What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?

During our weekly run and gab session, I was telling my friend about my involvement with the Intangible Cultural Heritage program. She chuckled at the 10-syllable phase and asked, "What exactly is Intangible Cultural Heritage, anyway?"

I realized that my friend was probably not the only person in this province confused by the term and its meaning. Since I'm chair of the celebration and transmission committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), I figured it's my duty to explain the concept.

Examples of intangible cultural heritage are story telling, building boats and homes, fishnet making, mat hooking, and singing.

According to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH), sometimes called “living heritage”, comprises those non-tangible or physical aspects of a culture that define us. They can include traditional knowledge and skills, beliefs, oral traditions, customs, languages, music, dance, and celebrations. ICH is dynamic in that it is transmitted across generations and shaped anew as each generation innovates, experiments and adapts to changing social norms and values. Aspects of ICH can often be at risk of disappearing due to the increasing influences of globalization and mass media.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is hooked on Intangible Cultural Heritage. In fact, ICH is a key initiative of the Provincial Strategic Culture Plan. The program is managed by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Presently, our committee is working on profiles of people in the community who pass on elements of ICH. We plan to communicate their stories through the ICH newsletter, partners in the community, and through the local media. It's time to make Intangible Cultural Heritage a little more tangible by focusing on everyday people with skills to share.