Display at House no. 760D
The family has prepared a display of old photographs and documents that give visitors an insight into the history of the house, the family and the kampung landscape.
UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)
The UNESCO convention examines the involvement of the community in protecting intangible cultural heritage. The organization officially recognizes the cultural community as an important asset to “safeguard”, “ensure respect” and to “raise awareness” of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The convention also proposes the shift from a top-down approach to a bottom-up approach where the cultural community is given more power in the management of their culture and heritage. The community is empowered to ensure that the “living culture of the people”, which encompasses the traditional knowledge and practices of their local culture, is not threatened by global forces and is sustained (Blake 2009).
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In Singapore, the alarming rate of development has displaced communities residing in rural landscapes and vernacular houses, threatening the continuity of our intangible cultural heritage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to recognise and empower the remaining communities with traditional knowledge.
In the process of shaping Pulau Ubin’s identity to fit the national narrative, it is also important to acknowledge and engage the residents and Ubin community that still exist on the island. They play an essential role as hosts to visitors, shaping their understanding of Ubin lifestyles. Through opening up their compounds to hold various activities, they preserve the tangible cultural heritage – their wooden kampung houses – which embody the intangible cultural heritage such as the knowledge of constructing wooden houses, memories and the everyday culture of life on Ubin.
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Currently, NParks only commits to community engagement for vacated houses slated for restoration. There is still potential to empower the existing community. The continuity and sustainability of the Ubin’s intangible cultural heritage manifested in the knowledge, skills and memories of its residents adds depth to the cultural landscape of Pulau Ubin. As Cik Kamariah expresses, “It is my dream to restore the house so more people can come and appreciate it”.
