Preserving national culture with both mind and heart.

For a long time, Meritorious Artisan Kray Sức and Artisan Hồ Văn Hồi have considered preserving the cultural heritage of their ancestors as their duty. Recently, these two sons of the Quảng Trị mountains had the honor of going to Hanoi to participate in a conference honoring village elders, community leaders, artisans, and respected individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups. On this occasion, a reporter from Quảng Trị Newspaper had a conversation with the two artisans.

-First, congratulations to Meritorious Artist Kray Sức and artisan Hồ Văn Hồi on being honored and awarded at the national conference organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. How do the two artisans feel upon receiving this good news?

- Meritorious Artist Kray Sức: I am very happy to be present at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Đồng Mô, Sơn Tây, Hanoi, to attend the conference honoring village elders, community leaders, artisans, and influential figures who have made significant contributions to the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups. At the conference, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with those who "keep the flame" of ethnic culture alive and participate in many meaningful activities. In particular, we had the chance to convey our thoughts and aspirations regarding the preservation of ethnic culture to the Party and State leaders. This is a beautiful memory that I will never forget.

- Artisan Ho Van Hoi : Like Meritorious Artisan Kray Suc, I am very happy, honored, and proud to be selected to attend the conference organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Compared to most delegates, I am still young. Therefore, I pay attention to absorbing and learning so that I can contribute more to the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the traditional cultural values ​​of our nation in the future.

- Over the past period, how have artisans strived to preserve, safeguard, and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of their ethnic group?

-Artisan Ho Van Hoi: To date, I have spent over 20 years contributing to the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the traditional cultural values ​​of the Van Kieu ethnic group. Initially, seeing the decline of brocade weaving, I went to learn the craft to preserve it. After brocade weaving, the gradual disappearance of folk songs and traditional musical instruments troubled me, prompting me to get involved. Besides brocade weaving, I also know many traditional crafts; I can play about 10 types of Van Kieu musical instruments; and I have collected and preserved dozens of folk songs... I have visited many villages to teach and share what I have preserved and maintained.

Meritorious Artist Kray Sức (third from right) converses with young people about the beautiful cultural aspects of the Pa Kô people - Photo: Provided

- Meritorious Artist Kray Sức: I have dedicated nearly half my life to preserving, safeguarding, and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the Pa Kô people. I have used many methods such as: collecting, composing, and performing folk songs; crafting and using musical instruments; researching, documenting, and restoring beautiful customs and traditions; translating ancient songs... Previously, I sold a buffalo to fund an exhibition with some passionate Pa Kô people to photograph and showcase the life and traditional cultural beauty of my ethnic group. Like artisan Hồ Văn Hồi, I have had the opportunity to visit many villages of the Vân Kiều and Pa Kô people to share what I have collected and preserved. In 2015, I was honored to receive the title of Meritorious Artist.

- What motivates these artisans to do this unpaid work?

- Meritorious Artist Kray Sức : In my opinion, every ethnic group has its own origin, history, lineage, and story. That is what has helped that ethnic group survive to this day. The Pa Kô ethnic group is no exception. I am always proud to carry Pa Kô blood in my veins. It is this blood that has driven me to always want to contribute to my people. During my time as a cultural officer in the commune, I realized that if culture is lost, the Pa Kô people will lose their roots. Therefore, I have strived to preserve, protect, and promote the beautiful values ​​of my ethnic group. Starting from that awareness, I have come to like and cherish this work without even realizing it. Now, although I am old and frail, I still strive to continue this journey.

- Artisan Ho Van Hoi: I was born and raised in Pa Nho village, Khe Sanh town, Huong Hoa district. From a very young age, I saw my mother weaving brocade, my father playing the bamboo flute, and my grandparents singing folk songs... My love for the traditional cultural values ​​of the Van Kieu ethnic group grew naturally and intimately. As I grew up, seeing my peers and younger generations not very interested in traditional musical instruments, brocade costumes, and folk melodies, I felt a deep concern. Therefore, I felt the need to act to preserve the cultural values ​​of my people. I am very happy that my efforts have been recognized, appreciated, and supported by various levels of government and relevant agencies.

- In the process of working together to preserve, protect, and promote the traditional values ​​of their nation, what concerns do the two artisans have?

- Artisan Ho Van Hoi : In recent times, various levels of government and sectors have paid much attention to preserving, maintaining, and promoting the traditional values ​​of our nation. However, these efforts have not yielded the desired results. Faced with many choices, some young people often turn their backs on the beautiful values ​​of their people. Meanwhile, artisans face difficulties because they cannot make a living from their traditional craft and passion. Every day, I dedicate a session to weaving brocade. However, the products I make are not always in demand.

- Meritorious Artist Kray Sức : I have visited many rural areas and met many Vân Kiều and Pa Kô people to preserve their traditional cultural values. Besides the beautiful memories, these trips have left me with many concerns. Currently, a segment of the Vân Kiều and Pa Kô people are not deeply aware of the importance of preserving, maintaining, and promoting their traditional values. Some are unwilling to share the beautiful aspects they have inherited and help spread. The preservation of traditional values ​​is also seasonal, only surging like a sudden rain shower during festivals. Currently, I and other artisans are facing difficulties in documenting and preserving the things our ancestors left behind.

So, according to the two artisans, what should we do to preserve, protect, and promote the traditional values ​​of our nation?

- Meritorious Artist Kray Sức: I think that to preserve, protect, and promote traditional values, we must have a specific, long-term strategy, plan, and action program. Besides that, we need to create a favorable environment that helps people see the beauty and value of our culture and become more aware of preserving the good customs and traditions of our people. In addition to large festivals, we can organize smaller-scale programs such as cultural performances and competitions in villages. Currently, some localities and organizations have incorporated the beauty of ethnic culture into school lessons and extracurricular activities. I think this is a good approach and should be replicated. We need to help the younger generation understand and work together to preserve our ethnic culture with both their minds and hearts.

- Artisan Ho Van Hoi: I also share the same viewpoint as Meritorious Artisan Kray Suc. Attending the recent conference organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, I found that the delegates shared many excellent suggestions that resonated with my own thoughts. Specifically, all levels of government need to issue directives to restore, preserve, and develop ethnic cultures; have mechanisms and policies to support funding for the restoration of traditional cultural features; organize the collection, preservation, and introduction of folk cultural and artistic forms of ethnic groups to promote tourism; and pay attention to promoting the traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups in conjunction with community tourism development... Increasing investment in cultural institutions at the grassroots level and providing material and spiritual incentives for artisans and cultural workers in particularly difficult areas and ethnic minority regions is also extremely necessary.

Thank you, two artisans!

Tay Long (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/giu-gin-van-hoa-dan-toc-bang-ca-khoi-oc-lan-trai-tim-186521.htm