Life of Indigenous Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The existence of indigenous peoples is often forgotten in development planning. Their position and existence are even threatened by the development itself, especially the work of those who have natural resources or other potential, so that not a few indigenous peoples then have to confront the government. The condition of Buru Regency, where there are still many indigenous communities, in its development is enough to provide space for them to continue to exist and develop themselves in socio-economic life. However, in reality, not everything that has been done can cover the existing communities, so some of them still have to survive under specific conditions. This study seeks to identify their empowerment in daily life during the Covid-19 pandemic. The approach used in this study is qualitative. The number of informants to be interviewed is 45, taken purposively, considering that the respondents are considered parties involved in achieving the research objectives. The findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed indigenous people whose lives are closely related to tradition and who face difficult times fulfilling their livelihoods. Their habits have not fully become a means of fulfilling the necessities of life. Their economic condition, which is very dependent on nature, becomes even more complicated when the government implements various restrictions to control the spread of the virus. There should be a government effort to rehabilitate production patterns in contact with technology. This action is intended to reduce dependence on nature and has more proportional gender relations so that the fulfillment of life has better potential for sustainability.