BAINON (left) planting an indigenous tree in conjunction with the International Forestry Year during the four-day National Level World Indigenous People's Day, which ended yesterday, while indigenous people, comprising (from right) the Temuan from Negeri Sembilan, Temiar from Kelantan, Kenya from Sarawak and Dusun from Sabah, all dressed in their traditional costumes, look on.
PENAMPANG: There are a thing or two that the government can learn from the indigenous people.
In fact, their symbiotic way of living with nature and surroundings could probably be the answer to the nation’s good resource management system, especially with the growing concern over the critical climate change today.
“For instance the tagal system, a stakeholder-driven system of rehabilitation, protection and conservation of the river environments and the fisheries resources for sustainable development, has been adopted by the Fisheries Department for its effectiveness.
“This system has long existed and is still being practised until today,” Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said yesterday.
He said the community-based fisheries resource management system is now gaining the minds and hearts of many riparian communities nationwide.
“I believe that there are many more traditional skills, knowledge and technology which can be adopted at the present time. What is important is that it would be able to contribute towards common benefits for all, and should be made as a blueprint in the management and development system of the state and nation,” said the Infrastructure Development Minister.
Pairin, who is the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) president, said this in his speech read by his deputy Datuk Richard Bainon, during the World Indigenous People Day celebration at KDCA, here, with the theme Women, Youth and Forest.
He said gone are the days when the indigenous people are dubbed as “old-fashioned and flinch” as they have proven that their traditional methods are still relevant today.
“We should be proud to be called an indigenous person. We are known to be knowledgeable people that possess good community, land and resource management system. In fact, some of our technologies warrant recognition and be emulated by others.
“The indigenous people emphasise on the importance of harmony with nature, community and spiritual, because without these, there will be unrest everywhere,” said Pairin.
He stressed that it is the right of the indigenous people to defend their territory when they feel threatened, but they are reminded of their traditions which need to be preserved, both their action and the way they speak.
“I would like to advise that when expressing your views, grouses, proposals and dissatisfaction, it should be voiced through the right channel. I would like to assure that the government will listen and is ready to learn problems affecting the people, especially the indigenous group,” he said.