Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) or what some call “Living Heritage” encompasses many traditions, practices and customs. These include the stories we tell, the family events we celebrate, our community gatherings, the languages we speak, the songs we sing, knowledge of our natural spaces, our healing traditions, the foods we eat, our holidays, beliefs and cultural practices.
Specific examples of our intangible traditions include — among many other customs, skills and practices — Christmas mummering traditions, boat building skills, Aboriginal languages and cultural knowledge, regional dialects, and the expressive culture, values and beliefs of the diverse cultural groups of Newfoundland and Labrador. Many of us play music or tell stories; some of us know about fishing grounds or berry picking spots; others know about curing illnesses; some of us play cards or skateboard.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of Heritage NL works with communities and organizations to collect, safeguard and pass on the Province’s rich cultural traditions and practices and our oral histories. Our mission is to safeguard and sustain the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador for present and future generations, as a vital part of the identities of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and as a valuable collection of unique knowledge and customs. This will be achieved through policies that support initiatives that celebrate, record, disseminate and promote our living heritage and help to build bridges between diverse cultural groups within and outside Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you want to learn more about what ICH is or about how you can undertake a community ICH or oral history project contact: Dale Jarvis at 1-888-739-1892 ext 1 or dale@heritagenl.ca