| Description |
"1. Presentation of project proposals:
Land disputes and the majority of civil cases before Vanuatu courts are partly due to development and the economic strategies that are currently being pursued from all directions. Land is Ni-Vanuatu’s life and identity. Ownership of land is closely connected with culture and is very diverse in Vanuatu. Land cases take longer than expected before decisions are reached and made.
This could be in the form of knowledge with the elders in villages, or knowledge that is communicated in dialects or through rituals, songs, drawings, and so many more. Expert witnesses that are knowledgeable in customs and traditions are requested to testify in court (through sworn statements); however, in some unfortunate cases, the expert witnesses dies with the knowledge that they have without passing it on to others in the clan or their communities.
Unless documented, this knowledge will fade away and be lost altogether. I strongly feel that an information data system will assist legally and culturally to preserve these traditions, customs, and knowledge.
2. Link between law and culture
UNESCO’s Definition of ICH is “traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions; performing arts; social practices; rituals; festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts are key components of what we are trying to protect.”
Land ownership is governed by custom and culture, and it our view of land is encompassed in the saying, “My life, my land.” Land is our identity as we are known by the world around us. Land is owned by families, clans, and tribes; and with this common inheritance, we share cultural expressions that have been passed from one generation to another. These expressions have evolved in response to their environments and have contributed to giving us a sense of identity and continuity as is being promoted by UNESCO. That wealth of knowledge must be passed on to assist with settling land disputes and to keep the peace within families. It is very " |
