Rights

OMA TRADITIONAL DESIGN DATABASE

The visual imagery in this collection depicts textile Traditional Cultural Expressions of the Oma People of Nanam Village in Laos, together with information relating to the methods of textile creation, the scope and uses of each item of dress, and the symbolism and significance associated with the handmade motifs.

This information is passed on by the Oma People from generation to generation and has not been documented in such manner before. Digitizing this information is an act of cultural sustainability and an act of preserving cultural diversity.

This was compiled as part of “Securing Cultural Intellectual Property Rights for the Oma of Laos – Traditional Design Digital Library”, a cultural intellectual property rights advocacy project providing a tool for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, tribes, and ethnic groups who are interested in protecting and promoting their Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs).