Who Knows What? Inclusivity Versus Exclusivity in the Interactions of Heritage and Local-Indigenous Communities

Abstract

This paper presents a new approach to relationship of heritage places and communities who in fact create, develop, shape, and make heritage places significant aspects for their identity, memory as well as daily life. Because of these, I argue that local and indigenous communities cannot be separated from the decision-making process of any heritage places. The old approaches such as “top-down approach” are unethical and not helpful for protection of heritage places. Instead of this colonial and elitist approach, heritage practitioners should more focus on people-centered bottom-up approach, and local and indigenous communities should be in the center of decision-making process. In this paper, I will discuss the concept and structure of community and expose three heritage sites and associated local and indigenous communities and then will discuss pitfalls and potentials of including and excluding communities from their cultural heritage.