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Indigenous Peoples across the world are calling on nation-states to “decolonize” laws, structures, and institutions that negatively impact them. Though the claims are broad based, there is a growing global emphasis on issues pertaining to indigenous Peoples’ cultural property and the harms of cultural appropriation, with calls for redress increasingly framed in the language of human rights. Over the last decade, Native people have actively fought to defend their cultural property. The Navajo Nation sued Urban Outfitters to stop the sale of “Navajo panties,” the Quileute Tribe sought to enjoin Nordstrom’s marketing of “Quileute Chokers,” and the descendants of Tasunke Witko battled to end production of “Crazy Horse Malt Liquor.” And today, Indigenous Peoples are fighting to preserve sacred ceremonies and religious practices at places like Standing Rock, Oak Flat, and Bear’s Ears. Though the claims range from “lands to brands,” these conflicts are connected by a common thread: they are all contemporary examples of Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to protect their cultural property. As issues surrounding cultural property play out on the global stage, there is a parallel movement underway within Indigenous communities themselves. More than fifteen years ago, in 2005, I conducted a comprehensive study of tribal law to understand what American Indian tribes were doing to protect their own cultural property within tribal legal systems. Since my original study, the ground around issues of cultural preservation and appropriation has shifted dramatically. Transformative changes in human and Indigenous rights—including the 2007 adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, among others—have reignited interest in Indigenous Peoples’ own laws. Inspired by a convergence of global events impacting cultural rights, in 2020 and 2021, I set out to update my survey results and analyze the tribal cultural preservation systems and tribal laws of all 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaskan Native Villages in the United States. This Article reports those findings, situating the results in a human rights framework and leading to a core, central thesis: the data reveal a striking increase in the development of tribal cultural property laws, as Indian tribes seek to advance human and cultural rights in innovative and inspired ways. Indeed, in this Article, I contend we are witnessing a new jurisgenerative moment today in the cultural property arena, with tribal law already influencing decisionmakers at multiple ‘sites’—international, national, and subnational—in real time, with great potential for the future. To further demonstrate this phenomenon, I highlight the case study of the recent agreement to repatriate the Maaso Kova, a ceremonial deer head, from Sweden to the Yaqui peoples, and I also introduce several other examples where the seeds have been planted for the growth of the next jurisgenerative moment in Indigenous cultural property rights.

The adaptive evolution of cultural ecosystems is a distinctive process along the Silk Road in China, involving the transitional interaction of nature and culture. This study aims to provide theoretical recommendations for the management of cultural heritage sites along the Silk Road to assess the values and keep the balance between tourism development and cultural heritage protection. The paper focuses on 22 cultural sites in western China to study the adaptive evolution pattern of cultural landscapes along the Silk Road with landscape changes and the transmission patterns of modern cultural tourism. Based on relevant literature reviews, historical maps, and geomorphological maps, the factors influencing the evolution of the cultural ecosystem are explored. We present both the theoretical and managerial implications: the cultural heritage of the urban areas can vigorously develop the cultural tourism with a high degree of industrialization, suburban areas can boost up traditional tourism product routes. We also assume that the degree of development of cultural tourism depends on the cultural ecosystem service and the environmental status of the cultural landscape.

The renovation and revitalization of vernacular architecture are pivotal in sustainable rural development. In regions like Shangri-La, traditional structures not only safeguard cultural heritage but also provide a foundation for enhancing local communities’ living conditions. However, these villages face growing challenges, including infrastructure decay, cultural erosion, and inadequate adaptation to modern living standards. Addressing these issues requires innovative research approaches that combine heritage preservation with the integration of contemporary functionality. This study employs a research-by-design approach, focusing on the Shanpian House as a case study, to explore how pre-planning and post-evaluation methods can revitalize traditional vernacular architecture. The pre-planning phase utilizes field surveys and archival research to assess spatial, cultural, and environmental conditions, framing a design strategy informed by field theory. In doing so, it evaluates how traditional architectural elements can be preserved while introducing modern construction techniques that meet current living standards. The post-evaluation phase, conducted through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, assesses user satisfaction, focusing on the impact of architectural esthetics, structural stability, and material choices. Key findings from an OLS regression highlight the strong positive correlation between architectural style, structural choices, and cultural relevance with resident satisfaction. The research emphasizes that design elements such as structural details, materials, and infrastructure upgrades are critical in shaping perceptions of both functionality and cultural identity. Interestingly, the model reveals that improving architectural esthetics, alongside modern indoor features such as network connectivity, has a significant impact on enhancing overall resident satisfaction (significance level: 0.181). This study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable building renovation by demonstrating how traditional architecture can be thoughtfully adapted for contemporary use and also proposes a paradigm shift in the renovation of historic buildings, advocating for a balance between preservation and modernization. The application of sustainable materials, digital modeling, and innovative construction techniques further ensures that these traditional structures meet the demands of modern civilization while maintaining their cultural integrity.

This study delves into the profound impact and significance of religious culture on the urban spatial configuration and local cultural essence of Macau amidst contemporary societal transformations. Emphasis is placed on how religious sites undergo functional reshaping and role redefinition within the urban fabric, thereby influencing residents’ quality of life, cityscape, and cultural identity. Adopting a spatial anthropological lens, this research employs a multitude of methodologies including city walking, participatory observation, and historical analysis to investigate the spatial configurations and developmental trajectories of Macau’s diverse religious sites and their immediate environments. The aim is to unearth the historical drivers behind the formation and dissemination of religious culture in Macau and to elucidate its intricate interactions with urban space. The findings reveal that religious sites in Macau not only physically delineate unique urban spatial patterns but also serve as vital hubs for fostering local cultural cohesion and weaving social networks through routine religious practices, community engagements, and a plethora of festive and ritualistic events. The pervasive influence of these sites extends across multiple domains of society, culture, and economy, playing a pivotal role in maintaining regional stability and harmony, enriching cultural diversity, and propelling socioeconomic transformation.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), culture provides the transformative dimension for ensuring the development process of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As one of the key drivers in the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, culture ensures a people-centered and context-relevant approach that cuts across a range of policy areas and, thus, in the context of quality education promotes the development of human resources for cultural and environmental sustainability. It is in this context that we report on a study aimed at developing students’ cultural identity and supporting the younger generation in preserving their cultural heritage, whilst learning chemistry concepts at the same time. The culturally responsive transformative teaching (CRTT) model served as a theoretical framework for the research to engage students in culture-based, high school chemistry learning by utilizing specially designed ethnochemistry texts that highlighted the relationship between cultural values and chemistry concepts. Case studies were conducted within the interpretive research paradigm and involved 149 students from four high schools in four Indonesian provinces, namely Banten, west Java, Bangka Belitung, and south Sumatra. In particular, we were interested in understanding how well students engage in this innovative transformative learning model, designed to educate them about cultural sustainability. We generated data by means of students’ reflective journals, semi-structured interviews with students, and classroom observations. In general, the results from the research strongly suggest that students involved in cultural identity reflection, engaged in cultural-based chemistry learning, explored cultural heritage through a chemistry lens, applied social etiquette and ethics, and developed cultural heritage preservation awareness. These are important aspects of cultural sustainability. The results imply that culturally responsive chemistry education has great potential for educating students and empowering them as conservationists of Indonesian culture. Further research on empowering students on cultural sustainability with other ethnochemistry topics within Indonesian cultural contexts is needed to further investigate the CRTT model’s broader efficacy.

Background/Objective. This study aims to explore the role and identity of collaboration in traditional festival performances in one of Indonesia's provinces, West Sulawesi. In the midst of the rapid pace of globalization, maintaining cultural identity is very important to foster social cohesion in society and educate future generations about existing local cultural values. Traditional festivals, with their involvement in social and educational life, play an important role in preserving culture and strengthening local identity. Material/Methods. This study used a case study research design with semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted with key representatives who have deep experience and are directly involved in implementing the traditional festival as an annual event to gain insight into the cultural dynamics and collaboration involved in implementing the festival. Results. The findings of the study show that traditional festival performances in these communities serve as a means of shaping community identity in response to globalization. This festival is also an effective medium in preserving local cultural values that have been passed down from previous generations to the current generation. In addition, the performance is recognized as an important form of learning for students to understand and appreciate their local culture and traditions. Conclusions. Although this study was limited to interviews as a data collection method, these findings highlight the importance of traditional festivals in introducing, promoting, and preserving local cultural identities and strengthening social cohesion in the midst of changing times. The festival also has a strategic role in education by providing the younger generation with deeper insight into their cultural values and traditions.

In the context of historical districts becoming a key to the urban transformation and high-quality development of Chinese cities, this paper investigates the regeneration of historic environments in China, emphasizing the creation of public value through urban morphology. By analyzing five distinct case studies—Chengdu KuanZhai Alley, Shanghai TianZiFang Alley, Guangzhou EnNing Road, Taiyuan ZhongLou Street, and Beijing NanLuoGu Alley—this study explores the relationship between urban form and public value creation from 2000 to 2020. The research posits that the spatial attribute of “public nature” is central to the regeneration process, highlighting the importance of understanding how urban spaces can foster community engagement and social interaction. An evaluation system is constructed to assess the regeneration of historic areas based on spatial “publicness” and people’s perceptions, addressing the need for a more nuanced approach to urban planning. The findings reveal that effective urban regeneration not only preserves historical significance but also enhances the quality of public spaces, thereby contributing to social equity and cultural integrity. This study aims to provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, advocating for a public value-oriented approach to the renewal of historic districts that balances economic development with the preservation of cultural heritage. The integration of public value concepts into heritage management is crucial for creating vibrant urban environments that resonate with community needs and aspirations.

While urban preservation is almost as old as cities themselves, it has become increasingly controversial in modern cities. In this book, Yue Zhang presents a cross-national comparative analysis of the politics of urban preservation. Based on comprehensive archival research and more than two hundred in-depth interviews in Beijing, Chicago, and Paris, Zhang finds that urban preservation provides a tool for diverse political and social actors to frame their propositions and advance their favored courses of action. In cities from West to East, divergent political and economic interests have caused urban preservation to become contested. Exploring three of the world's great cities, Zhang deftly navigates readers through each case study, illustrating the complexities of the politics of urban preservation in each city. In Beijing, urban preservation was integral to promoting economic growth and enhancing the city's image during the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics; in Chicago, it is used to increase property values and revitalize neighborhoods; and in Paris, it offers a channel for national and municipal governments to compete for control over urban space. Although urban preservation serves various purposes in these cities, Zhang explains how different types of political fragmentation have affected the implementation of preservation initiatives in predictable ways, thus generating distinct patterns of urban preservation. A comparative urban politics study of unusual breadth, The Fragmented Politics of Urban Preservation gives us insight into the complex policy process of urban preservation through which political institutions are intertwined with interests and inclinations, fundamentally shaping the direction of urban development, the physical forms of cities, and the lives of citizens.

This study examined the decline of traditional villages due to urbanization, focusing on their spatial patterns and architectural characteristics in China, particularly in the Guanzhong region. Using ArcGIS tools, kernel density and nearest-neighbor analyses quantitatively assessed the spatial distribution of these villages at macro- and micro-levels. Additionally, 3D laser scanning was employed to qualitatively analyze architectural features. The study demonstrated that (1) traditional villages are unevenly clustered nationwide, primarily in the southeast and southwest, creating a “three cores and multiple points” spatial pattern. (2) In the Guanzhong region, traditional village distribution also shows clustering with diverse patterns, including regiment, belt, and point formations. Higher densities are found in the eastern and northern regions, while the west and south are sparsely populated. Most villages are located at altitudes of 501–700 m, on slopes of 6–15°, and near water sources. (3) The basic residential structures in Guanzhong included the single, vertical multi-entry, and horizontal coupled courtyards, as well as the vertical and horizontal interleaved layouts; these buildings typically featured the foundations and walls made of earth, stone, and brick, combined with various wooden frames and single- or double-sloped roofs. This study overcomes the limitations of the traditional literature and field surveys by quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the spatial patterns of traditional villages and the architectural forms of residential buildings from an architectural perspective. It graphically presents the data to provide an efficient and practical theoretical basis for the heritage preservation and development of traditional villages.