“Key global issues like sustainable development, climate change and economic growth will need a stable cultural link to inspire ownership and participation of our communities” – Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture is moving to safeguard intangible cultural heritage (I.C.H) for sustainable development.
A key part of this was a parallel event held last week during the S.I.D.S conference to prepare an Action Plan providing strategic guidance and priority actions in the areas of I.C.H as “living heritage.”
Government officials, experts and cultural heritage guardians attended the event to share their experiences in the ongoing community-based I.C.H inventorying in Samoa.
Speaking on behalf of Samoa was the Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Magele Mauiliu Magele.
“For Samoa, the richness of our traditional knowledge, our practices, expressions and skills form an integral part of who we are as a people,” he said.
“Key global issues like sustainable development, climate change and economic growth will need a stable cultural link to inspire ownership and participation of our communities.”
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Magele reminded that S.I.D.S have a rich and diverse cultural heritage that are important asset for its sustainable development.
Especially Intangible Cultural Heritage (I.C.H), meaning the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills, as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage according to Article 2 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (herein after the I.C.H Convention), provides a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
“In many S.I.D.S, there has been a shift away from a focus on subsistence, strong units and community, towards consumerism, individualism and a decline in the traditional social system.”
“I.C.H that has long been a core of the identity and the foundation for the sustainable environmental management has been disappearing rapidly in many S.I.D.S.”
The I.C.H Convention was adopted by U.N.E.S.C.O in 2003 with goals to safeguard I.C.H in need of urgent safeguarding, to enhance the visibility of the contribution of I.C.H to sustainable development, and empower communities who are the custodians, creators and transmitters of this living heritage.
The event was held at the Conference Room of the Development Bank of Samoa Building.
The partners who attended included the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (S.P.C), Pacific Islands Museum Association (P.I.M.A), Pacific Heritage Hub (P.H.H), the International Training Center for I.C.H in the Asia-Pacific Region (C.R.I.H.A.P) and the International Research Centre for I.C.H in the Asia and the Pacific Region (I.R.C.I).
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