Asian Indigeneity, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Challenges of the 2030 Agenda

Abstract

Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, the 2030 Agenda pledges to leave no one behind through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets ratified by the international community to address the global challenges of our time. This framework and universal action plan articulates the inclusion of the indigenous peoples in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Nonetheless, the world's largest inhabitants of indigenous peoples are in Asia. However, despite the affirmation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the concept of indigeneity is still controversial, politically contested, and considered immaterial by many states in the Asian region. With limited rights and inadequate access to social services, the indigenous knowledge systems and practices has evolved through time to provide solutions to local problems that sustained many marginalised communities. This article revisits the socio-political notion of indigeneity in the region and its implications to the indigenous community. It also explores the diversity of indigenous knowledge systems and traditional practices and its relevance on the SDGs particularly on food security, community livelihoods, human well-being, natural resources management, and biodiversity conservation. The conclusion reflects the need for legitimate recognition and political enablement of indigenous peoples in the implementation of 2030 Agenda by forging collaborations between academic researchers, policy-makers, and indigenous organizations in the Asian community.

Social Conservation of Local Wisdom on Samin Tribes at Kudus Regency Indonesia

“…According to data compiled by Stastik Indonesian Culture, in 2016 there are approximately 250 ethnic / ethnic groups that still survive. Each tribe has independent knowledge that is characteristic (Buenavista, Wynne-Jones, & McDonald, 2019). The consistency of the teachings in this local wisdom actually supports the conservation of nature and socio-culture in society.…”

A systematic literature review about local wisdom and sustainability: Contribution and recommendation to science education

“…Nevertheless, this theme has global relevance and attracts the interest of researchers from all over the world in an effort to preserve cultural diversity and understand the adaptation of local communities to changing times (cf. Antons, 2013;Buenavista et al, 2018;Menon, 2022;Savage, 2012;Tetelepta et al, 2023). In this regard, it is important to note that in Europe and America many researchers and activists are still active in studying, preserving and promoting local wisdom in various parts of the world (e.g., Chacón-Duque et al, 2018;Tom et al, 2019;Zavaleta-Cortijo et al, 2023).…”

People and Mangroves: Biocultural Utilization of Mangrove Forest Ecosystem in Southeast Asia

“…The aforementioned mangrove-rich countries also exhibit the highest cultural diversity in the region. Indonesia, composed of 1128 groups of indigenous peoples, is the largest in Southeast Asia (Buenavista, 2021;Buenavista et al, 2018). It is followed by Philippines with 110 indigenous groups, Myanmar inhabited by 100 indigenous groups, and Malaysia with 57 indigenous groups (Buenavista et al, 2018).…”

“…Indonesia, composed of 1128 groups of indigenous peoples, is the largest in Southeast Asia (Buenavista, 2021;Buenavista et al, 2018). It is followed by Philippines with 110 indigenous groups, Myanmar inhabited by 100 indigenous groups, and Malaysia with 57 indigenous groups (Buenavista et al, 2018). 10.21463/jmic.2023.12.2.07 -https://jmic.online/issues/v12n2/7/ Three countries were underrepresented in this systematic review, namely, Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos.…”