Indigenous care of heritage monuments

Indigenous communities possess unique knowledge and belief systems that are crucial to the preservation of heritage monuments, often conflicting with Western conservation approaches. A study on Nan Madol, a 1,000-year-old ceremonial site in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, highlights this tension. While inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, Nan Madol faces threats from silting waterways, encroaching vegetation, and storm surges exacerbated by climate change. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) mission identified these issues but emphasized the need for cultural translation to develop sustainable preservation strategies. Collaboration among local, indigenous, and international stakeholders is essential for inclusive knowledge co-production, balancing materialistic Western methods with indigenous values.

Peterson, J. A., Mauricio, R., & Kohler, A. (2021). Indigenous care of heritage monuments. Indigenous Peoples, Heritage and Landscape in the Asia Pacific, 168–182. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003126690-11