A new online periodical based in Smithers is offering unique perspectives on culture, focusing on the management of this resource.
And that makes sense — publisher Rick Budhwa is the principal of Crossroads Cultural Resource Management. His company has done work in places like Moricetown and Hagwilget.
Now he and editor Amanda Follet Hosgood have created Culturally Modified with the help of contributors as varied as university professors, world-renowned photographers and Indigenous elders. The first quarterly edition went up this month at culturallymodified.org after six months of preparation.
Follet Hosgood said the first question she is often asked is what exactly is cultural resource management. She pointed to the work of Crossroads as an example.
“It works in that in-between space. We do anthropology, archeology, but we’re always doing it with that cultural component. So if we’re working with a community, we’re working with that community’s cultural concerns,” explained Follet Hosgood.
“For example, when we do an archeology project we’re not just coming in and digging, we’re thinking — say it’s a burial ground — what does this mean to the community and how can we make this easier for them by engaging them and keeping them involved and considering their own traditions.”
Other cultural impacts considered include landmarks or natural resources that are also cultural resources like salmon in northern B.C.
The periodical will have a northern B.C. perspective because of where it’s from, but Follet Hosgood pointed out the next issue in January has a them of world views, giving it a more international flavour.
“It will always have a northern B.C. flavour, but we’ll definitely be reaching out to people beyond our borders to get involved,” she explained.
Follet Hosgood and Budhwa contributed to the first edition, but they are looking for more contributors to join the forum they have created. Anyone interested can find the link on their website.
The main categories of the nine stories published each edition are broken into are research — stories on scientific papers that help explain the science to the rest of us, experience — personal perspectives like that of local carver Ron Austin, and stories on current events — a more traditional news magazine style.
Crossroads has been funding Culturally Modified, but they are looking for subscribers and more potential funders.
