Indonesian Youth Spark Cultural Revival Amidst Mining Threats
In the heart of Indonesia's Minahasa region, a group of young locals, backed by Cultural Survival's Indigenous Community Fund, have sparked a cultural revival. The 'Mapantik ne Kelung' project, launched in 2024, is empowering the youth to document and celebrate their heritage amidst threats from destructive mining operations.
The project began when a group of young Minahasan men and women came together to reclaim their ancestral stories and traditions through writing and media, naming their initiative 'Mapantik ne Kelung' or 'The Writing of the Shield'.
With a grant from Cultural Survival, the project has strengthened community networks and given young people tools to document their culture. It has also become a safe space for marginalized groups. On April 17, 2025, the project helped organize the Hari Kebangkitan Masyarakat Adat Nusantara, bringing together Elders, youths, and activists to celebrate their right to defend their heritage.
The project has produced a book about Minahasan women's empowerment centered on Maria Walanda Maramis, and Kelung's first-ever printed magazine, a collection of stories about the impacts of mining and resistance. To reach a wider audience, the project has also produced short documentaries about mining impacts, stories of resistance, and Minahasan culture, accessible online.
The project has not only preserved cultural heritage but also addressed the destruction caused by massive gold mining operations. The project helped repair and clean waruga, stone sarcophagi at risk of destruction. The youth have also raised awareness about the impacts of mining, which include water contamination, displacement of villages like Pinasungkulan and Pinenek, and the leveling of sacred hills like Karakerakekan.
The 'Mapantik ne Kelung' project has been a beacon of hope for the Minahasan people, empowering the youth to document and preserve their culture while raising awareness about the threats from mining operations. The project's initiatives, from repairing waruga to producing documentaries, have not only strengthened community networks but also given a voice to the marginalized. As the project continues, the Minahasan people look forward to a future where their culture and heritage are protected and celebrated.
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