Mapping of Cultural Assets in NWFP

What is cultural mapping?

The idea of "cultural mapping" arises from a social, economic, or cultural need at the local or national level. Although it is not an end in itself, cultural mapping serves as a tool and methodology to answer this need. Relevant to UNESCO is the mobilization of existing tools and instruments as a fundamental step in its general objective of safeguarding cultural diversity. Cultural mapping, as one such instrument, embraces a wide range of techniques and activities that range from community-based participatory approach in identifying and documenting local cultural resources and activities to the use of innovative and sophisticated information tools like GIS.

Data collected on the cultural assets can be represented through a variety of formats like geographic maps, graphs, database, and others. From this, a comprehensive view of the country's cultural resources is acquired. Consequently, the documented data serve as a prerequisite to develop a sensitive national strategy and programme taking into account the cultural heritage and respecting the cultural diversity of a country.

Mapping of Cultural Assets in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan
The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) is a land of diversity, known for its rich variety of dialects, customs, surroundings, food, dress code, crafts and traditions. Given its multifaceted nature and practical advantages, the use of "mapping" would be especially significant in determining the cultural assets of particularly remote and marginalized societies of NWFP where values, languages and cultural traditions are fast disappearing and remain unrecorded. As a long term objective, this treasure if mapped and promoted in its natural form could be utilized for poverty alleviation within the natural and cultural environments.

All areas of the NWFP have something to offer. An unimaginable wealth of traditional crafts, folk lore, music, historic buildings, sites and monuments lie hidden in the culturally rich areas of Chitral, Hazara, Swat, Peshawar and other districts on NWFP. However, the cultural heritage - both tangible and intangible – of NWFP is deteriorating in some places in pursuit of modernity and commercial gain, while in others out of sheer neglect. Against this backdrop a project proposal was developed by UNESCO Islamabad in 2006, which took off in May 2007, with generous support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.

The main purpose of the project is to obtain information on traditional knowledge systems of local communities and real insight into diverse people, history, identity, and knowledge thereby advancing the spirit of cultural pluralism.

Strategy:  A participatory approach has been adopted for cultural mapping, whereby, the local communities are involved in identifying and mapping out resources that are meaningful to them. This approach instills a sense of ownership and pride of their cultural roots and identity and empowers the community.

The project targets seven districts of NWFP to begin with, namely: Chitral, Swat, Bannu, Mardan, Mansehra, Charsadda and Peshawar.

Benefits of cultural mapping:

• In mapping out cultural resources, knowledge systems from traditional arts and crafts to agricultural practices are unveiled and made known to the community and to others. These old but ingenious practices and skills may be learned, revitalized, and applied in new creative ways for sustainable community development. In other words, cultural mapping can create livelihood opportunities.
• When cultural elements are recorded in tangible and 'soft' forms, it becomes possible to pass these cultural assets from one generation to another and from one country to another. Oral traditions are equally important and valid but tangible and visual expressions of knowledge, values, and spiritual forms are more relevant and credible testimonies in asserting one's identity and rights at the local or international scene.
• As important knowledge systems, distinct heritage and histories are recorded, kept and shared across time and borders, a meaningful medium for giving expressions to diverse cultures is created and a space for intercultural dialogue is made possible.  

Chitral

Introduction
The State of Chitral was a former princely state of Pakistan and British India which ceased to exist in 1969. The area of the state now forms part of the Chitral District in the North-West Frontier Province.

The former princely capital, Chitral Town, is situated on the west bank of the Chitral (or Kunar River) at the foot of Tirich Mir which at 7,708 m or 25,289 ft is the highest peak of the Hindu Kush.

District Chitral offers tremendous trekking opportunities for international and domestic tourists because it has more than twenty passes opening into different valleys and villages of Chitral.

The area is also noted for the neighbouring valleys of Birir, Bamboorat and Rumbur, the Kalash valleys, home to the people of the same name. These people are a significant minority population in Chitral and their traditional way of life is threatened by poor economic opportunities in the valleys and the departure of younger people in search of greener pastures.

Geographical location
The easiest access to Chitral is in the southwest along the Kunar valley towards Jalalabad; this route is open all year round and provides direct access to Kabul.  However the Pakistan-Afghanistan border prevents this being used as an internal route to Peshawar and the south.

The other routes are over mountain passes. To the south, the Lowari Pass leads 365 km to the region of Peshawar. In the north, the easiest route during summer (it is closed by snow in the winter), and the only one which allows the use of pack animals, runs over the Broghol Pass to Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridir. To the east, is the route to Gilgit over the 3,719 m (12,201 ft) Shandur Pass. And in the west, the Dorah Pass provides an additional route to Afghanistan.

Local population
The main tribe, the Khow, speak Khowar (or Chitrali), one of the Dardic languages which is also spoken in parts of Yasin, Gilgit and Swat. Pashto is also spoken and understood by some in the city. Chitral is known for the famous Kalash tribe, the native inhabitants that ruled the region for centuries later invaded by "Khow“. The Kalashas reside in three remote valleys west of Ayun, which is ten miles down Chitral town.

The culture of Chitral is conservative Islamic. Women mostly remain indoors and are seen only by male relatives and other women.