Orang Rimba Education

JULIANA became a bridge between the traditional culture of the Anak Dalam tribe who live a nomadic existence in the forests of Jambi province, and modern city life. She succeeded in maintaining both worlds, which could bring about a synergy between people in modern society and the traditional Orang Rimba indigenous community.

Juliana’s choice deserves appreciation. The 23-year-old woman graduated with a degree in forestry from Jambi Muhammadiyah University on December 23, 2024. She is the first woman from the Orang Rimba community to gain a bachelor’s degree.

Juliana broke the custom of her community by pursuing a formal education from elementary school to university using the affirmative action route despite the Orang Rimba people having a long hunter-gatherer tradition. They once lived as nomads in the forest wilderness, relying on resources such as fruit, plants and wild animals like deer and wild boar.

Subsequently, government policies led to forests shrinking and turning into oil palm plantations, threatening the livelihoods of this community. Eventually, they accepted the government’s offer to settle in houses in a number of villages, no longer being able to rely on the forest. Therefore, it is understandable that Juliana’s parents decided to allow their daughter to go to university even though the customary community did not allow this. What is more, girls were usually married off once they had graduated from junior high school.

But Juliana never abandoned her community because on campus, she maintained her culture through knowledge. Among other things, she developed a technique of smoking fish to preserve them, and a way of blending plants to make herbal medicines. Juliana was in the modern world while still preserving her traditional culture.

So, should all the children of the Orang Rimba indigenous community become like Juliana? They can if they want to, because they have the right to choose their own lifestyles. The government is only responsible for providing basic facilities to allow the people to live their lives.

Turning Orang Rimba people into new Julianas should only be allowed to happen naturally, without using extreme methods because this could destroy traditions. Conversely, the state must play a role in safeguarding the existence of customary communities so they can preserve and maintain their traditions.

We have seen some unpleasant experiences of how government policies often disrupt the lives of indigenous people. For example, the Banten provincial government forced the conversion of the Baduy people’s region into a tourist destination, claiming this would preserve the culture. As a result, thousands of tourists flocked to the area, frightening the indigenous people.

Traditional cultures do not need this type of government policy or program. They have their own way of determining what they need. Once again, the government could help by providing basic amenities. Treat them like citizens who have certain fundamental rights, without judging them or forcing them to become members of a community that did not choose a modern lifestyle.