Wanam culture proposed as tool for indigenous empowerment

Annas Fitrah Akbar, a researcher from Merah Pusaka Stratejik Indonesia (MPSI), has proposed using the culture of Kampung Wanam in the Ilwayab District of Merauke as a strategic tool for indigenous community empowerment.

During a community dialogue in Kampung Wanam, Akbar emphasized that cultural development should be driven by clear, sustainable planning rather than being treated merely as an annual festival or heritage. He recommended that the community prioritize the documentation of historical and cultural data, including clan origins, customary territories, language, traditional arts, and ancestral knowledge.

According to Akbar, strengthening cultural documentation serves a strategic purpose by bolstering the community's position when presenting aspirations to the government and other stakeholders. He suggested that local aspirations should be organized into priority documents and action plans to ensure they lead to tangible results.