Institute for Social & Cultural Research ISCR NICH

20/08/2026

𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 📌‼️
𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐖 !!!

Check out the official Belize Culture Fund Application Guide to review the guidelines and prepare your submission: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Guide

PDF Application here: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Apply

Call or email us at 822-3307 or [email protected] for more information.

20/08/2026

On August 19, the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR-NICH) delivered the Deer Dance attire to the community of San Antonio, Toledo District, in support of their traditional Deer Dance celebration. The San Luis Rey Roman Catholic Church, together with the San Antonio Village Council, is preparing to honor their patron Saint through the traditional Deer Dance.

Performances:

Day 1: Sunday, 23 August at 7 PM
Day 2: Monday, 24 August at 6 AM
Day 3: Tuesday, 25 August at 6 AM

ISCR-NICH is proud to support communities in safeguarding, practicing, and passing on living heritage such as the Deer Dance to future generations.

These performances are made possible through the support of the Ministry of Culture, the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, and the community of San Antonio, Toledo.

Everyone is welcome to attend! We look forward to seeing you there!

18/08/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE!
Keeping Independence Alive: Belize @45 Research Conference
Join us for a two-day conference commemorating Belize’s 45 years of independence through research, reflection, and critical conversations on our nation’s development and future.
🗓️ 30 September–1 October 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
📍 University of Belize Conference Center
City of Belmopan , Belize

📅 SAVE THE DATE!

Keeping Independence Alive: Belize @45 Research Conference

Join us for a two-day conference commemorating Belize’s 45 years of independence through research, reflection, and critical conversations on our nation’s development and future.

🗓️ 30 September–1 October 2026
⏰ 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
📍 University of Belize Conference Center
Belmopan City, Belize

17/08/2026

𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The annual Yellow Ginger Festival celebrated 11 years with its “Park Fest 2026” held at Punta Gorda’s Central Park on Saturday, August 15. Held under the theme “Embrace our Culture and shape our Future”, the event brought together community and showcased East Indian culture and heritage through performances and traditional cuisine, including favourites like dhal roti and takari and other foods.

Yellow Ginger Festival’s Park Fest 2026 provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase the Indo-Belizean Heritage of the East Indian community in southern Belize and is an avenue for highlighting the importance of passing these traditions on to future generations.

Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture, President Vaughn and the NICH Board congratulate the Yellow Ginger Festival Committee for their continued dedication in safeguarding, promoting, and celebrating East Indian traditions in Belize. Year after year, their efforts ensure that this important heritage remains vibrant for generations to come.

Here are a few highlights from Park Fest!

Learn more and download Volume 6 of our Belize Cultural Celebration Series featuring the Yellow Ginger Festival:

Link: https://tinyurl.com/YellowGingerBelize

15/08/2026

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚

On August 14, members of the ISCR team had the honor of joining the unveiling of a mural titled "Remembering Our Past, Reviving Our Roots, and Embracing Our Future as Indians in Belize" at the Punta Gorda Market and Plaza.

The mural serves as a tangible reminder of Belize's diverse cultural makeup as well as the vital history of the East Indian community and their contributions to our national development.

ISCR congratulates Jill Burgess for bringing this meaningful story to life through her artistic talent. Her work contributes to the cultural and artistic expressions of Punta Gorda and serves as a lasting reminder of the community’s heritage. We also extend our thanks to St. Peter Claver's College, which provided the resources that made this mural possible through the Belize Culture Fund.

Special thanks to the East Indian Community and their representatives in the East Indian Southern Chapter, as well as the Yellow Ginger Festival coordinators, for hosting this memorable ceremony and creating an event to honor this important chapter in history.

15/08/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮: 𝟲𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆!

NICH was proud to witness and support the 60th Anniversary of the San Joaquin Fiesta yesterday, celebrating six decades since the village's first fiesta in 1967.

We were deeply honoured to receive a special recognition award on behalf of NICH, celebrating our continued partnership with the San Joaquin community in preserving this beautiful tradition rooted in faith and heritage. Receiving the award were Rolando Cocom, Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR), and Giovani Pinelo, Public History Officer. Director Kim Vasquez of the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA) and her team were also present.

We thank Mr. Francisco Magaña of the Organizing Committee for his leadership and dedication.

We are equally grateful to the President of NICH, Mr. Albert Vaughan, and to the Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Culture, whose steady commitment to our nation's living heritage continues to open doors for communities like San Joaquin to celebrate and safeguard the traditions that define who we are as Belizeans.

Congratulations to the San Joaquin Fiesta committee and community on their dedication!

This is who and what we are.

For more information visit our Belize Living Heritage website to learn more: https://belizelivingheritage.org/belize-cultural-celebrations-series-vol-4-san-joaquin-fiesta-fiesta-de-san-joaquin/

14/08/2026

The Belize Food Heritage Project successfully concluded its Cayo District-level workshop on August 13, marking another milestone in Belize’s national effort to document, safeguard, and celebrate its rich culinary heritage.

Participants explored the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and gained hands-on experience documenting local food traditions, including Barbeque by Erva’s Restaurant, Ix' Pasha by the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative, Chirmole by El Fogón, and traditional local wine by Mr. Marion Avila.

These food traditions will contribute to the National Inventory of Belize’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, helping ensure that they are recognized, safeguarded, and celebrated for generations to come.

The Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR/NICH) extends sincere appreciation to all participants, UNESCO International Assistance, the Ministry of Culture, San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture, and the Museum of Belize for their invaluable support in making the workshop a success.

13/08/2026

On August 12, 2026, the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR-NICH) continued its Cayo District workshop, part of the Belize Food Heritage Project, at the San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture.

The second day brought together members of the Living Heritage Network from across the Cayo District to strengthen community efforts to document, celebrate, and safeguard Belize’s food heritage and foodways.

Participants explored the role of food traditions in sustainable development and disaster risk reduction and collaboratively identified potential community-based inventories of food traditions. The day also featured practical training in digital documentation, including videography, interviews, audio recording, and effective file management.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants, UNESCO International Assistance, and the Ministry of Culture and the Museum of Belize for their continued support of this important initiative.

To learn more about the Belize Food Heritage Project or contribute your knowledge, visit belizelivingheritage.org.

Here are some highlights from Day Two!

12/08/2026

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐖 !!!

Check out the official Belize Culture Fund Application Guide to review the guidelines and prepare your submission: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Guide

PDF Application here: https://tinyurl.com/BCF-Apply

Call or email us at 822-3307 or [email protected] for more information.

12/08/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞’𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞

The Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR-NICH) is hosting its sixth district-level workshop at the San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture from August 11-13, bringing together participants to learn how to document, safeguard, and celebrate Belize’s diverse food heritage.

The workshop opened with welcome remarks from Rolando Cocom, Director of ISCR-NICH, and Arreini Palacio-Morgan, Secretary-General of the Belize UNESCO Commission and member of the Board of Directors of NICH. Speakers highlighted the ongoing work of the Belize Food Heritage Project and reaffirmed NICH’s commitment to safeguarding our diverse culinary traditions and the livelihoods connected to them.

Designed to strengthen local capacity, day one of the workshop equips participants with knowledge of the 2003 UNESCO Convention and skills to document food heritage as part of a national effort to inventory, safeguard, and celebrate Belize’s culinary traditions.

ISCR-NICH extends its sincere gratitude to UNESCO International Assistance, the Ministry of Culture, and the Museum of Belize, the Museum of Belizean Art for their support in making this initiative possible.

To learn more about the Belize Food Heritage Project and contribute your own stories and knowledge, visit belizelivingheritage.org.