I REMEMBER INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

IRICH stands for, I Remember Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is a project created by the Sint Maarten National Commission for UNESCO and the Department of Culture. The objective is to educate the community about

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), and create a home for the culture of the Sint Maarten people to access, use and share.

ABOUT

Sint Maarten endorsed the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

(ICH) on May 21, 2014.

The Sint Maarten National Commission (NATCOM) for UNESCO, and the Department of Culture,

with other selected representatives in the community, participated in ICH trainings throughout the

Dutch Caribbean and Suriname. Numerous consultations were held with:

• Knowledge Bearers

• Cultural Practitioners

• Heritage Experts

• Culture-Creative Professionals

The national inventory list, as defined by the UNESCO ICH convention, is used as a resource tool

for teachers, students, and anyone seeking accurate history and cultural customs of Sint Maarten. The

five domains are broken down into the following topics:

(1) Oral Traditions and Expressions Including Language as a Vehicle for ICH;

(2) Performing Arts;

(3) Social Practices, Rituals and Festive Events;

(4) Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe; and

(5) Traditional Craftsmanship.

Download the database, broken down into the 5 Domains, and more, here.

"Remembering and Safeguarding Sint Maarten's Culture"

THE ICH DOMAIN BOOKS

By storing the historical and cultural information of Sint Maarten into a Intangible Cultural Heritage database, and using it as a teaching tool for members of all walks of life, our heritage is preserved for future generations. This resource, captured in these books, is accessible via downloadable booklet versions here: