Traditional values Abandoned, Indigenous Peoples Forced to "Modern"

Indigenous peoples face a tough challenge to stay within the tradition. Now they are forced to "modern" than the general public spectacles with having to leave the ancestral traditions that have cultural values higher.


For the sake of development which is only meant to pursue economic growth, the existence of indigenous communities or isolated tribes are often ignored. In fact, the way and the value of traditional community life is important to maintain the persistence of cultural diversity.


Dodi Rokhdian, one of the movers Sokola Foundation which focuses on education of tribal children, such as the Family Child Within in Jambi, Monday (10 / 8), said that indigenous communities are often viewed as people who are not civilized and wild. Assessment is because modernity as narrowly interpreted by the government and the community as to leave the ways of traditional life. In fact, traditional life is not necessarily worse than the modern life.


"Like the right to education for children isolated tribes, look at all the national education system does not appreciate the peculiarities of local society," says Dodi.


Cultural perspectives
In commemoration of the International Community World Indigenous every August 9, the Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura said that indigenous communities are encouraged to become part of the international community to approach the perspective of cultural development and identity. UNESCO believes that development should be based on cultural diversity.


Development, said Koichiro, do not be understood narrowly, ie just about economic growth. Development also means to achieve intellectual satisfaction, emotional, moral, and spiritual existence, as stated in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity problem in 2001.


Recognizes the right
UN Declaration of Human Rights over Indigenous Peoples in 2007 recognizes the rights of indigenous communities to develop in accordance with the aspirations, needs, and their interests. At this time it is important to recognize as a reflection of the relationship between culture, development, and identity.


Indigenous communities in the world representing 5 percent of the world. This fact shows their capacity to adapt to change while still continuing the values and way of life unique.


That indigenous communities should be recognized as guardians of cultural diversity and biodiversity. "We must protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions, whether in traditional forms and contemporary, with special emphasis on indigenous communities," said Koichiro.


Ignoring indigenous communities means killing the expression of cultural diversity. In a few generations, 50persen than 7,000 languages spoken in the world is likely to become extinct. The situation is critical for indigenous communities who have 5000 languages in 70countries on six continents and about 75 percent of them still exist. [MUS]


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