One of the leaders of the Ukrainian minority in Poland and a mainstream politician (partially of Lemko background) Mirosław Czech has said in an interview for Poland’s major newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza that he had not been asked the latter two questions when he took part in the census. There were reports from the Gorlice region that local Lemkos were not asked about their nationality/language. Kashubians made it known that their people (5,100 noted in the census) were under pressure to register as Poles.

One other important thing about this 2002 census is also that it is the first “normal” census carried out in Poland since 1931. The latter could not be without implications for actually both the census workers and respondents. On one hand, honest mistakes could have been made due to a lack of experience. On the other, the culture of participating in the census might have not been at its high and that goes not only for the members of the minorities.

Before reaching any conclusions regarding the present number of Lemkos in Poland one should also underline that there have always been problems with establishing the “real” Lemko statistics. This is simply due to the fact that before this 2002 census no other census set out to determine the number of people considering themselves Lemkos. The questions asked in the past were either about mother tongue or religion and the last time (before 2002) it was done in 1931. Considering the fact that there has never been one ethnographic border of the region accepted by all scholars or by Lemkos themselves, determining the “real” number of Lemkos has always presented a challenge. The eastern and northeastern border of the region has always been disputed. The differences in setting these borders have a direct impact on the number of Lemkos that are believed to remain in Poland after the resettlement of 1944-1946, and subsequently on the number of Lemkos in present-day Poland. Also, how reliable are the statistics regarding the number of Lemkos resettled to the USSR and those that were subsequently resettled during the “Vistula” Operation?

It must be underlined that since the fall of Communism the situation of minorities in Poland has undergone an enormous change for the better. Previously controlled and watched by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they are now under the protection of the Ministry of Culture and receive financial support for cultural and educational activities. As a matter of fact, it was, among others, the latter ministry that had appealed to minorities to take advantage of the census. On the other hand, in one of the articles on the subject that appeared in the Polish press before the census, a Pole was quoted to state: “the minorities are afraid of us.” The latter might have led to the situation in which their “real” number might not have been reflected in the census. One last comment is that every census that is carried out by census workers places minorities at a disadvantage. Many minority members lead quiet lives and choose not to manifest their ethnicity or religion. It is quite possible that if these people were in a position to fill out census forms (instead of answering questions posed by a stranger), the number of people registering as minority members would be higher. Participating in a census by filling out forms and mailing them is practiced in the United States, and although “only” some 60% of the respondents return completed forms, it is considered to be acceptable.

To sum up, one should underline that:

1. Poland is a democratic country with proper legislation regarding minorities and financial support available to them.
2. Better education of the members of particular minorities about themselves along with continuous education of Poles about minorities is still needed.
3. If the latter is done right, the next census should show a considerably larger number of many of Poland’s minorities.
4. Regarding Lemkos in particular, it should be expected that next census will register at least 10,000 of them.

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