Summary Report for Fiscal Year 2014 Historic Preservation Symposium

Introduction: "The Historic Preservation Symposium was held on September 28 & 29, 2015, a two-day symposium. This year marked the 11th year of the Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation (BC&HP) symposium. The BC&HP office held the 2-day symposium in Melekeok State. The theme of the symposium was 'Managing Cultural Heritage in a Changing Environment.' This year the BC&HP office held the 2-day symposium in Melekeok State. The reason for bringing the symposium to the state community is for the respective state people to join and contribute to the discussion and decision of ways to preserve and protect our cultural and historical heritage. In addition, to spread awareness and publicize the importance of protecting and preserving Palau's cultural heritage and historic and cultural resources to all the people in each of the sixteen states of Palau by holding the symposium from state to state each year. The venue was Melekeok State Office, Melekeok State. The first day was a whole day of presentations and group work sessions. The second day was a half day of historical and cultural sites tour to visit Melekeok state historical and cultural sites and in the afternoon a wrap up session and closing ceremony at the venue (Melekeok State Office). Unfortunately, the participants weren't able to get off the bus and tour the sites due to bad weather with strong winds and heavy rain. The participants visited the sites by just looking at it from inside the bus while the tour guides gave the narrative of the sites. The objectives of the symposium were: to educate the public and to make them aware of the importance of protecting and preserving Palau's cultural heritage and historic and cultural resources; to publicize the Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation programs and its mission; to continue to educate the key community leaders and to gain their support in regards to policy issues of related areas; and to continue to create innovate ways to entice and motivate our young generation to respect and practice our customs and traditions so they can pass it on generation to generation." Project funding was provided by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Palau Historic Preservation Program, Bureau of Cultural and Historical Preservation, Ministry of Community of Community & Cultural Affairs, administered by the Pacific West Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P15AF00022).

Summary Report for Fiscal Year 2014 Historic Preservation Symposium

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