Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Local Communities, the Nation, and Displaced Groups
Sustainability and Stewardship Intangible cultural heritage, including local traditions, folklore, languages, traditional knowledge, performing arts, food practices, and religious customs, represents an important part of the identity and collective memory of communities. However, these forms of heritage can gradually decline when traditional knowledge is no longer passed between generations, when younger generations have fewer opportunities to participate in cultural practices, or when languages and community traditions are affected by social and environmental changes. This is particularly important for cultural practices that are primarily transmitted through oral traditions, such as indigenous languages that have no established writing system. Recognizing these challenges, Walailak University (WU) diagnoses and assesses risks to intangible cultural heritage, including the loss of traditional knowledge, oral languages, cultural practices, and community traditions. Based on these identified needs, WU…
