Traditional Communities Research Articles

Filling the gaps: grassroots prevention of domestic and family violence within the Korean-Australian community

This study focuses on the bridging roles of grassroots community groups from migrant communities in Australia, specifically in the context of domestic and family violence (DFV). Through in-depth interviews with 15 victim-survivors and 16 practitioners and community volunteers of Korean heritage, the study examines how members of the Korean community are attempting to fill the gaps in social support for victim-survivors of DFV and what issues, barriers and limitations they face. The results indicate that community members face multiple barriers in their efforts to fill gaps in service, which in turn affects the quality of their response to victim-survivors. This study argues that the emergence of a peer-support network is a response and even a partial solution to those barriers and limitations, challenging the traditional community groups (for example, ethnic churches) that used to serve as a main platform for the Korean diasporic community in Australia. A deeper understanding and engagement with these emerging networks are needed to fill the gap in the work investigating DFV response and prevention within Australian-Asian communities.

Legal Authority and Marital Identity: A Study on the Kalosara Tradition of the Tolaki People in Southeast Sulawesi

For the Tolaki indigenous people, a marriage is considered valid when it is conducted in accordance with the kalosara tradition. This signifies that the legitimacy of marriage among the Tolaki people of Southeast Sulawesi is not determined by adherence to Islamic law or state regulations, but by the observance of the kalosara customary practice. This study seeks to explore the kalosara tradition as the prevailing authority in the marriage law of the Tolaki community in Southeast Sulawesi, and to analyze the perspectives of Islamic law through the concepts of ‘urf and maṣlaḥa mursala in relation to this tradition. Employing a qualitative research method with an empirical-normative approach, data were gathered through interviews with traditional leaders, community figures, and religious authorities. The findings of the study indicate that the kalosara tradition in Tolaki community wedding ceremonies consists of three stages: seeking permission, the proposal, and the marriage contract. The Tolaki people regard a marriage as valid only if it adheres to the kalosara tradition, establishing customary law as the dominant form of marriage law within the community. From the perspective of ‘urf, the kalosara tradition is deemed acceptable, as it fulfills the criteria of al-‘urf al-ṣaḥīḥ (good custom). Moreover, the kalosara tradition contributes to social welfare within the Tolaki community of Southeast Sulawesi. This research is expected to make a significant global contribution to the development of studies on marriage law and tradition. Furthermore, it is deserving of recognition as a valuable academic resource addressing societal legal needs concerning the practice of marriage traditions.

Indigenous knowledge and sugar sweetened beverages: Qualitative adaptations towards chronic disease prevention and intervention

Sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) are a concern for Indigenous populations and are associated with multiple chronic diseases. To address this concern, we culturally tailored and tested the feasibility of an evidence-based SSB-reducing curriculum. The modified curriculum was designed for Indigenous men and is thematically based on traditional values, ancestral teachings, and community strengths while promoting healthy lifestyles. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used to develop an interview guide using an Indigenous-centered theoretical framework. Two Indigenous content experts conducted both individual and focus group interviews (n = 14) with urban community leaders and athletes. Two Indigenous qualitative scientists analyzed the data with the support of an inter-tribal community advisory board. Results included imagery utilization, the importance of water, marketing, taste, and building routine. These findings guided the development of 6-month Indigenous focused SSB intervention consisting of 12 in-person intervention sessions and 27 short messaging service (SMS) messages.

Natural resources used in the traditional medicine of the Marinaú community, Caxiuanã forest, Brazil.

The diversity of Conservation Units in Brazil, ranging from Strict Protection areas like National Parks to Sustainable Use areas such as National Forests, supports the coexistence of human populations with extensive traditional knowledge of local natural resources. This traditional and local knowledge plays a crucial role in their subsistence and has significant potential to contribute to bioprospecting initiatives, as well as to enhance research and strategies for biological conservation. The São Sebastião de Marinaú community, situated within the Caxiuanã National Forest, offers valuable opportunities for ethnobiological studies. The field study was carried out with 48 informants from the São Sebastião de Marinaú Community, Caxiuanã National Forest (CNF), Brazil, a Sustainable Use Conservation Unit. It involved participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and guided tours. Indices of Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Consensus Factor (ICF) indicated plant species with therapeutic potential. A total of 944 uses associated with 154 plants and 21 animals were reported. Statistical tests pointed out that factors such as gender and age are not determinants in the richness of known plants among the residents. The plants are distributed among 59 botanical families and 126 genera. They predominantly use species native to Brazil (69%), among which 47 are endemic to the Amazon. The medicines are prepared mainly by decoction of leaves and bark. According to UV, veronica (Dalbergia monetaria L.f.) was the most important. The animals used are all vertebrates, and paca (Cuniculus paca Linnaeus, 1766,) was the most cited. Bile and lard are the parts most used in the recipes. They mentioned 116 diseases, especially those of the digestive system. The ceruzeiro (Allantoma lineata (Mart. ex O.Berg) Miers) had a high consensus of local use, and no additional studies on this species exist. This study underscores the vital role of traditional communities in sustainable conservation units, as their involvement is crucial for preserving plant and animal species essential to local traditional medicine. Such research also promotes the recognition of non-timber products as valuable raw materials with potential applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, mapping the occurrence and use of species in vulnerable conditions aids in developing effective conservation strategies for these resources.

Amazon severe drought in 2023 triggered surface water loss

Abstract The Amazon underwent a severe austral springtime drought attributed to the onset of El Niño in 2023 and the warmer North Atlantic, Indian, and North Pacific Oceans. The Amazon rivers, lakes, small streams, wetlands, and reservoirs quickly lowered their water level below historical records due to decreased rainfall and warmth in the region. Based on satellite imagery, this study presents the first estimate of the water loss extent in the 4.2 million km2 of the Brazilian Amazon biome (∼62% of the Amazon total biome) in 2023. We estimated the loss of 3.3 million hectares of surface water relative to 2022, with an overall accuracy of 92%. The surface water losses were concentrated in the states of Amazonas (59.4%) and Pará (25.5), adding up to 2.8 million hectares. The warmer and drier climate in the region affected the main rivers in the Amazon. Among them, the Solimões, Negro, Purus, Acre, and Branco suffered extreme drops in their levels in some regions, resulting in a high negative impact on the aquatic biodiversity, yet estimated only in local areas. A total of 1.14 million hectares of surface water loss (i.e. 35%) was detected within protected areas territories, affecting extractivist, indegenous, African-Brazilian, and fishing and traditional communities. Proximity analysis revealed that 75% of the 2023 surface water loss was within 25 km of small towns, 48% and 65.8% at 50 km from indigenous villages and urban areas, respectively. Our results reinforce people’s vulnerability to climate change, anticipating a plausible adverse impact scenario in the Amazon region and urging solutions to adaptation and mitigation. Therefore, an integrated monitoring system based on climate and water dynamics from satellite and ground stations is necessary to improve understanding of the problem for timing response of climatic change negative impacts.

Criminal Law Policy against ‘Pratima’ Theft: Perspective of Balinese Customary Criminal Law

Law enforcement of the crime of Pratima theft in Bali does not provide a sense of justice for traditional law communities as victims. In response to this, it is necessary to construct law enforcement for the crime of Pratima theft to achieve a sense of justice, benefit, and legal certainty for the Balinese customary law community. This research method is sociological law (sociological jurisprudence), emphasizing the study of the operation of law in traditional law communities in Bali. The object of the study is the legal facts related to the crime of Pratima theft. Based on the research results, it was found that law enforcement prioritized legal certainty rather than social justice itself. The Balinese traditional law community desires fair and beneficial law enforcement. The provisions on the principle of legality in deciding pratima theft cases in Bali do not prevent the application of laws that exist in society. Judges should also apply customary criminal sanctions, thereby demonstrating that criminal law policies protect customary law communities. In imposing sanctions, the panel of judges is expected to be guided by the harmony of law enforcement objectives, based on local wisdom. The application of the Tri Hita Karana concept as local wisdom in customary criminal sanctions shows that criminal law policy provides a sense of justice and protects customary law communities as victims, and restores harmony in the lives of Balinese customary law communities.

Tradisi Seren Taun berbasis Kearifan Lokal Masyarakat AdatKasepuhan (Suatu Kajian Holistik Antropologi Hukum)

Seren Taun is a series of agricultural activities carried out every year by a traditional community in atraditional area which is usually called a traditional traditional ritual, as a form of respect for the ancestors andthe Goddess Sri with all forms of rituals and cultural arts performances of the Kasepuhan indigenouscommunity from very from long ago to modern art displayed by indigenous peoples. The rice was brought,paraded, accompanied by everyone present to be stored in the Leuit Si Jimat communal barn. The local wisdomof the Kasepuhan traditional community of Banten Kidul is a community that still upholds and carries outtraditions with the supervision of the Abah as the Traditional Leader. Kasepuhan residents are devoutfollowers of the Islamic religion, but in their daily lives they are characterized by mythical and animist beliefsor they still maintain ancestral beliefs such as burning incense, giving offerings, traditional ceremonies, placingfences on doors, and other ancestral beliefs. The Holistic Study of Legal Anthropology illustrates that traditionalrituals based on local wisdom are a manifestation of the behavior or actions of indigenous people in an effort toget closer to God. Because rituals are ceremonies carried out by indigenous people throughout their lifetime,they are carried out by every indigenous community in their traditional territory, because they are ceremoniesfor the life cycle of an individual's life as a member of society (the universal circle of life).Keywords: Seren Taun Tradition, Local Wisdom of the Kasepuhan Indigenous Community, Holistic Study ofLegal Anthropology

Identity Struggle and Ethno-Social Conflict in Papua: Uncovering the Root of the Problem and Finding Sustainable Solutions

Background: Papua Province is a region rich in diverse ethnicities and has complex social dynamics due to significant ethnic differences. Social conflicts in Papua are not only conflicts between individuals, but also reflect broader changes with cultural, political and socio-economic aspects.Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze the determinants of social conflict in Papua based on ethnicity and to propose strategies for achieving sustainable social harmony.Method: This research employs a qualitative method focusing on indigenous Papuans, selecting informants such as traditional leaders, community leaders, youth, women, religious figures, and bureaucrats through in-depth interviews and literature studies conducted from July to August 2023.Results: Papuan ethnic identity is shaped by their unique cultural values and traditions, distinguishing them from other ethnic groups in Papua. However, the government's development programs fail to address this identity, contributing to the marginalization of Papuans.Conclusion: The conflict in Papua stems from Papuans fighting for their basic rights tied to their ethnic identity, rather than economic or political issues, highlighting the need for future research on development policies that respect this identity.

Purchasing Power as a Major Determinant of Food Security in Rural and Semi-Urban Areas: A South African Household Experience

This study examined the complex role religion plays in both promoting and ending sexual and gender-based violence against women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. While major religious traditions emphasize equality and non-violence, certain interpretations of religious texts and cultural traditions have enabled patriarchal norms that subjugate women. Qualitative data from interviews with 18 respondents across Christian, Muslim, and traditional African religious communities revealed ongoing oppressive practices like forced marriage and early marriage of young girls, divorce, physical abuse such as wife battering, sexual abuse, and victim-blaming. However, religious institutions are increasingly initiating efforts to combat this violence through advocacy, education, counselling services, and partnerships with civil society groups. While these initiatives exist, significant challenges remain in transforming deeply entrenched sociocultural norms that enable violence against women. These initiatives demonstrate how religious institutions can leverage their moral authority to transform sociocultural norms enabling violence against women. The study highlights the need for sustained engagement with religious communities, reinterpretation of doctrine promoting gender equality, and collaborative efforts across sectors to eliminate this pervasive human rights issue. Harnessing the influential role of religion through a progressive, rights-based approach is crucial for addressing sexual and gender-based violence in the Tamale Metropolis and similar contexts. By delving into this intricate dynamic within the context of the Tamale Metropolis in Ghana, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, interpretations, and institutions can either perpetuate or combat this form of violence. Keywords: Sexual Violence, Gender, Religion, Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women in the Tamale Metropolis: The Role of Religion

This study examined the complex role religion plays in both promoting and ending sexual and gender-based violence against women in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. While major religious traditions emphasize equality and non-violence, certain interpretations of religious texts and cultural traditions have enabled patriarchal norms that subjugate women. Qualitative data from interviews with 18 respondents across Christian, Muslim, and traditional African religious communities revealed ongoing oppressive practices like forced marriage and early marriage of young girls, divorce, physical abuse such as wife battering, sexual abuse, and victim-blaming. However, religious institutions are increasingly initiating efforts to combat this violence through advocacy, education, counselling services, and partnerships with civil society groups. While these initiatives exist, significant challenges remain in transforming deeply entrenched sociocultural norms that enable violence against women. These initiatives demonstrate how religious institutions can leverage their moral authority to transform sociocultural norms enabling violence against women. The study highlights the need for sustained engagement with religious communities, reinterpretation of doctrine promoting gender equality, and collaborative efforts across sectors to eliminate this pervasive human rights issue. Harnessing the influential role of religion through a progressive, rights-based approach is crucial for addressing sexual and gender-based violence in the Tamale Metropolis and similar contexts. By delving into this intricate dynamic within the context of the Tamale Metropolis in Ghana, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs, interpretations, and institutions can either perpetuate or combat this form of violence. Keywords: Sexual Violence, Gender, Religion, Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Strengthening Moral Education Values: Sociological Analysis of the Mbah Sholeh Haolan at Pesantren Benda Kerep, Cirebon

This article explores the role of Mbah Sholeh haolan (commemoration) in strengthening Islamic education in Benda Kerep Village. This event serves as a cornerstone for cultural preservation, intergenerational learning, and practical implementation of Islamic values. The kyai, or spiritual leaders, play a pivotal role in guiding the community, reinforcing their authority and the respect they command. The haolan facilitates social cohesion, fosters a strong sense of identity, and exemplifies the community’s commitment to Islamic teachings. By examining the significance of Mbah Sholeh haolan, the article provides insights into how traditional Islamic communities can navigate the challenges of modernity while preserving their religious and cultural heritage. This study show that commemoration is one of the means used to pass on the cultural and religious values contained in "Wasiat Sepuh" as one of the character education and character-building. Kyai is the central figure, the foremost patron, followed by the community, so what Scott calls a patron-client cluster is formed. Kyai in Benda Kerep serves as an information leader who, in many ways, trumps the role of formal government officials. Kyai serves as the community's protector, a place to seek advice, and the final decision-maker on various problems in the area.

Sustainability‐based value creation within a multi‐stakeholder network: Balancing expectation conflicts within the Amazon context

AbstractThe current paper reports on ways to better co‐create sustainability‐based value in multi‐stakeholder networks by focusing on stakeholder expectations, their resulting conflicts, and feasible interventions. Indeed, the literature review reveals a growing research focus on multi‐stakeholder networks involving non‐governmental organizations, traditional communities, and companies operating in vulnerable natural environments. This research interest is driven by the growing need for forest preservation and its impact on creating a more sustainable ecosystem. Our study uses the case of Origens Brasil, a multi‐stakeholder network promoting ethical trade and protection of the Amazon Forest, and involves 47 interviews, and observational data. We contribute by identifying stakeholder expectations and shedding light on the unique conflicts that emerge from differences in these expectations. Furthermore, we developed a framework for sustainability‐based value creation derived from expectation conflict intervening.

Neo-Hasidism: The Questions are Theological

Abstract The article opens with a brief definitional and historical summary of the phenomenon called Neo-Hasidism, referring to the adoption of Hasidic modes of thought, devotion, and praxis by Jews outside the traditional Hasidic communities. This is to be distinguished from Neo-Hasidism as a literary-artistic movement of the early twentieth century. The article then turns to what the author considers to be Hasidism’s most basic religious innovation, the popularization of a panentheistic notion of a God-infused universe and its implications for Hasidic Judaism. From here, he turns to some key theological issues as presented in early Hasidic sources, extensively quoted and referenced. These include concepts of God, revelation, mitzvot, and claims of religious exclusivism. In each case, he asks how this Hasidic view might be adapted for use in a contemporary neo-Hasidic context.

K-plex-based community detection with graph neural networks

Community detection is an effective way to determine the structure and characteristics of a complex network. With the expansion of the network scale, traditional community detection approaches such as modularity-based optimization models face new challenges related to representing and learning the topological structure and node attributes from a large scale complex network. Moreover, in many practical applications, there is little knowledge about label information or the number of communities, which greatly limits the performance of existing supervised or semi-supervised community detection approaches. To solve these problems, in this paper, we propose a graph neural network-based unsupervised community detection approach, which first applies the k-plex to generate the community seeds, then uses a node sampling algorithm to reduce the network complexity, and finally constructs a graph neural network model to learn the relationships of the network nodes and assign the nodes to different communities. Extensive empirical studies on various scale networks demonstrate both the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach. Our codes are available at https://github.com/lol12854/KPGN.

Jegingger’s Ahmad Tohari: A re-narrated based on sacrilege and social disorganization

This research examines the Jegingger, novel written by Ahmad Tohari (JAT) which highlights the banal life of a family (palm trees climbers). JAT was re-narrated as exploiting the tension between the economy and family ties, whether ideally economic activities are separate (industrial economy) or integrated with the family (subsistence). Cultural establishments are mutually contested: the subsistence culture of traditional society is challenged by the productive economy, or conversely, the productive economy is challenged by the banal subsistence economy of traditional society. The methodology of postclassical narratology—exploring and explaining cultural manifestations and then exposing chronological sequences-was used to structure the vulnerability or resilience of banal communities in maintaining social ties. A subsistence economy with its characteristics of low productivity because it tends to be a cultural activity—not economic. It contains vulnerabilities seen from two sides: 1) banal agencies that do not have literacy and competence in carrying out subsistence professions have the potential to commit malpractice; 2) low productivity limits access to health facilities. These two weaknesses become obstacles to maintaining social ties. Sacrilege—abuse of sacred symbols—which was triggered by the malpractice of coconut climbing, has caused social disorganization—the loss of basic family and community affection—becoming a hub for the idea of raising awareness of the importance of the power of knowledge and materials in supporting traditional community ties. Mastery of material, especially in massive amounts (1.5 billion diamond necklaces), can transform a banal agency into a powerful one.

Authentication of indigenous Brazilian specialty canephora coffees using smartphone image analysis

The prevention of coffee fraud through the use of digital and intelligence-based technologies is an analytical challenge because depending on the adulterant, visual inspection is unreliable in roasted and ground coffee due to the similarity in color and texture of the materials used. In this work, a 3D-printed apparatus for smartphone image acquisiton is proposed. The digital images are used to authenticate the geographical origin of indigenous canephora coffees produced at Amazon region, Brazil, against canephora coffees from Espírito Santo, Brazil, and to capture the adulteration of indigenous samples. The results evidenced that the technology is favorable to identify the geographical origin and adulteration with multiple substances using smartphone technology. Pure coffees were adulterated with arabica coffee, spent coffee ground, low-quality Canephora coffee, coffee husks, açaí, corn, and soybean in increasing proportions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 %. These adulterants were roasted and grounded similarly to Canephora coffees to mimetize a highly-sophisticated fraud. The images were converted into Red-Green-Blue (RGB) fingerprinting and used as analytical response to construct Data-Driven Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (DD-SIMCA) models. A total of 95 % of all target and non-target samples in the test set were correctely identified, aiding producers and consumers in ensuring accurate labeling and supporting traditional communities economically and culturally. Smartphone-based method demonstrated potential to innovate the coffee safety control representing a new analytical tecnology.

Risk Management as a Moderator of the Influence of Good Corporate Governance on Corporate Sustainability in Village Credit Institutions

Village Credit Institutions (hereinafter referred to as LPD) in Bali were established based on Bali Regional Regulation Number 2 of 2002 and have been amended several times. The existence of LPD is needed to ensure the realization of the welfare of the traditional village community. LPD must continue to strive so that its sustainability is maintained properly. A number of LPDs in Bali have developed well and their benefits are felt by the village community, but there are also LPDs in a number of villages that have not been able to develop well, and some are even not operating. Based on these conditions, this study was conducted to analyze a number of factors that can affect the sustainability of LPDs in Bali. This study focuses on those that are most likely to affect the sustainability of LPDs, This study focuses on good corporate governance and credit risk management in LPDs in Gianyar Regency. Good corporate governance includes six dimensions: participation, responsibility, independence, fairness, accountability, and transparency. Corporate sustainability is assessed through economic, social, and environmental performance. The research sampled 84 healthy LPDs registered with the Village Credit Institution Empowerment Institution (LPLPD) using purposive sampling. The LPD chairpersons served as respondents, and data analysis was conducted using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method based on partial least squares (PLS).

Tracing gender variation in traditional knowledge: participatory tools to promote conservation in a Quilombola community in Brazil

BackgroundBased on participatory research tools and analysis with a gender focus, we aim to identify the knowledge associated with native plants of the Atlantic Forest in one Quilombola community whose territory is juxtaposed with a protected area, in South Brazil.MethodsThrough the perception of the residents of the Quilombola community of São Roque, we classified the availability, harvesting intensity, abundance, and importance of fourteen plants native to the Atlantic Forest found in their territory. These fourteen plants were selected after initial interviews with a free listing of plants done with all adults (44 people), followed by plant collection and identification. A participatory workshop was built with the community to collect data through three activities: four-cell tool, environment matrix, and importance matrix. To identify the gender nuances in the knowledge within this community, all activities were separated into two groups based on the gender of the 22 participants (9 women and 13 men) and the researchers.ResultsThe species Pau-pra-tudo (Picrasma crenata), Quina (Coutarea hexandra), and Cipó-milome (Aristolochia triangularis) were similarly classified as important by both groups, which indicates the cultural and environmental relevance associated with them regardless of gender. The perceptions of other species were expressed differently between the groups, showing the variance of the ecological knowledge and the relationship between the sociocultural contexts of gender and the knowledge manifested. The final part of the workshop was a lecture given by two community experts about herbal medicines based on forest species found in the territory.ConclusionsBased on the multiple forms of results recorded in the workshop, we discuss the demand for inclusion of the traditional community in land management plans of environmental agencies, highlighting how individual characteristics, such as gender, can fill gaps in data about local biodiversity.

Ethnogeomorphology of The Serra da Meruoca: Knowledge and Wisdom of Traditional Communities

Objective: This study investigates the use of soil and water and later compare it with the practices of social technology implementations (ALMEIDA et al., 2015; 2020; GNADLINGER, 2000) in the municipality of Alcântaras, Ceará, analyzing them through the rescue and appreciation of traditional knowledge about the use of soil and water. Theoretical Framework: The adopted theoretical framework considers that the use of soil and water receives a strong influence from social customs over generations. Method: The methodology for this research includes fieldwork, photographic records, and interviews with the local community. Results and Discussion: The results demonstrate that traditional communities have their practices, which are visualized for awareness purposes in the construction and integration of social technology (BARICHELLO, 2011; CARVALHO et al., 2021; FALCÃO SOBRINHO et al., 2019), contributing with suggestions supported by experiences in the field. Research Implications: The results are observable for territorial planning. Thus, social technology is an enhancement tool that has advanced inside the communities. Originality/Value: The research contributes to studies on the current reality of the use of soil and water to subsequently analyze the implementation of social technology.

Ethnoknowledge and Field Class Activities in Landscape Understanding

This article addresses the teaching of Geography from the perspective of field classes in a theoretical-methodological approach to be applied in traditional communities. Here, field classes are considered an active methodology that enhances students’ understanding of reality, involving local knowledge. The ethnoknowledge of traditional communities is discussed and reflected upon from the perspective of the interaction between academic knowledge and popular knowledge. Additionally, we address the landscape from the perspective of an analysis category. It is observed that well-founded and planned field classes focused on traditional communities and the appreciation of their knowledge lead students to a better understanding of environmental and cultural diversity.