KUCHING: Mark your calendar as the first conference on shamanism in Malaysia will be held here at the Borneo Cultural Museum from Aug 25 to 28.
According to the Sarawak Museum Department on its website, the museum has won the bid to host the conference of the 3rd International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism (ISARS).
“By hosting this conference, Sarawak will gather international and national researchers, academicians, museums employees and local communities who are passionate about this traditional cultural heritage.
“And to jointly explore progress in issues and challenges of the most discussed issues related to shamanism, with an in-depth look at issues of the last decades such as globalisation, environmental or ecological degradation, cultural resilience and the universal spiritual wisdom inherent to all indigenous tribes,” it said.
The Museum Department added that as all ancient spiritual practices were rooted in nature, shamanism was the method by which we as human beings could strengthen that natural connection.
“We hope to increase community awareness, especially on the legal impact of preserving the traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage of Sarawak on traditional arts of healing from dying out due to social and religion changes.
“Sarawak Museum is a fitting location from which to promote the academic multidisciplinary research of the religious therapeutic systems which has been around in Borneo since immemorial time,” it said.
By hosting this conference, the Museum Department said that Sarawak would gain more in terms of knowledge expansion, networking, professional relationships and collaborations, education outcomes, fundraising and future research capacity plus international profiling of the destination.
The conference, themed “Shamanism and Crisis: Seeking Human Identity, aims to promote the academic multidisciplinary research of the religious therapeutic systems; to encourage and support the studies of academicians and scholars on shamanism; and to increase community awareness on preserving the traditional knowledge on ancient healing tradition and the ancient spiritual practices by indigenous cultures worldwide.
Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and an ancient spiritual practices by indigenous cultures worldwide.
Medicine men, natural healers and those that were connected to spirits and power have historical documentation back from at least the last 20,000 – 30,000 years.
It is a cross-cultural spiritual path practiced in every continent of the world.
Meanwhile, for further enquiries regarding ISARS Conference 2022, contact Sarawak Museum Department via email at doraj@sarawak.gov.my, or follow @borneoculturesmuseum Facebook and Instagram page for latest update on this conference, or visit ISARS’s website at httpsHYPERLINK “https://www.isars.org/conferences/sarawak2022/”
