KUCHING, May 23: The Sarawak government is looking to nominate the Fort Trails—an initiative identified under the State’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS)—for possible recognition as intangible cultural heritage under UNESCO.
According to a press release, this followed Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Snowdan Lawan’s courtesy visit to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
During his meeting with Jyoti Hosagrahar, deputy director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Snowdan discussed the relevance of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators and shared Sarawak’s aspirations to align cultural development with the PCDS.
He also highlighted how the recent inscription of Niah Caves as a World Heritage Site presents opportunities to safeguard the heritage of local communities while advancing sustainable practices, particularly in sustainable crafts for sustainable livelihoods.
Snowdan also held a discussion with Fumiko Ohinata, Secretary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and among the initiatives discussed was Sarawak’s intention to nominate elements of intangible cultural heritage practised by its 34 ethnic communities for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists, and among the initiatives discussed was Sarawak’s intention to nominate the Fort Trails.
“The Fort Trails reflect the historical and cultural significance of 23 forts constructed during the Brooke era, many of which were built with the support of local communities who contributed belian timber, labour, food supplies, and local knowledge.
“While only 14 forts remain today and have been gazetted, the legacy of those that no longer stand endures through the oral histories preserved by descendants of the builders.
“These living memories, passed down through generations, continue to connect communities to their past and highlight the shared cultural identity that Sarawak hopes to safeguard through this initiative,” said the press release.
It added that efforts toward the nomination will be undertaken in close coordination with the National Heritage Department, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia, and the Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to UNESCO.
Dr Shahrizal Norwawi, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Malaysia to UNESCO, and Dr M. Miandy Munusamy, Counsellor at the Malaysian Delegation, were also present.
According to a press release, this followed Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Snowdan Lawan’s courtesy visit to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
During his meeting with Jyoti Hosagrahar, deputy director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Snowdan discussed the relevance of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators and shared Sarawak’s aspirations to align cultural development with the PCDS.
He also highlighted how the recent inscription of Niah Caves as a World Heritage Site presents opportunities to safeguard the heritage of local communities while advancing sustainable practices, particularly in sustainable crafts for sustainable livelihoods.
Snowdan also held a discussion with Fumiko Ohinata, Secretary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and among the initiatives discussed was Sarawak’s intention to nominate elements of intangible cultural heritage practised by its 34 ethnic communities for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists, and among the initiatives discussed was Sarawak’s intention to nominate the Fort Trails.
“The Fort Trails reflect the historical and cultural significance of 23 forts constructed during the Brooke era, many of which were built with the support of local communities who contributed belian timber, labour, food supplies, and local knowledge.
“While only 14 forts remain today and have been gazetted, the legacy of those that no longer stand endures through the oral histories preserved by descendants of the builders.
“These living memories, passed down through generations, continue to connect communities to their past and highlight the shared cultural identity that Sarawak hopes to safeguard through this initiative,” said the press release.
It added that efforts toward the nomination will be undertaken in close coordination with the National Heritage Department, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia, and the Permanent Delegation of Malaysia to UNESCO.
Dr Shahrizal Norwawi, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Malaysia to UNESCO, and Dr M. Miandy Munusamy, Counsellor at the Malaysian Delegation, were also present.