Interpreting with Justice: Our Role in the Narrative of Heritage
- Comite Editorial I-PAL
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Which voices count? Which landscapes speak? Which memories have been left on the margins of our interpretative narratives?
If you've been working in heritage interpretation for some time, you'll know your role is not simply about conveying information. You are not merely a data facilitator, but a "weaver of meaning". Every word you choose, every story you highlight, and every connection you propose shapes how people understand heritage—and how they value it.
In this context, Interpreting with Justice is not an abstract idea or a modern add-on: it is an ethical compass inviting you to reflect on the impact of your work honestly and deeply. It's not just about being more inclusive; it's about ensuring that all memories—human and natural—are given the space and dignity they deserve.
Ethical commitment to diversity
To interpret with justice is to understand that heritage is laden with meaning—and often with silences. From official narratives that glorify national milestones, to landscapes bearing environmental scars, every interpretive element can either reinforce or challenge dominant narratives.
It requires accepting that what we know and transmit as “heritage” is not an automatic inheritance. Its definition, selection, and presentation are shaped by historical contexts, institutional decisions, and social values that evolve over time.
In other words, what we consider "worthy of interpretation" is the result of human processes: choices made by people, at specific times, under specific criteria. In these processes, some stories gain visibility, while others are left behind.
Understanding the Context Behind Heritage
Authors such as Laurajane Smith (2006), Rodney Harrison (2013), and William Logan (2012) have pointed out that both cultural and natural heritage are filled with meanings that change over time. Heritage is not just “what remains from the past”, but what society — through institutions, communities, or even tourism dynamics — has chosen to value, protect and tell.
Therefore, interpreting heritage demands awareness, sensitivity, and a commitment to heritage justice — one that gives space to all voices, especially those historically marginalised.
Recognising this does not diminish the value of heritage; rather, it enhances its richness: understanding that heritage is constantly redefined, and that it can — and should — be interpreted in broader and, above all, more participatory ways.
I. Some Tensions
Every heritage element —whether an archaeological site, a forest, or a museum— carries meaning. Some exalt national milestones; others reflect social or environmental scars. Ignoring this is to perpetuate dominant narratives without room for questioning.
Interpreting with justice involves:
Broadening the range of voices and memories represented.
Narrating both achievements and the wounds of the past.
Avoiding oversimplified narratives that lead to polarisation.
Seeking a balance between historical honesty and social responsibility.
Example: At a memorial site related to a dictatorship, include not only the story of repression but also the subsequent process of memory, truth, and justice.
Interpreting ≠ Taking Sides
Interpreting with justice does not mean imposing a particular view. On the contrary, it’s about creating spaces for thought and empathy. It is a dialogue in which multiple truths can coexist without needing to clash.
II. Broadening the Lens
For years, many "interpretive" practices have focused on material-cultural heritage: monuments, objects, dates. But it is increasingly clear that this approach is limited. Heritage is not only expressed in stone or ancient documents, but also in living landscapes, in ecosystems that preserve knowledge, and in territories full of collective memory.
You, as an experienced interpreter, have seen it: there are places where culture, history, and nature are inseparably intertwined. Places where it is impossible to speak of culture without considering the environment, and of the environment without acknowledging the cultural forms that inhabit it. Heritage justice calls on you to take on this challenge with commitment: to integrate both dimensions into your narratives.
UNESCO recognises the interconnection between cultural and natural heritage, highlighting that both represent an irreplaceable source of life and inspiration for present and future generations. This integrated vision is reflected in the category of “cultural landscapes”, defined as “combined works of nature and humankind” that illustrate the evolution of human society and settlement over time, under the influence of physical constraints and the opportunities presented by their natural environment.
Implications:
Articulate ecological processes alongside human memory.
Acknowledge the symbolic and spiritual dimension of nature.
Integrate interdisciplinary approaches (ecology, oral history, anthropology...).
Example: A forest can be both a biodiverse ecosystem and a sacred space for an Indigenous community. Ignoring either dimension is to diminish its meaning.
III. Complex Narratives Without Polarisation
One of the greatest ethical challenges is how to narrate difficult memories—colonialism, displacement, genocide, environmental disasters—without causing rejection or blame.
The key is not to avoid these topics, but to:
Present them with sensitivity and context.
Integrate diverse perspectives (victims, institutional actors, current community).
Show processes of resilience, transformation, and reconciliation.
Example: In a site affected by extractive violence, it's not just about condemning the past but also showing how communities have reorganised their ways of life in response to devastation.
IV. Towards a Fairer Professional Practice
Interpreting with justice is a continuous practice, one that evolves and improves over time. It requires reflection, collaboration, and innovation at every level.
Inclusive narrative design: Incorporate historically excluded voices—women, Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, peasants, migrants. There is not just one version of history; there are many truths that must engage in dialogue.
Knowledge dialogue: Value local knowledge. Communities have generated environmental and cultural wisdom for generations. A dialogical approach enriches narratives and legitimises the interpretive process.
Collaborative work: Actively involve communities in shaping the narrative. Consultation is not enough—participation must be meaningful and binding.
Ongoing evaluation: Regularly review your content. Ask yourself:
Who benefits from this narrative?
Who is excluded?
Does it foster understanding or reproduce tension?
V. Common Challenges (and How to Address Them)
Conflicts between narratives: Facilitate dialogue, not imposition. Heritage is not a single story; it is a contested space that must be approached with openness.
Tourism pressure: Avoid falling into "pleasant" narratives that conceal uncomfortable truths. An informed audience values authenticity and honesty.
Lack of sources: Don’t settle for what's readily available. Actively research, consult local archives, researchers, residents, and community guides. Heritage justice is built—it is not improvised.
Interpreting with justice is not an ideological stance. It is an essential part of the professional ethics of anyone working with heritage. It means recognising diversity, integrating culture and nature, acknowledging both the highlights and the dark chapters of history, and offering complete, honest, and respectful narratives.
Because at the end of the day, our task as interpreters is not only to inform, but to cultivate empathy, dialogue, and mutual understanding. In complex times, we need ethical compasses more than absolute certainties.
References
Harrison, R. (2013). Heritage: Critical Approaches. London: Routledge.
Logan, W. (2012). Cultural Diversity, Cultural Heritage and Human Rights: Towards Heritage Justice. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 18(3), 231–244.
Smith, L. (2006). Uses of Heritage. London: Routledge.
UNESCO (s.f.). Cultural Landscapes. Disponible en: https://whc.unesco.org/en/culturallandscape/
Waterton, E. & Smith, L. (2010). The Recognition and Misrecognition of Community Heritage. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 16(1–2), 4–15.
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