Protecting Falconry - A Journey of A Thousand Steps

Protecting falconry and its Intangible Cultural Heritage. To boldly go where other nations have gone before....

More than just an activity, falconry is a lifestyle, an art, a tradition, a culture, a heritage. Falconry is about knowledge passed down from generation to generation, traditions celebrated, stories shared and skills showcased.

Falconry is recognized in many nations as cultural heritage. These nations have ratified the UNESCO Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage Convention recognizing falconry as an element that needs safeguarding. Presently, Canada and the USA are not signatories to the convention. There are a large number of heritage groups in both nations working towards ratification. Falconry is one of the most universal heritage activities inscribed and shared in common with a large number of the signatory countries. The ICH Committee is ensuring that North American Falconers' voices are heard and our culture and heritage is protected. We will be working both independently and collaboratively with these heritage groups to help our respective governments work through some of the tasks that need to be completed before the convention will be signed. We are blessed to be working alongside some of the individuals that helped advise UNESCO in creating the convention, as well as taking advice from the International Association of Falconry on how to strengthen and prepare for a submission. We admit that it will be a long and arduous journey, but if we do not start walking down the road, we will never get anywhere.

It is the goal of the ICH Committee to document and demonstrate our unique cultural heritage which helps us identify as a heritage and cultural group, not just another sporting or hunting activity. Falconry is hunting with birds of prey, but it is also so much more. What we do now will help protect falconry for future generations. The UNESCO convention signatory and designation would be the icing on the cake, but first we must make the cake.

Committee projects and progress will be posted here so please subscribe, read and come back often.

Let's journey together.... ICH Committee

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