HAIPA Hosting Panel Discussion on Traditional Knowledge and Haitian Culture at the Smithsonian 2004 Folklife Festival

 Haitian culture was showcased for three consecutive weeks (June 27-July 03) in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival this year.  The exhibition entitled Haiti: Freedom and Creativity from the Mountain to the sea was a huge success.  The exhibition presented an opportunity for more than a million and half people of all walks of life to experience the Haitian culture first hand. Among the participants of the festival were Haitian musicians, artisans, cooks, storytellers, vendors, and scholars.  Visitors of the festival did not only get a chance to glimpse at the culture, but also they had ample opportunities to learn in a more meaningful way the struggle for freedom and creativity in the Haitian way of life.  Visitors learned about the root of the Haitian language, Creole, and as well as how to say a few word in Creole by attending tutorial sessions. Some learned how to cook Haitian food.  Many attended lectures on the Haitian revolution, voodoo ceremonies and others participate in discussions relating to the continued struggle of the Haitian in the Diaspora. 

Two presentations in particular were devoted to discuss issues pertaining to intellectual property and the Haitian culture.  Particularly, Mr. Jean Homere and Mr. Albert DeCady, both directors of HAIPA, led the two discussion panels on the subjects of  “Traditional Knowledge: Owning it and Passing it on” and  “Who owns Haitian Culture.” respectively.   During these two discussion sessions, many artists, artisans, musicians, and dancers used this forum to voice their opinions regarding the lack of protection for their work in Haiti and in the world at large. 

 During the first session, the panelists took the opportunity to discuss how traditional knowledge, if protected in Haiti, can provide these Haitian artisans with an economic edge.  The panelists discussed how these various traditional knowledge came into being and how they have been preserved and evolved over time. The panelists also discussed that traditional knowledge would be the best medium of protection for Haitian artisans, and recommend that Haiti take a more active role in ongoing effort to extend intellectual property protection to traditional knowledge.  During the second session, the panelists discussed the origin and evolution of Haitian Culture.  Particularly, the panelists discussed how indigenous cultures, influences from Africa, France, Spain, England, and the United States have impacted the Haitian culture over time. The panelists also noted that over time, the Haitian art and culture have dynamically evolves to reflect and capture the political and economic atmospheres in Haiti.