The local community of Bison Land was losing the connection with their culture, traditions and overall interest in the area. Through a local university, it was highlighted that the area has the lowest local pride – despite the rich material and immaterial heritage. The local community, especially the younger generations, didn’t see the value of their local authenticity while promoting an Europeans and global lifestyle. This could lead to a disappearance of the local traditions. The DMO has been working for the last 3 years together with the local community to bring more local pride and understanding of the value of local traditions to the local community. This is fundamentally important also for the tourism sector of the area, since tourists are mostly attracted by the local traditions, food & craft.
Keywords: community empowerment, cultural assets, intangible heritage, local economy, cultural preservation
