Round Table on Intangible and Underwater Cultural Heritage Data (I/UCH)
Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Dublin Core
Title
Round Table on Intangible and Underwater Cultural Heritage Data (I/UCH)
Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
Description
The purpose of this project was to carry out anthropological research in outer islands of the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM) as identified and pre-arranged by traditional community organizations and historic
preservation offices of Chuuk State and Yap State, as well as Yap State’s Council of Tomol).
1 The objective of
this project was two-fold: (1) through round table discussion, create and improve awareness of I/UCH data
collection and protection of culturally appropriate ways for documenting knowledge related to navigation,
wayfinding, and women's roles in exchange relationships promoted through navigation and wayfinding and (2)
understand the role of exchange relationships in food sovereignty of the past and present contexts. The method
for visiting these islands was by sailing boat, aboard it a project team including a traditional Micronesian
navigator, translator, two anthropologists, two historic preservation officers, and a lifelong sailing boat captain,
which sailed from Kosrae to Chuuk Lagoon, to Polowat, and lastly to Pohnpei. While visiting target islands,
communities arranged themselves into groups of women and men with children permitted to attend for the
round table discussion and individual interviews took place on food sovereignty. The expected results of this
project included gaining a deeper understanding of islanders’ perceptions of I/UCH, culturally appropriate
practices for preservation, protecting heritage through community-based discussion about these topics, and
enable islanders to collect their own I/UCH data and transmit to an established repository. Through this project
and associated experiences, the project team gained a deeper understanding of meteorological challenges
communities may face in attempts to carry out community-based inventorying.
Micronesia (FSM) as identified and pre-arranged by traditional community organizations and historic
preservation offices of Chuuk State and Yap State, as well as Yap State’s Council of Tomol).
1 The objective of
this project was two-fold: (1) through round table discussion, create and improve awareness of I/UCH data
collection and protection of culturally appropriate ways for documenting knowledge related to navigation,
wayfinding, and women's roles in exchange relationships promoted through navigation and wayfinding and (2)
understand the role of exchange relationships in food sovereignty of the past and present contexts. The method
for visiting these islands was by sailing boat, aboard it a project team including a traditional Micronesian
navigator, translator, two anthropologists, two historic preservation officers, and a lifelong sailing boat captain,
which sailed from Kosrae to Chuuk Lagoon, to Polowat, and lastly to Pohnpei. While visiting target islands,
communities arranged themselves into groups of women and men with children permitted to attend for the
round table discussion and individual interviews took place on food sovereignty. The expected results of this
project included gaining a deeper understanding of islanders’ perceptions of I/UCH, culturally appropriate
practices for preservation, protecting heritage through community-based discussion about these topics, and
enable islanders to collect their own I/UCH data and transmit to an established repository. Through this project
and associated experiences, the project team gained a deeper understanding of meteorological challenges
communities may face in attempts to carry out community-based inventorying.
Creator
Ashley Meredith
David Fazzino
Ranger Walter
Augustine Kohler
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2021
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Meredith, Ashley, David Fazzino, Ranger Walter, and Augustine Kohler. 2021. “Round Table on Intangible and Underwater Cultural Heritage Data (I/UCH) Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).” Edited by Brian Fahy, Hans Van Tilburg, Bill Jeffery, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Riley Smith. In Proceedings of Fourth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Keelung,Taiwan, and Virtual, November 1-5, 2021. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology URL: https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/exhibits/show/apconf-muchproceedings/item/662
Rights Holder
Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage
Files
Collection
Citation
Ashley Meredith et al., “Round Table on Intangible and Underwater Cultural Heritage Data (I/UCH)
Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM),” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/662.
Collection in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM),” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/662.