New resource now available online: Documented Endangered Forms of Fataluku Cultural Expression
The Fataluku people of far eastern Timor-Leste maintain diverse and unique forms of cultural expression. However, there are many forms of cultural expression that are now endangered. Many Hands International's research project, Preservation of Endangered Forms of Fataluku Cultural Expression, recorded 30 different cultural heritage elements (many practiced in different forms) in the municipality of Lautem between 2012 and 2013. The project sought to help re-invigorate critically endangered forms of cultural expression by recording those cultural forms, building local capacity to safeguard cultural heritage and providing Fataluku people with an opportunities to view and learn more about their cultural heritage.
Using the platform OMEKA, the video recordings from this research project are now available here for viewing in a gallery format. In the videos, community members share their knowledge and practice of endangered forms of Fataluku cultural expression. The recordings are organised into 'items', 'collections' and 'exhibits' and are also grouped according to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage domains (categorisations). Each item title is written in Fataluku, followed by the Tetum and English translations. The title includes the name of the form of cultural expression and the aldeia (village) it was recorded in.
Please note that this website is a work in progress and we are still uploading and organising items and creating collections and exhibitions.
MHI offers grateful thanks to The University of Melbourne for its support in creating this website through a Community Engagement Grant 2017.
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