Members of the Co Tu ethnic minority in Quang Nam Province are trying to preserve the Guol house, used traditionally as a place for meetings and conducting business.
The Guol house in Avuong Village
Tay Giang District is located near the Lao border. It is an area with many Co Tu households and is steeped in the culture of that ethnic minority. Recently, more and more Guol houses have been built along the Ho Chi Minh Highway. According to the villagers, they already have comfortable living spaces and working kitchens, but what their communities lack are Guol houses so they can gather. They say that, without a Guol house, the a village is not complete.
Despite his old age, the head of the Xa Oi 3 Village, Bhling Tro Ngar, still carves traditional reliefs on the wood columns of the house. He said, "Everybody knows how to build a Guol house but it's more difficult to create details that will make the house unique and give the community strength."
This time of year is harvest season for the Co Tu people, but each household still sends members of the family to help in build Guol houses. When the village festival is held, the households will donate some of their housewares to be used in the gathering place.
Mask decoration in a Guol house
Alang Buu, the Party Secretary of Avuong Commune, said villagers are building Guol houses on new settlement areas so that, even if they move, they will not lose Co Tu tradition and heritage. Taghey Village has just completed their biggest Guol house to date to celebrate the new settlement and the incoming communal party congress. Alang Buu went on to say that they completed five village and one communal Guol house.
People gather Guol house for meetings
Meanwhile, Alang Dieu, Secretary of Bhalee Commune, said that it is important for young people to be the main force behind this project. "Our culture will be lost if it is not embraced by the young generations," he said. According to the deputy head of the Office of Culture and Information of Tay Giang District, 61 out of 70 Co Tu villages have rebuilt their Guol houses. Rebuilding the these traditional gathering spots will help them preserve traditions and keep the people connected.
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