Traditional Cultural Expressions are tangible or intangible cultural manifestations passed down, maintained, and developed by Indigenous peoples or communities. They can include oral traditions, symbols, artworks, dances, practices, and other evolving expressions of cultural identity.
TCEs are "intangible and tangible cultural manifestations of [Traditional Knowledge]... passed down generations, such as oral storytelling, folk dances, symbols, artwork, hunting, and medicine" (Guilbault et al. 2022, p.7). TCEs "facilitate the social and cultural identity formation of Indigenous people[s]." Furthermore, TCEs are not static; rather, they are "constantly evolving, developing and being recreated" (World Intellectual Property Organization, 2020, p.17).