Efforts to preserve and promote cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district

(Fatherland) - In recent times, the work of preserving, maintaining and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district (Thua Thien Hue ) has been implemented promptly and synchronously, thereby achieving many positive results.

A Lưới is a mountainous district in the western part of Thừa Thiên Huế province, located about 70km from Huế city and bordering the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The district comprises 17 communes and 1 town, home to many ethnic groups, including five main groups: Pa Cô, Tà Ôi, Cơ Tu, Pa Hy, and Kinh. Each ethnic group possesses unique traditional culture and characteristics that define the region.

A Lưới is also a revolutionary base area during the two resistance wars, boasting 72 historical sites. Currently, the locality has two National Intangible Cultural Heritage sites: the Dèng brocade weaving craft of the Ta Oi people and the A Da Koonh festival (celebrating the new rice harvest) of the Pa Co people. In addition, A Lưới district is blessed with abundant natural landscapes, rivers, streams, mountains, forests, and diverse vegetation. Its climate is likened to a giant "air conditioner," and it is praised as one of the seven most beautiful valleys in the country.

A Lưới is a region rich in cultural identity in Thừa Thiên Huế province, home to a large population of ethnic minorities.

In recent years, A Lưới district has identified the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities as a long-term strategic task and a responsibility of the entire society, requiring close cooperation between all levels and sectors, between the people and social organizations. In this process, the State plays a supporting role, influencing and creating favorable conditions for the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in the area.

Resolution No. 06-NQ/HU dated October 8, 2021, on "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district in the period 2021-2023 with a vision to 2030" of the A Luoi District Party Committee also identifies the goal of strengthening the preservation, safeguarding, and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities, prioritizing the preservation of intangible cultural heritage belonging to the national list of intangible cultural heritage; and historical and cultural relics ranked at the national, national, and provincial levels that are at risk of disappearing due to the impact of the market economy . It also aims to promote the unique cultural identity of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district in line with the motto "culture truly becomes the spiritual foundation of society, both a goal and a driving force for socio-economic development."

After three years of implementation, the work of preserving, maintaining, and promoting the traditional cultural identity of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district has achieved many positive results, which are highly commendable. These results are clearly and comprehensively demonstrated across many fields, especially in the preservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural values.

According to the People's Committee of A Lưới District, regarding tangible cultural heritage, the district currently has 150 community centers. Of these, 20 traditional communal houses of the Ta Oi ethnic group have been restored; 3 traditional communal houses of the Co Tu ethnic group have been restored; and 1 traditional Moong house of the Pa Co ethnic group has been restored. A community cultural center for ethnic groups, a district-level tourism information center, and 3 centers for displaying cultural and war artifacts have been built. Three traditional Piing houses of the Pa Co ethnic group and one traditional Piing house of the Co Tu ethnic group have been restored. 135 village name signs in three languages ​​(Vietnamese, English, and the local language) have been installed.

In particular, the locality has built and put into operation the Traditional Ethnic Minority Cultural Village of A Luoi District, fulfilling the aspiration for a "common home" to preserve, maintain, and promote the traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups, serving as a bridge to connect the local community. It also creates another tourist destination contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of A Luoi District.

The recently inaugurated traditional cultural village of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district has met the desire for a "common home" to preserve, maintain and promote the traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups.

In addition, A Lưới district has also restored and preserved the architecture, patterns, and decorative motifs of the traditional Gươl houses of the Cơ Tu ethnic group in Hồng Hạ commune. Three more cultural tourism villages have been established: A Lin Community Ecotourism Village in Trung Sơn commune; A Roàng 2 Community Tourism Village in A Roàng commune; and Hồng Hạ Tourism Cooperative in Hồng Hạ commune.

The project involves developing models for preserving traditional plant varieties. It includes opening classes to teach traditional crafts such as pottery, weaving, sculpture, crafting traditional musical instruments, and making the Nêu tree (a traditional New Year's pole). To date, five traditional craft villages, five cooperatives, and one Dèng weaving group have been restored. Three experiential learning models have been developed: exploring the Dèng weaving craft of the Ta Oi ethnic group, pottery making, and weaving. Products made from Dèng or woven materials are durable, beautiful, and aesthetically pleasing, participating in exhibitions both domestically and internationally, and attracting the attention and favor of tourists and fashion designers.

The cultural identity of ethnic minorities in A Lưới district is introduced and promoted in many programs and events.

A project to collect artifacts for display at the Ethnic Minority Cultural Village has been developed. A plan to arrange and display cultural artifacts, artifacts, and war relics at the Exhibition House of the Ethnic Community Activity Center of A Luoi District has been drawn up.

Many cultural facilities and institutions that A Luoi district has invested in and built over the past time have contributed significantly to changing the overall face of the locality. In addition, they have practically contributed to effectively achieving the goals of preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in the district.

Regarding the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, many traditional rituals and festivals of ethnic groups in the area have been studied, restored, and recreated by the local authorities in various activities and events. These include : the Tac Ka Coong Festival; the Koal Festival; the An Ninh Festival; the A Pier ritual; the A Rieu Car Festival; the integration of the traditional A Da Festival into the National Unity Day; the organization of the A Da Koonh Night Festival and the Di Sim (Poc Xu) custom; the art of bathing fairies at the A Nor eco-tourism community village; the New House Celebration - A Rieu Ngoi Dung Festival; the Deng offering ritual;…

In addition, A Lưới district directed the People's Committees of Trung Sơn, Hồng Kim, and Hồng Thượng communes to organize the A Riêu Piing Festival of the clans in accordance with customs and traditions, avoiding superstition. They also participated in the Dèng weaving exhibition and demonstration at the event "Some typical folk painting styles of Vietnam and traditional crafts of Hue"; the exhibition "The beauty of A Lưới's traditional culture through sketching art"; the "Connecting Vietnam" workshop; and successfully organized the A Lưới Highland Festival…

Many ethnic festivals in A Lưới district have been researched, restored, and integrated into various local activities.

In terms of literature and art, the locality has opened classes to teach the written and spoken languages ​​of the Pa Cô, Tà Ôi, and Cơ Tu ethnic groups; provided training and instruction, and integrated the introduction of traditional festivals, folk songs, folk dances, and folk music to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of these ethnic groups; and infused traditional culture into social life.

The organization researches, collects, edits, and compiles folk songs, proverbs, and riddles; 123 culinary dishes of the Pa Cô, Tà Ôi, and Cơ Tu people; and collects information on clans, place names, river names, village names, and festivals. Currently, it is editing, printing, and publishing 25 songs written about the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, and praising the homeland of A Lưới; traditional ethnic festivals; legends of clans; and legends of place names in two languages.

The local culinary culture is currently being preserved and promoted by the people during festivals and holidays such as the A Riêu A Da, A Riêu Piing, and A Riêu Car festivals, weddings, and is also being introduced and served to tourists at tourist destinations, homestays, and restaurants in the district. Simultaneously, it is being promoted at food festivals organized by the district, province, and central government. A handbook titled "Handbook of 100 Traditional Dishes of the A Lưới Highlands" has been published…

The culinary culture of A Lưới attracts tourists from near and far, and the A Lưới market is a popular destination for visitors to explore and learn about whenever it is held.

It can be seen that, after 3 years of implementing Resolution 06 NQ/HU, the work of preserving, maintaining, and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in A Luoi district has been enthusiastically supported by officials and people of A Luoi district, clearly demonstrating the value of traditional cultural identity of ethnic groups in many fields. The preservation of ethnic cultures and the development of tourism have also been harmoniously combined. From there, the district has gradually built and diversified distinctive cultural and tourism products to introduce and promote the image, land, and people of A Luoi to domestic and international tourists.

The Trung

Source: https://toquoc.vn/no-luc-bao-ton-phat-huy-gia-tri-van-hoa-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-huyen-a-luoi-2024102323050514.htm