Indonesia is considered as one of the most megadiverse countries in terms of biodiversity, but it’s lands are under threat due to rapid deforestation which causes erosion of indigenous knowledge about understanding the richness of nature. Our concern is that if the process of transferring the indigenous knowledge will disappear, the next generation will be incapable to understand the ecological and cultural situation around their living territory. The effect will be a decrease of participation in natural conservation and maintaining the cultural identity which will affect us all. Due to the digital era we are living in, the gap between nature and human beings is increasing enormously.
LINKING INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING AND CONSERVATION PRACTICE
Figure: Conceptual model of the foundations for the incorporation of indigenous storytelling into biocultural conservation efforts. Aspects of indigenous cultures (in yellow), such as indigenous worldviews, are reflected in stories, fostering a sense of place that is maintained through intergenerational communication. Initiatives that support storytelling thus support the recognition of indigenous cultural identities. Biodiversity conservation (in green) might be facilitated by indigenous storytelling through improved intercultural discussions, resulting in increased dialogue over conservation and local participation in conservation activities. Such synergistic framework supports the goals of biocultural conservation.
Source: Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares & Mar Cabeza
Metapopulation Research Centre (MRC), Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Support Intergenerational Communication
Preserving the traditions of our past yet framing them in a modern idiom. “Tell me the stories of your grandparents. Use anything you want: a telephone, a recording device, or video camera – whatever.”
The elders say that storytellers are the wisdom people. How we see the world is how we tell our story. When an elder dies, a library is burned, and with it wisdom and knowledge are lost. For centuries, cultures throughout the world have used indigenous technologies to navigate life’s complexities. Vast sums of knowledge are available but in modern society we forget to recognize it. Mother Jungle aims to make elder wisdom compelling to the next generation. We speak to young people in a language they’re using by giving them a platform to tell the stories that are meaningful to them. We respect the potential of integrating new technologies to support this intergenerational exchange.
