The Local Wisdom Management Mohom for Stable Inherit and Lifelong Learning

Abstract

This article aims to: (1) study the context of the local wisdom Mohom for self-reliance of Ban Thung Hong community, Phrae; and (2) to study the local wisdom management of Mohom for sustainable inheritance and lifelong learning, by implementing qualitative research methodology. Data collection was conducted by an in-depth interview on the community leader, the community philosopher, and Hom laborers, participatory and non-participatory observation, and collection of related secondary data. The results of the content analysis revealed that 1) The context of the local wisdom Mohom is related to participatory Hom management for self-reliance of the community in Phrae, via accumulation, transfer, and inheritance of knowledge from generation to generation. This is called “Hom Culture” which consists of self-reliance in three factors: (1) Hom Culture: community economy for self-reliance; (2) Hom Culture: social and cultural system for self-reliance; and (3) Hom Culture: natural resource and environmental management for self-reliance. Hom is therefore a culture that connects the community, and is significant for the community in Phrae to conserve the identity and value of the local wisdom, a foundation for self-reliance of the local community; and 2) Study on the local wisdom management of Mohom for sustainable inheritance and lifelong learning revealed that there are seven knowledge management processes in Ban Thung Hong community: 1) knowledge identification; 2) knowledge creation and acquisition; 3) knowledge organization; 4) knowledge codification and refinement; 5) knowledge access; 6) knowledge sharing; and 7) learning. Additionally, there also exists Hom cultural management in the community through the Mohom Dyeing Learning Center, in which community members design the communication process of Hom culture for participatory self-reliance in the community, and response to demands of the community via “Lifelong Learning” applied in the context of the community regarding learning among the members, or between members and teenagers, which eventually lead to the development of learning places, travel destinations, and local database as the learning sources of the community. Additionally, this allows those interested in the community, particularly the local young population, to study the community, which encourages “Strong Citizens of Phrae” via knowledge management, authority distribution, and educational opportunity creation, with the purposes to encourage equality and bonds in the community, alongside an appreciation of resources in one’s own community. One of the important expectations of the community is to preserve the lifestyle pattern of Hom culture, despite the social changes from external sources which influence the role of the community.