Documentation and archiving the performing arts
Issues of Intellectual Property Rights and Intangible Cultural Heritage

I have been working with the marginalized communities for the past 5 years. Ownership is an alien idea to the communities that i work with. The idea that a musical composition/land/myth/story belongs to an individual/community is certainly not their concern. This is why most of the tribal people did not even know when their land, culture and art were looted from them by foreign agencies, like State Govt., researchers and missionaries. And why is rights important to me? Because this is an area where violation of rights happens consistently, through the ages. Making the community understand their rights would be intruding into the basic philosophy of life of the commons. Once they are aware of their rights, it no longer is a cultural practice, it a product to be sold. But how do we involve in the issue. The best way i believe is to involve minimally, giving space for them to decide, as to how the document should be disseminated.