Rich Rewards: Cultural Diversity and Heritage Practice

2. Definitions

These are working definitions for the purposes of this report.

Cross-cultural

• Cross cultural is a term used to describe a process or activity that addresses people with a range of cultural

Culturally diverse heritage practices

• Culturally diverse heritage practices are defined as those practices that ensure that the experiences and contributions of migrants are included as an integral part of all heritage activities.

Cultural Network

• This term recognises that heritage is practiced through a range of activities across a broad range of organisations. It is also recognises that people from ethnic backgrounds are an integral part of the network.

Ethnic and ethnic community

• The term ethnic is used for the purposes of this report to refer to people who share cultural heritage. This may be marked by country of origin, ancestry, religious code, or language. It is acknowledged that the term ethnic is problematic. It is often attached exclusively to people from non-English backgrounds. This obscures the ethnicity that underpins the background of all people. It may also set up a hierarchy where Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Celtic are perceived to be a norm, while ethnicity is marginalised.
• The use of the term ethnic in this report acknowledges that all people are ethnic. While recognising the structural disadvantages that ethnicity may place on certain members of the community, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds, the term is used in a non-hierarchical manner.
• The term migrant is sometimes used as an alternative to ethnicity. However this term was often not applicable in the context of this program. For example, the term migrant does not describe a fourth generation Australian born Chinese person. His or her 'Chineseness' or ethnicity remains a central concept in shaping community and individual identity. The term migrant is also underpinned by ideas of movement that may imply a lack of belonging, settlement or association with place and was therefore not appropriate in the context of a heritage project.
• This report defines the term 'ethnic community' as groups of people with shared cultural heritage. This may be based on country of origin, language group, ancestry or religious codes. It recognises, however, that no community is homogenous and that all communities are marked by differences of attitude and idea, and of class, gender, and age.

Ethno-specific

• This term describes communities or activities that focus on one ethnic group or community.