Description
Despite the international renown of Cerknica Lake the unique knowledge of former generations that learn to adapt their lives to the cyclical rhythm of the disappearing lake will be lost unless actively preserved. Now, through the good auspices of the Museum Centre of Hordaland, Norway, a new educational programme will be starting at Heritage House, Dolenja Vas. Young Guardians of Heritage will be run buy local specialists on the preservation of our intangible heritage. The programme will work to preserve traditions and develop sustainable products and skills. The programme will connect generations, vulnerable groups and the many visitors in creative handcraft activities which will help the environment and give local people a new meaning to their lives. In the same boat-Young Guardians of Heritage is a visionary answer to the challenge facing humanity as a whole - to develop sustainable survival for the planet and the people.
Summary of project results
In the area of world's most precious and largest karstic lake Cerknica, local community has put lot of attention towards preservation of this unique nature phenomena and established Notranjska regional park in 2002, but they did not show any interest in people's resources, they have even take all villages out of the borders of park. Although Cerknica Lake is known by its unique adoption of people to the rhythms of disappearing waters – fishing and harvesting on the same place within four seasons. The main jewel of centuries that has survived as the living heritage is the boat – drevak - extended dugout, which is still in function and authentic workshop, where the boats can be build is in the heart of the region as well as the master is still in a good shape and condition. But nobody took the right care for this knowledge to be transmitted onto the young generations. With the project In the Same Boat – Young Guardians of Heritage beneficiary beneficiary has succeeded in establishing and developing model of transmission of the knowledge from old master and carriers of heritage to young guardians of heritage. The treasure chest of the region was established, started building the archive of the knowledge of the handcrafts, tools, oral tradition where four traditional crafts are documented. Audio, video, photo documentation and transcriptions as well as promotional film translated into English are documenting 22 carriers of four traditional crafts – boatbuilding, blacksmithing, flax growing, essential oils distillery, 25 young guardians of heritage. Young people have been learnt scientific way of research, educated in the nature's preservation in the Notranjska park and activated in handcrafts of the region.
Summary of bilateral results
In June 2014 the project team condusted a study excursion to Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Os, Osteroy and Lygra. At MUHO Museumssenetert i Hordaland center at Salus Norwegian partner have shown their principles of safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage. Beneficiary has presented the project to the board members in Salus and the impression was that such presentations are needed in a living contact. Project partner also enabled a visit to Orsana, where the local team succeeded in preserving a textile factory with huge investment into creativity and succeeded in developing the market all around the globe, which was very inspiring for Slovenian team. Visiting Osteroy musem was also a good experience, where the way of preserving items-tangible heritage in a museum was seen as well as organised life as a living thread among local people. Best place to visit for the boatbuilding was Os and its workshop and museum where 5 young boat builders already make oslevar traditional boats. During the visit beneficiary realised, how could they organise their workshop of boatbuilding the drevak-traditional boat of Cerknica lake: half as a museum and educational center for young people and adults and half as a boatbuilding workshop. They have also tried to paddle oselvar with their host Brit Osmundsen, who has visited Slovenia and the traditional boat builder in May 2014 and also helped in making the drevak and transmitting the knowledge to scholars of High school from Postojna and has given also a lecture in heritage House to local community. Visiting Lygra was impressive and very much informative as beneficiary is also preparing to rebuild their heritage center in Notranjska regional park. This experience was helping the beneficiary to build good basis for the project and trust to have good support in Norwegian partners. During partner’s visit to Slovenia Representatives of Muho and Unesco were the honourable guests on the floating of new drevak, beside that the exhibition on textiles and Norwegian knitting, patterns, storytelling evening, and a lecture on the UNESCO convention of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage were organized.