The three day workshop aimed to gather ideas in developing a strategy and action plan on the safeguarding of Palau’s intangible cultural heritage. Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) refers to the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
The purpose of the strategy and action plan is to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of Palau for now and generations to come as well as to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned. The workshop also aimed to raise the awareness of the importance of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage; and to enable Palau in international cooperation and assistance.
Off-island guests included the Director of the UNESCO office in Apia, Dr. Visesio Pongi, and Ms. Akatsuki Takahashi, Programme Specialist for Culture. They gave extensive and in depth presentation on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, its implications, what it offers by way of assistance and support to the country. They emphasized the fact that the Convention is a tool to access the international expertise and assistance to equip the country in its work to preserve, protect, and promote the national intangible cultural heritage. They also covered the benefits and disadvantages and the operational guidelines which paves the way for the country to implement the convention.
Ms. Yumiko Nanaumi from the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in Tokyo Japan also came as a guest speaker. The title of her presentation was on how the research institutions can provide training and support in the work being done by member countries and also how a category II institution of UNESCO functions to help the member states of a convention.
The three day workshop also consisted of presentations from traditional chief’s, various local agencies, and NGO’s, followed by general discussion in regards to intangible cultural heritage and the development of a strategy and action plan on the safeguarding of Palau’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH).
The Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Bureau of Arts and Culture, which are responsible for the transmission of the traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, hoped that the workshop would provide adequate data to convince the country’s top leaders to ratify the examination. Invitations were sent out to both houses of the Olbiil Era Kelulau but only members of the House of Delegates, namely Vice Speaker Alexander Merep, Delegate Jerry Nabeyama, and Delegate Wayne Andrew attended. The Executive Branch hopes the three can work effectively with their colleagues in the Senate to ratify the convention.
The Bureau of Arts & Culture wishes to take the time to thank key supporters and donors to this workshop. Those who contributed of course included all the staff of the Bureau of Arts & Culture and the entire Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, Belau National Museum, Palau Visitors Authority, Palau Community College, Ministry of Education. Ministry of Justice, PPUC, and others who generously supported to make the workshop a success.
