What Is Ich

What Is Intangible Cultural Heritage?

Photo: Patsy’s wool socks for sale, Trout River, photo courtesy John MacDermid.

What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?

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 - the Christmas mummering traditions, and boat building skills. Our ICH can also include Aboriginal languages and cultural knowledge, our various 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.

Photos: Left: Bboying (Breakdancing) with the East Rock Crew, photo courtesy Chris Hibbs; Right: Bruno Dicintio of Torbay (via Italy) picking blueberries in Pouch Cove, photo by Sandra Bassan.

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Living, Everyday Traditions

It is not only inherited “old” traditions which comprise ICH but also the contemporary rural and urban customs and traditions practiced by our diverse cultural groups and incorporated into contemporary expression. Our communities value these everyday traditions, which are learned by doing. They are passed along not only over time from generation to generation, but also shared between groups across space.

Youth and ICH

The provincial ICH strategy recognizes, as a guiding principle, that the inclusion of multiple voices, including those of youth, is important in all work relating to Intangible Cultural Heritage. ICH is kept alive and is relevant to a culture...