Welcome to Ethnomad
& the Fading Cultures Project
We work alongside tribal, Indigenous, traditional, and minority communities in hard-to-reach regions, documenting their way of life and resilience against displacement, exclusionary conservation and development pressures.
Through ethnographic research and storytelling, we bring you Fading Cultures Magazine, our flagship publication dedicated to capturing the voices, traditions, and artistry of communities facing cultural erosion.
Beyond documentation, funds from our magazine allow us to actively support projects from livelihoods, environment and education to land rights, ensuring that these communities' way of life continues to be respected and thrive on their terms.
The November edition of Fading Cultures Magazine delves into the ethics, artistry, and spirit that define how we understand culture today. From Worlds Within Worlds, Dr. Tom Corcoran’s exploration of freedom, land, and belonging, to A Glimpse Into the Past by Emily Anna Mavridou, reflecting on faith and continuity in Cyprus, each story reminds us that heritage is not a relic but a living dialogue.
Noel Sweeney’s Because in Stories All Things Are Possible celebrates the enduring power of narrative, while Suus Van Lee’s Acomadido and the Children of Rajasthan captures the quiet strength of compassion and cross-cultural connection. Jade Morrissey’s The Emery Way takes us into the cool cellars of Saint-Émilion, revealing how prestige and preservation often walk a fine line.
This issue also features James Pierce on Intangible Cultural Heritage and the continuation of The Ethnographic Handbook by Tom Corcoran and Roel Hakemulder, offering field tools for ethical, human-centred research. Together, these stories remind us that culture is both fragile and resilient a shared inheritance shaped by how we choose to see, listen, and act.
In an age obsessed with money, novelty, and self-promotion, The Forgotten Measure of a Master calls for a return to the unity of skill, humility, and purpose that once defined true craftsmanship. From the sacred geometry of Gothic cathedrals and Islamic domes to the living traditions of Bangladeshi boatbuilders and weavers, the story traces how mastery was once an act of devotion — a dialogue between hand, spirit, and the laws of nature.Through the voices of thinkers like Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil and Ananda Coomaraswamy, it explores how modern creativity has drifted from meaning, replacing service with ego. Yet in the patient hands of artisans who still build with faith and fidelity, the lineage of mastery endures. The piece is both reflection and reminder: that beauty and truth are inseparable, and that to make well is to serve something greater than oneself.
The ETHNOMAD Field Handbook is a practical three-part guide for students, researchers, and storytellers working across culture, development, heritage, and humanitarian fields. Written by Dr. Tom Corcoran and Roel Hakemulder, it draws on decades of field experience to help readers observe, listen, and engage with communities ethically and deeply. Part One lays the groundwork for understanding ethnography as both a discipline and a way of seeing, combining practical exercises, sensory awareness, and reflection to build attentiveness, respect, and empathy in storytelling.
Part Two expands this journey, addressing the ethical challenges of fieldwork and the moral weight of representation in an image-saturated world. Through case studies from India, Bosnia, and beyond, it explores the balance between culture, conscience, and responsibility. Together, these guides remind us that true understanding begins with humility and that listening remains the most powerful act of care.
