Policymakers Endorse ICH Policy during its Validation Consultation

(Department of Creative Economy, St. Kitts, July 08, 2024):- Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) stakeholders along with policymakers came together to finetune the St. Kitts and Nevis ICH Policy that will guide activities toward the safeguarding of traditions and expressions inherited from the forebears of the inhabitants of the Federation.

Minister responsible for Sports and the Creative Economy Honourable Samal Duggins endorsed the almost complete policy-making process and committed his support toward enacting the policy upon its completion.  He identified different cultural influences such as African, Indian, Portuguese, British, Spanish and French noting that the blend should be embraced holistically.

The Minister responsible for the Creative Economy pinpointed that civilizations are most often remembered for tangible cultural components such as art and intangible culture such as performances. 

He outlined the task of the participants of the consultation.

“The question I am asking you here today is: how will we be defined, years into the future?”  Minister Duggins queried.  “What and who are we going to be defined as?  Your role here to day is to ensure that we have an answer to that.  Because we will be defined by what Is documented.  A lot of really good civilizations are not remembered simply for the fact that their culture has not been documented.”

He expressed pleasure with seeing so many participants present because he noted that it demonstrated their interest in the safeguarding of the heritage of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Marlene Phillips who now serves as an Adviser to the ICH Secretariat in the Department of Sports and Creative Economy (Cultural Heritage) crafted the Draft ICH Policy and began the ICH Policymaking process as the former St. Kitts and Nevis National ICH Focal Point. 

She identified that Sankofa, a word of the Akan tribe of Ghana meaning “go back and fetch it” speaks to the importance of learning from past experiences so that a nation can move forward to create a better future.  This, she said is embodied in the work undertaken by the ICH Secretariat. 

She gave some insight into what took place during her tenure.

“The first step was to educate stakeholders about the convention, and build human resource capacity to identify ICH elements, create an inventory and implement safeguarding measures,” Ms. Phillips said.  “A project was written and submitted to UNESCO – that on October 5th 2018 UNESCO Bureau for the Committee approved US$99,443.00 from their building fund to implement the project called Inventory Preparation Capacity in preparation for implanting the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Ms. Phillips also quoted from the UNESCO ICH Convention of 2003 under which the ICH Project falls. It states that “Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects.  It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.”  Ms. Phillips informed that the Federation had signed on to the Convention on April 15, 2016.  She noted that follow-up activity led to the project “Strengthening Inventory Preparation Capacity for Implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in St. Kitts and Nevis.” 

Ms. Phillips further outlined that the current ICH project “Safeguarding St. Kitts and Nevis Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – Developing a National Policy ICH Project” was launched March 22, 2023.  UNESCO provided $US91, 252. This project is designed to create a structured National ICH Policy Framework to safeguard our Intangible Cultural Heritage and is slated for completion by December 2024.  The Validation Consultation falls under this project.

Troy Hendrickson, Entrepreneur and Traditional Knowledge Bearer addressed the Socioeconomic landscape during the opening ceremony.  Among key points, he noted that residents of St. Kitts and Nevis tend to quickly assimilate external factors into the traditional culture but while this is a natural occurrence, he advised that nationals should still “hold on to the pillars of our cultural existence.”

Mr. Hendrickson revealed that he came from a tiny village called Fry’s, “There are about 70 people living there, but we grew up knowing the Cowboy and Indians from the Shadwell area primarilpl]o«’l¬öy.  I cannot tell you the last time I have seen Cowboy and Indians.  It’s been a while and maybe one or two guys might be playing it.  So it brings me to a point of concern that we need to spread out a little bit more aggressively.

Mr. Hendrickson noted that as an entrepreneur he incorporates cultural performances into his service-oriented business that caters to both visitors and locals.  He said that tourists in particular, appreciate the traditional dances and ask for encores.

Approximately 100 participants attended the consultation from a cross-section of government organisations, Non-Government Organisations and Traditional Knowledge Bearers across St. Kitts and Nevis including participants from the sister-island who joined virtually.

Consultation facilitator UNESCO ICH Specialist Nigel Encalada divided participants into groups that were tasked with discussing questions and presenting solutions to various issues including the importance of documenting ICH and how to market it, how ICH can provide solutions during natural disasters, and how sporting activities can form part of ICH.

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