Year of creation: 1991
Domain(s):

- social practices, rituals and festive events
- knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
- traditional craftsmanship

Safeguarding measures:

- identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making)
- preservation, protection
- promotion, enhancement
- transmission, (non-)formal education
- revitalization

Objectives:
• Contribute to solving the problems of cultural, social and ecological environments in the
country, through the promotion of integral processes in the student, academic and
community fields.
• Promote and advance scientific and technological research, especially in the
archaeological, architectural, biological, geographical, historical and social areas.
• Provide advice and cooperation in scientific or technological research advanced or
promoted by other persons or entities.
• Disseminate and manage knowledge on cultural heritage, in its archaeological,
architectural, ecological, histroical and social aspects, through written publications,
databases, audio or visual media, exhibitions and lectures open to the public.
• Provide advice and cooperation for the maintenance, preservation, restoration,
building, managing and safeguarding of the intangible and material cultural heritage in its
archaeological, architectural, ecological, natural, historical and social aspects.
With these objectives, the foundation has developed a framework for working towards
the safeguarding of the intangible heritage which is expected to contribute specifically to
the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection and enhancement of the intangible heritage. Similarly, the efforts to promote solutions to the problems of the
country and the scientific and technological research in various areas have been
expanded to examine these areas from the issue of intangible heritage, serving also to
support its preservation.
Activities:
Monika Therrien. Director. Anthropologist and Master in History. Professor of the
Master's degree of Cultural Heritage and Territory and of the Specialization in
Conservation of Architectural Heritage. Project manager of the Erigaie Foundation. At
the moment she coordinates research on the impact of the policies of intangible heritage
for the MIA Cultural Heritage Observatory, on industrial heritage with the project 'Fábrica
de Loza Bogotana' and the relation between heritage and tourism in Villa de Leyva.
Germán Ferro. Investigator. He has work with the communities of the Department of
Huila in the development of research projects on cultural heritage in which he involves
the Colombian histrorical and regional context, using the assessment of local cultural
processes as main teaching tool, involving the communities as watchers and managers
of their own resources. Director of projects as "cultural inventory of Huila"; "travel to the
holy places of Huila".
Carlos del Cairo and Catalina García. Researchers. Coordinators of the research area
related to maritime and underwater cultural heritage in which framework have been
carried out projects such as "The Plan for awareness for the protection of underwater
cultural heritage, phases I and", the international Seminar on "Maritime Tierra Bomba"
and memory places in the township of Tierrabomba", focused on working with the
coastal and island communities and the recovery of the fishing traditions of the island.
Alvaro Santoyo and Mónica Hernández. Investigators. Alvaro Santoyo has worked since
1999 in the analysis of what the Colombian elite thinks about the Amazon area, and
since 2003, in issues related to memory, mithology, social organization and education in
Amerinidian societies of Vaupés. Mónica Hernández for her part, has developed projects
on spatial and territorial configuration in the Colombian Pacific. They both work on the
project "MIA (Material, Intangible and Archaeological) Cultural Heritage Observatory, in
the first phase of which they analize the impact of the heritage declarations in the case
of two populations, both, at the community level and the process of formulation of public
policies for these populations.
Cooperation:
In developing projects for the protection of cultural heritage, the Foundation has
supported the creation of local NGOs "ALCAESPO" and "Buceadores de la historia de
los cañones (Divers of the history of the cannons)" made up of mothers who are heads
of families and groups of fishermen from the island of Tierra Bomba, for the local
management of the maritime resources of the island. Through the signing of agreements
with these organizations, the Foundation ensures cooperation between the institutional,
the local and the academic sectors for the implementation of initiatives for the study,
protection and dissemination of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in coastal areas and
islands.
The development of joint projects with the Terra Firme NGO, formed by researchers
supported by the Erigaie Foundation, has allowed the generation of opportunities for
dissemination of the projects related to the Intangible Cultural Heritage at national and
international levels, by young researchers and professionals working in the field.
The development of the Seminar on Intangible Heritage "management, participation and
action" held in April, 2009, was conceived as a space for theoretical debate, analysis
and work methodologies on the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is done with the
participation of Colombian and foreign researchers who presented their case studies and
perspectives from which they have been addressed. Additionally, in four days were
presented experiences of managers, public officials and leaders of organizations to
identify and understand local contexts and the problems and challenges faced in the
formulation of public policies and action plans relating to cultural heritage and its
implementation and impact on local and regional authorities.
Through the implementation of valuation and empowerment methodologies of local
cultural resources it has been possible to involve communities from some municipalities
of the Department of Huila, as watchers and managers of the material and intangible
heritage.
The MIA (Material, Intangible and Archaeological) Cultural Heritage Observatory, has
been formed as a line of research devoted to the study of the discursive construction of
heritage and the production of relevant knowledge to act as a consultative body in the
formulation of public policies related to the indicated topic.