Author Archives: InclusiveMuseums.org

Culture. Climate. Community.

The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) came alive with music, memory, and meaning as it celebrated the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on campus. The day, observed globally on August 9, was marked with a heartfelt tribute to indigenous identities, traditions, and leadership.

Under bright skies and surrounded by greenery, floral offerings were made to the statues of tribal freedom fighters — a gesture that symbolised deep reverence for the ancestors and elders who paved the way for today’s indigenous youth. The air was filled with the soulful rhythms of traditional tribal instruments, played with pride by KISS students, echoing stories of resilience and heritage.

Voices from the Celebration

In his keynote address, Prof. Amareswar Galla, Pro-Chancellor of KISS-DU and UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development, Anant National University, reflected on the urgent need for indigenous representation in leadership and policy-making.

“We must ensure that indigenous voices are heard — not just in cultural spaces, but in climate negotiations, political forums, and decision-making rooms,” he said. “Their lived knowledge is invaluable in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Joining virtually, Prof. Amitabh Pandey, Director of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, called for a shift in societal perspectives.

“It’s time to move away from colonial mindsets and toward celebration and empowerment of indigenous communities,” he said. “Preserving their arts, languages, and traditions must go hand in hand with ensuring their economic and social development.”

Prof. Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor of KISS-DU, emphasized the central goal of the occasion:

“To raise awareness of indigenous rights, preserve their languages and cultures, and champion justice and dignity for indigenous peoples across the globe.”

A Gathering of Shared Purpose

The event witnessed a rich gathering of scholars, students, and international guests. Among the attendees were:

> Dr. Prashanta Routray, Registrar, KISS
> Prof. Neil Philip, New York City University
> Dr. Kahnu Charan Mahali, Director General of KISS University and Chief of the Tribal Advisory Council
> Dr. Arpana Premi Lina, Council Member
> Professors and faculty members from KISS University

Adding an international flair to the occasion, a delegation from New York City University joined the celebrations as part of their “India Trek” — a cultural immersion program designed to deepen global understanding of India’s indigenous wisdom and community-based knowledge systems.

Why This Day Matters

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed annually on August 9, is more than just a celebration. It is a global call to acknowledge, protect, and empower over 476 million indigenous peoples across more than 90 countries. With unique cultures, languages, and ways of living, they are also among the most vulnerable — facing exclusion, marginalisation, and climate change impacts.

By commemorating this day, KISS reaffirms its commitment to indigenous rights, inclusive education, and community-led development. It stands as a beacon of hope where tradition meets transformation, and where every student is reminded: your roots are your strength.

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) successfully hosted the Roundtable of UNESCO Chairs in South Asia on 18th–19th March 2024, bringing together distinguished academic leaders to strengthen regional collaboration and advance shared priorities.

The roundtable was convened by Prof Amareswar Galla, Pro-Chancellor and Distinguished Professor of Indigeneity and Inclusive Museum & Heritage Studies at KISS-DU. Prof Galla also holds the position of UNESCO Chair on Inclusive Museums and Sustainable Heritage Development at Anant National University, Gujarat.

This significant gathering saw participation from 16 UNESCO Chairs representing institutions across India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Also in attendance were Mr. Tim Curtis, Director and UNESCO Representative to the Regional Office in New Delhi (serving Bangladesh), along with senior UNESCO specialists and staff.

The event provided a platform to:
∆ Strengthen the UNESCO Chairs network across South Asia
∆ Exchange insights on key regional priorities
∆ Explore collaborative ways in which the Chairs can contribute to addressing pressing global and local challenges

About the UNESCO Chairs Programme

Launched in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme aims to foster international cooperation and networking among higher education institutions worldwide. With over 950 UNESCO Chairs and 45 UNITWIN Networks across 120 countries, the programme facilitates the pooling of academic and institutional expertise to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The programme supports interdisciplinary teaching, research, training, and community engagement, serving as both a global observatory and a laboratory of ideas. In South Asia, there are currently 16 UNESCO Chairs, including 3 from Nepal and Sri Lanka, all working towards inclusive and sustainable development.

KISS is proud to have hosted this momentous event, reaffirming its commitment to global partnerships in knowledge sharing and social transformation.

Culture Masters, Inc. held its first International Advisory Board Meeting on April 27 at which several important decisions were made. Alisher Ikramov was unanimously nominated as the first Advisory Board Chairperson. Additionally, the Board recommended Jeon Je Seon and Song Ji Hyun as the first Gugak Masters by Culture Masters. This is our first step in promoting the status of cultural artisans and communities.

The Gugak Masters Designation project is aimed at supporting cultural and artistic activities and the growth of global cultural artists. Candidates who excel in skill and mastery, creativity and innovation, and education and mentorship are selected for the designation. Jeon Je Seon and Song Ji Hyun have been selected as Gugak Masters based on their artistic talents and experience.

Jeon Je Seon is a senior artist of the Jeongseon Arirang Art Troupe and has won numerous awards for his performances. He trains young practitioners in the gugak field and has innovatively developed traditional culture and creative storytelling based on Jeongseon Arirang.

Song Ji Hyun has more than twenty years of artistic experience promoting and developing Korean music domestically and internationally. She has incorporated various Western instruments into traditional Korean music to transform it into a new kind of Gugak Jazz.

CEO Song-Yong Park expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their valuable contributions and participation in the meeting. Information about the Board is available on Culture Masters’ website (http://culturemasters.org/about-us/#iab).

The next International Advisory Board is scheduled for October 25, 2023.

The World Tea Culture Industry Conference took place on 13 and 14 May 2023 at the Changwon Convention Center in Changwon City, South Gyeongsang Province, Republic of Korea. Additional events were held on 15 and 16 May at Hadong Ssanggyesa Temple.

Culture Masters, Inc. cooperated with several organizations to help ensure that the meeting was a success. The staff and leadership of the following bodies helped make the event possible:

• Korean Tea Culture Association (Host)
• World Tea Culture Industry Conference Organizing Committee (Organizer)
• Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;·Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;·Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Rural Development Administration; and South Gyeongsang Province, and Changwon Special City (Sponsors)
• Seven City Korea (Operations)
• Dong-A Ilbo LG Hellovision (Media)

Representatives from Australia, China, Japan, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Vietnam presented in person or via video. For the first day, representatives focused on tea culture as an industry, focusing mostly on its current state and development strategies for the future. On the second day, the focus shifted more toward tea as an intangible cultural asset, and the speakers talked more about tea in relation to cultural events and rituals, especially with a concentration on some of the social aspects surrounding tea as a cultural element. Download the rapporteur notes.

Although the combination of industry and culture may initially seem unconventional, this unifying theme lays the foundation for developing a multinational nomination file to register tea culture on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As a culmination of the conference, the Changwon Declaration on Promoting World Tea Culture was signed by five key figures: Seong-Bae Ko (Korea Tea Culture Association), Alisher Ikramov (International Institute of Central Asian Studies), Seong-Yong Park (Culture Masters, Inc.), Eok-Kung Kim (International E-Sports Committee), and Nguyen Duc Tang (Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage). The declaration outlines the relationship of tea to communities as well as tea’s influence on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are essential foundations in building a nomination dossier for UNESCO. Download the full text of the declaration.

A special session in the morning of the second day. The discussion primarily revolved around the importance of tea as a cultural element that can promote cultural tourism. In particular was the talk about possibly co-producing a Chinese-Korean drama based on the love story of King Gongmin and Princess Noguk during the thriving era of tea culture in Goryeo dynasty.