Safeguarding Pioneers
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Safeguarding Pioneers Pacic Islands Museums Association Working together, preserving, celebrating, and nurturing the heritage of the peoples of the Pacic Islands Tarisi Vunidilo (Secretary-General, Paci!c Islands Museums Association) Young ni-Vanuatu girl trying out a sand drawing activity at the Discussion among members of PIMA Vanuatu Cultural Centre in Port Vila (Photo by Tarisi Vunidilo) (Photo by ICHCAP/B. Cha) he Pacific Islands Museums Association for Vanuatu, but for the whole world. Sponsored of Liberty, right alongside older traditional (PIMA) is a regional, non-governmental by UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust for intangible forms such as the laplap form from Pentecost. T organisation that assists museums, cultural heritage, the festival demonstrated that this Of particular importance is that so many young centres, national trusts, cultural departments unique ni-Vanuatu tradition is still alive and may people took part in the festival, witnessing and and ministries, cultural associations, and arts indeed be undergoing a revival of interest, given learning from the custodians of this living cultural councils. PIMA acknowledges the richness of the the convergence of around 400 participants. heritage. For without this intergenerational Paci!c’s ICH and has undertaken some successful Aesthetically, the sand drawings are very transmission of knowledge, the future of unique initiatives to support ICH safeguarding. beautiful, and it was a privilege to witness the cultural expressions such as sand drawing would PIMA was established in 1994 as a regional great skill and knowledge of the practitioners indeed be under threat. forum where heritage professionals could from all over Vanuatu’s islands, as they ritually While there are plans to incorporate sand exchange their views and work towards drew complex designs on the "at black volcanic drawing as part of the national school curriculum improving the quality of service provided to the sands and recited the stories and songs to go in Vanuatu, to convey a true sense of the richness public. It is the !rst and only regional, multilingual, with them. However, it is necessary to realize and breadth of cultural context, festivals such multicultural, non-profit organisation that that sand drawings are much more than just as the one in Ambrym are essential. Locals, assists museums, cultural centres, and people to pretty geometric patterns or pictures. They are participants, and visitors are enriched by the preserve Paci!c heritage. a complex artistic ritual where art, story, and opportunity to make new friends, exchange PIMA develops community participation traditional knowledge are interwoven to form information and artistic inspiration, renew family in heritage management and brings together a language of memory, place, and community. connections, and learn new customs, dances, over forty-five museums and cultural centres in Sand drawings uniquely express the deep ni- art forms, stories, and music—experiences no the Pacific to develop their capacity to identify Vanuatu connection to and understanding of the classroom can convey. research, manage, interpret, and nurture land, conveying a sense of community, identity, In this age of intolerance, global conflict, cultural and natural heritage. PIMA advocates and interaction with nature and history that has and the stifling of creative diversity by huge the development of regional cultural resource evolved out of the spirit of the land and the hearts multinational corporations and powerful political management policies and practices, facilitates and minds of the people. interests, the need to raise awareness of cultural training, and provides a forum to exchange ideas To keep this cultural knowledge alive, it is not heritage’s value is crucial to bring people closer and skills. It provides and encourages regional and enough to preserve the outward forms of sand together in mutual respect and understanding. global linkages to support heritage safeguarding. drawings, but rather to continue to regenerate We need to do everything we can to promote In this article, PIMA highlights a case study on their deeper signi!cance—the stories, rituals, and and encourage the rich cultural diversity of initiatives that PIMA fully supported in Vanuatu as the symbolic meanings that express the richness humanity, and the continued practice of the arts one of its ICH safeguarding activities. of ni-Vanuatu culture and community relations. and culture of Vanuatu gives life to a language The Malampa Regional Sand Drawing Festival, Much of the success of the festival was in that may otherwise be forgotten or undervalued held in Sesivi, West Ambrym, from 11 to 15 May seeing innovative sand drawings evolve, such in the headlong rush toward ‘modern life’ and the 2008, was a significant cultural event not only as the depictions of Air Vanuatu and the Statue age of the mobile phone. VOL. 9 | 13.