Is Indigeneity Discourse Productive for the Cause of Preserving Armenian Cultural Heritage?

Abstract

The indigenous status of Armenian people has recently become a common declaration in online Armenian spaces. While factually correct, it is imperative to assess whether a more pronounced indigenous identity can help to resolve the existential issue of preserving the tangible heritage of Armenians, which has now been threatened politically. Through dissecting various topics related to indigenous peoples’ issues, this essay argues that affirmative indigeneity discourse – instead of one exclusively linked with historic victimhood and historical superiority – can be beneficial to preservation, though the risks are likely higher.