The Canadian National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and on Sites (ICOMOS Canada) is proud to announce that it has partnered with the Indigenous Heritage Circle (IHC) to further preservation efforts of Indigenous heritage in Canada and globally. In the coming years, the organizations will work together to co-lead initiatives dedicated to the conservation and the protection of cultural heritage, to support each other’s mandate, and to share information about policy priorities related to Indigenous heritage.
In addition, ICOMOS Canada currently hosts the secretariat of the ICOMOS international working group on Indigenous heritage, a committee that includes representatives from around the world, and is working towards better inclusion of Indigenous heritage in World Heritage.
Both organizations recognize the need for the sector to strengthen its understanding of Indigenous values, pursue relevant theoretical and practical work, and conserve places of significance for Indigenous peoples for future generations.
With significant financial support from Parks Canada, ICOMOS Canada and the IHC are planning an international conference on Indigenous heritage that will set the stage for the work of the International Indigenous Heritage Working Group. The online event is set to take place in February 2021.