The portrait of indigenous women's resistance in the Customary Law Community (MHA) is a reflection of tenacity, fortitude and courage. Rooted in their culture and traditions for centuries. This is about a portrait of indigenous women's resistance, finding ways to face and change the existing structure of society.
In many customary law societies, women are often faced with systems that focus on patriarchal traditions. They are limited in terms of land ownership, decision making, and other social and economic rights. However, the portrait of indigenous women's resistance in MHA is not only about inequality. Also about their struggle to fight for their rights and change society's views.
Women in customary law communities are often the main pillars in preserving their culture and traditions. They play an important role in passing down values, beliefs and rituals from generation to generation. In this process, they blaze a trail to influence social change through education and teaching.
However, the portrait of indigenous women's resistance in traditional law communities is not only limited to efforts to preserve culture. They also engage in activism to fight for their rights and challenge patriarchal norms that hinder their potential. Women often play a role in social and political movements that seek to change unjust regulations and promote gender equality. However, women's resistance in customary law communities also often faces major challenges. They may face stigma, intimidation, and even violence in their efforts to achieve their rights.
This is the basis for KEMITRAAN, through the Estungkara program, to take the initiative to overcome this problem. By holding an interactive discussion held on September 26 2023 at Gadjah Mada University. This interactive discussion presented Syaiful from Karsa Institute, Hasna Songko from Kulawi Indigenous Women, Samsul Maarif, lecturer in Anthropology UGM and CRCS UGM as well as the head of the Indonesian Indigenous Youth Front (BPAN), Michelin Sallata as resource persons.
Stories From the Grass Roots
As one of the representatives of traditional women in Kulawi, Hasna Songko told how in the mountains where they live, the relationship with the forest is one of the most important things in everyday life. Even though most of the area has been taken over by the national mining industry, the Kulawi indigenous people remain steadfast in their goal of preserving nature in order to protect their environment. The principle of mutual cooperation is the main foundation that guides the Kulawi indigenous community in managing agriculture.
“However, seeing the younger generation who are often not involved in our daily activities is one of the biggest challenges. "So they lose valuable opportunities to learn through life experiences," said Hasna.
Plus, in the lives of traditional communities, patriarchal values are still strong. Sons often have priority, especially in the distribution of assets. In fact, in the period before the arrival of the Dutch, Kulawi traditional women had important positions, even leading in several aspects of life. Women are respected as a place to ask for views in solving problems or making important decisions. However, the role of women has increasingly eroded since the arrival of the Dutch. Now they are often seen as mere adjuncts in the deliberation process, with no voice being valued.
“As indigenous people in To Kulawi, we have started to fight the negative impacts of the mining industry. In this process, we gained knowledge and awareness from friends at NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). "That we have the right to determine our own destiny, and not just submit to the rules set by the state," he explained.
Karsa Intitute, Syaiful explained that since 2010, Karsa Intitute has been committed to providing assistance to the Kulawi indigenous community. Efforts begin by helping people gain access to basic rights such as education and welfare. Not only in the field of education, the Kulawi indigenous people also face conflicts regarding territorial recognition. It cannot be denied that state regulations often hinder their access, making it difficult for indigenous peoples to protect their territories.
According to him, with the opening of roads and the introduction of technology such as cellphones and the internet, changes can have both positive and negative impacts. Therefore, assistance in facing change, called "Estungkara," is an important step. Even though the challenges are still big, Syaiful remains optimistic. In an effort to redefine the role of women and bring about better change in society, concrete steps such as mentoring, dialogue and women's empowerment are key.
Indonesian Indigenous Youth Front (BPAN), Michel Sallatin, added that when women lose their role and space for participation in indigenous communities, the losses are not only experienced by them alone. But also for the entire community. Sometimes, women are even considered a negative symbol. Even though customs have systems and rules designed to maintain natural and social balance.
He also added that it was important to hear and understand the wishes of indigenous peoples. This is not always in line with the development agenda which is dominated by urban communities. Women should not be considered as tokens in efforts to achieve equality. Too often indigenous women make great sacrifices but are ultimately ignored. She and young people from indigenous communities believe that women can lead change.
“In facing this situation, it is important to spread awareness, provide education, and provide support, especially for women's rights. It is the duty of the younger generation to actively engage in environmental protection and preservation of their traditional culture. "And to trigger positive changes in the dominant paradigm," concluded Michel.
'Indigenous Society Is Not Just a System of Rules'
Samsul Maarif, lecturer in Anthropology UGM added that the narrative explained by several sources illustrates the complexity of the role of traditional women in their social structure. How their contributions impact the discrimination they experience in their environment. In the context of indigenous communities, custom is not only a system of rules, but also a spatial ecology that emphasizes the relationship between humans and nature. Women in indigenous communities have an important role in maintaining this balance.
However, Samsul saw that indigenous women were often faced with challenges of discrimination and exclusion. Patriarchy is dominant in indigenous politics, and a focus on survival often prevents indigenous women from facing stressful situations from outside groups. Even within indigenous societies themselves, hierarchy has been part of the system, with women often at the bottom. All of this is exacerbated by the existing state power structure.
“The importance of understanding these complexities is so that we can begin the journey towards fairer recognition for women. Embrace the contribution of indigenous knowledge in addressing global challenges such as climate change. "The constitution provides recognition for indigenous peoples, but in practice, the issue of indigenous peoples' rights is often complicated," added Samsul.
The dominant economic paradigm, said Samsul, often damages the environment and affects indigenous communities through evictions and development that destroys the ecosystem. Existing bureaucratic structures can also become obstacles in indigenous peoples' efforts to achieve their rights. Therefore, civil society and other non-governmental organizations must work hard. To assist indigenous peoples in their efforts to obtain the rights they should receive.
Campuses and academics have an important role in changing views and paradigms. Knowledge production on campus often tends to refer to the western paradigm and human hierarchy towards nature. However, getting to know indigenous peoples and understanding how they maintain balance with nature can help change the way students view the world. It can also promote inclusion and recognition of indigenous peoples in a broader context.
To fight for the rights of indigenous communities and women in them, there needs to be a better understanding of the complexity of indigenous communities. Also cooperation between institutions such as the Karsa Institute, and paradigm changes on campus and in general society. All of this is the first step in efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable world.
