An investigation into the knowledge and attitudes of the Batswana in Taung (North West Province) towards conservation of indigenous heritage resources

Abstract

The study investigated the knowledge and attitudes of the Batswana people in Taung (North West Province) towards conservation of indigenous heritage resources. The objectives of the study was to find out heritage resources found in Taung and their uses; methods used in the study area to cnserve these resources; and the role that the North West Provincial Government plays in the conservation of these resources. The study revealed that there are different kinds of heritage resources in Taung such as the Taung skull, Blue pool, Kolong River, Dinkwaneng, Norlim quarry. Most of the community members in Taung knew about these resources and their values. The study recommends the following: (i) IKS centres should be established in communities as knowledge development and management centers, where people can share information through performing arts, folklores and other forms of orality. (ii) Young people should be involved in heritage conservation programmes so that they can know the value and importance of these resources and protect them for future generations. This is due to the fact most of the times they are the ones that put these resources in danger by vandalizing them. (iii) The government needs to put measures in place to conserve all indigenous heritage resources that are found in the study area, not only those that are found at the Taung skull site.