TRANSLATION OF THE TERM “SAFEGUARDING” IN THE UNESCO CONVENTION ON INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE (2003) AND ITS EFFECT ON THE RESILIENCE OF THE OLONKHO EPIC TRADITION

Abstract

UNESCO’s definition of safeguarding emphasizes the importance of measures which foster sustainability for living traditions rather than merely the documentation and public promotion of traditions in their “frozen” (memorized) forms. Unfortunately, the English word safeguarding has no clear equivalent in Russian. The closest Russian translations of the term safeguarding relate to preservation and protection rather than to the broader values of enduring creativity and resilience as expressed in the full texts of the ICH Convention. This translation issue has led to a general misunderstanding of UNESCO’s goals for endangered traditions, affecting Yakutia’s Plan of Action for revitalizing olonkho in such areas as budgeting, strategic planning and effective ways to support tradition bearers.

According to UNESCO documents, an adequate definition of safeguarding will stress continuous re-creation, evolution, and transmission, not simple preservation. Without constant creativity giving life to an artistic genre, the core of its “genetic material” – the related knowledge, skills, and meanings – will wane. As a result, all that remains to be transmitted are the relatively static aspects of the tradition – even possibly limited to “relatives” of the original genre. In the case of olonkho, these related forms might include theatrical presentations, memorized scripts, movies, books, and other “distant relatives” of the solo genre performed by master olonkhosuts.

Emphasizing the importance of the ecological model of “resilience theory” and affirming its potential for informing the revitalization of dying traditions, this presentation proposes a clearer definition of the term safeguarding for Russian audiences, outlining ways in which Yakutia’s Plan of Action might better reflect the intention of UNESCO’s ICH convention. For example, part of UNESCO’s recommendation for safeguarding moribund traditions is the encouragement to create programs and systems to support “Living Human Treasures.” The standards for these master performers demand not only excellent artistry in performance but also the ability and dedication to pass along the cultural heritage to others. This core UNESCO goal of transmission has proven one of the most difficult aspects in olonkho revitalization, and as a primary factor involved in safeguarding, it deserves more attention in the revitalization process. For example, the modest number of officially recognized master olonkhosuts in the first Decade of Olonkho has in the last several years dwindled to zero. Adequately addressing the transmission aspect of Yakutia’s Action Plan will involve identifying new master olonkhosuts and providing ways for them to focus on transmitting the living tradition of olonkho to the next generations.

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