Cultural Preservation in the Campaign to Commemorate the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
""They live very close to nature, all knowledge about nature is in their life practices. This celebration is a momentum to strengthen their voices in defence of their lands, forests and traditions."”
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (HIMAS) is celebrated on 9 August every year. The commemoration of HIMAS is the first step that marks the struggle of indigenous peoples in fighting for their rights and living space.
Indigenous peoples in Indonesia, generally have the same problems related to the protection of rights and threats to the preservation of customs and culture in the midst of advancing times. To increase public awareness and knowledge about indigenous peoples, Pundi Sumatra, KKI WARSI, and SEAD Jambi collaborated to organise a campaign and public discussion in celebration of HIMAS 2024 with the theme "Solidarity of All of Us for Indigenous Peoples".
The celebration, which was supported by Kemitraan Partnership, was one of the efforts made by local CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) together with the government to provide opportunities, especially to the people of Jambi, to express their aspirations and dialogue with indigenous peoples such as the Talang Mamak and Suku Anak Dalam (jungle people) of Jambi.
The collaboration between the three CSOs was held around the Hall of the Jambi Governor's Office, on Sunday 11 August 2024. The moment of Car Free Day is one of the right choices to organise this public event. Robert Aritonang as KKI WARSI's Programme Manager in his speech said that indigenous people are the frontline of environmental protection.
"They live very close to nature, all knowledge about nature is in their life practices. This celebration is a momentum to strengthen their voice in defending their land, forests and traditions," he said.
The HIMAS celebration was also enlivened by a bazaar of indigenous community handicraft products neatly arranged in a sudung so as to attract visitors' attention. Sudung itself is a simple house built using forest wood, bamboo, and roofed with coconut leaves or tassels by the Suku Anak Dalam community.
Some of the featured products on display include forest honey, various woven rattan and tassel items such as palm stick plates, woven mats, ambung, lukah, and various other accessories. The items on display are unique and have philosophical values that demonstrate the close relationship between indigenous communities and their living environment.
In addition, there was also a mini photo exhibition where visitors could see various portraits of the lives of indigenous communities assisted by Pundi Sumatra, KKI WARSI, and SEAD Jambi. The photo exhibition spot also attracted the attention of visitors who wanted to see the life and humanity of Suku Anak Dalam and Talang Mamak.
As part of the celebration, a panel discussion was held with Pundi Sumatra, KKI WARSI, SEAD Jambi, Sentra Alyatama Jambi, and representatives of Suku Anak Dalam and Talang Mamak to discuss their experiences in empowerment, as well as the challenges faced by indigenous communities amid modernisation and climate change.
The panellists emphasised the need for synergy between the government, CSOs and communities to be equally involved in efforts to empower and recognise the rights of indigenous peoples in Jambi.
The celebration was closed with an entertainment performance by musician Ismet, whose song tells the story of concerns about nature and the narrowing living space of the jungle people.
