Fostering Culture and Creative Industries and the Need for Indigenous Peoples’ Responsibility to Act in their Own Interests

Abstract

While the term industries is exciting because it points to development, progress and sophistication, it can be a problem if it is harnessed together with culture and creativity because industries can be disruptive, bringing in a world system of exploitation, expansion, commodification and profiteering at the expense of the non-commercial modes of production and the indigenous traditional role of creativity and culture. This paper argues that when the logic of capitalism – markets and monetization drive creativity and culture, the ceremonial and ritualistic value and meaning of art can be sacrificed and the custodianship of cultural spaces and practices by indigenous people can be prostituted. The result can be a new type of creativity and culture that does not serve the interests of indigenous people, but of corporates.