The large room suddenly fell silent, as if waiting for something extraordinary. Amidst the crowd of participants from various universities in Indonesia, a young woman slowly stood on stage. Her face was calm, but there was a tremor in her powerful voice. Juliana, a woman from the Suku Anak Dalam Jambi indigenous community, was ready to deliver an important message from a place far away in the middle of the Jambi forest.
In the past, Juliana was known as a shy person. “When we first met, her voice was so small, her eyes didn’t dare to look at the person she was talking to,” recalled a mentor who had accompanied her. However, that day, she stood confidently, not only as herself, but as a representative for the women of the Suku Anak Dalam whose voices are often unheard outside their community.
Juliana is not an unfamiliar name. Various articles have written about her story, highlighting her figure as the first woman from the Suku Anak Dalam community to successfully pursue higher education. However, behind all that, there is a long struggle that is not always visible. Juliana grew up in a culture that traditionally places women in domestic roles—being the caretakers of the household, ensuring that the family is maintained. Inside the home, the voices of Suku Anak Dalam women are highly respected. However, outside the community, they are like birds kept in a cage. Beautiful but helpless, with no right to fly to explore the vast sky.
Juliana knew she had to go beyond that. Women in her community were often faced with a dilemma: follow tradition or seek the freedom to dream bigger. Juliana's courage to take a different path did not come easily. It was the result of a long process, where education became the door that opened the door that allowed her to think beyond the scope of the household.
On August 30, 2024, Juliana performed at the prestigious Entrepreneurship Award LLDIKTI Region X VIII 2024. Together with three women from her village—Induk Ita, Induk Tuti, and Induk Benang—they performed traditional poetry and chants that are part of the Suku Anak Dalam culture. The event was attended by representatives from various universities throughout Indonesia, and it was there that Juliana read a poem entitled “Suara dari Hutan.”
The poem is not just a series of words. It contains concerns about the condition of the forest that is increasingly being eroded by development, as well as hopes for a brighter future. With every word spoken, Juliana describes the pain and struggle experienced by her community. The voice was so loud, shaking the hearts of all those present, showing another side of indigenous women who have often been considered voiceless in public spaces.
"Juliana has been able to position herself. She is no longer the shy girl she used to be. Now, she dares to speak in front of many people," said Dewi Yunita, CEO of Pundi Sumatra, who has accompanied Juliana since elementary school. Dewi is a witness to the extraordinary change in Juliana. From a shy child to a vocal and confident woman.
Juliana's success is inseparable from the role of education. She is currently at the end of her studies at the Faculty of Forestry, Muhammadiyah University of Jambi, where she received an education scholarship. Education not only opened the door for her to achieve her dreams. But it is also proof that women from indigenous communities, if given the opportunity, are able to go beyond the limitations that have confined them.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Jambi, which is involved in empowering the Suku Anak Dalam community, is committed to opening access to education for groups that are often marginalized. This step is a real example of how universities can play a significant role in advancing indigenous communities, opening opportunities for women like Juliana to develop themselves.
“Empowering the Suku Anak Dalam requires collaboration from various parties,” said Dewi Yunita. “We hope that Juliana can be an inspiration for other women from indigenous communities to dare to dream and achieve higher education.”
Juliana is not just a student who will soon earn her bachelor's degree. She is a symbol of hope, strength, and change for women from the Suku Anak Dalam community. Her journey illustrates how important support from family, education, and community is in shaping an independent and courageous person.
Her story teaches an important lesson: that behind every strong woman, there is a long journey filled with struggle, sacrifice, and hard work. Now, with her voice echoing on big stages, Juliana has proven that indigenous women have the same potential to shine.
Juliana’s journey is not over. With a forestry degree soon to be earned, she will not only be the first educated woman from her community. Juliana will continue to fight for the rights of indigenous communities, bringing the voices of the forest that have been silenced to the outside world.
