Education on the Protection of Indigenous Peoples' Rights in Carrying Out Economic and Cultural Activities in West Nusa Tenggara Province

Abstract

Indigenous communities play a crucial role in maintaining the sustainability of economic and cultural activities, which are integral to their identity and livelihoods. However, development, modernization, and the increasing use of culturally based economic resources pose various challenges to the protection of indigenous peoples' rights. This situation highlights the need to improve indigenous peoples' understanding and legal awareness regarding the protection of their economic and cultural rights. This community service activity aims to improve indigenous peoples' understanding of the protection of economic and cultural rights and to strengthen their capacity to maintain the sustainability of local wisdom-based economic and cultural activities in West Nusa Tenggara Province. The implementation method uses a participatory approach that includes problem identification, legal outreach and counseling, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), community mentoring, and activity evaluation. The target groups for the activity were traditional leaders, village governments, women's groups, youth groups, and cultural-based business actors. The results of the activity indicate an increase in participants' understanding of indigenous peoples' rights, particularly regarding the protection of traditional economic activities and the preservation of indigenous culture. The FGDs identified various problems, including limited understanding of legal protection for culturally based economic products, the potential for cultural commercialization, and the challenges of cultural preservation amidst social change. The mentoring activities also succeeded in raising public awareness regarding the importance of cultural documentation, strengthening customary institutions, and developing a sustainable culture-based economy. Thus, this community service program contributes to increasing legal awareness, strengthening the capacity of indigenous communities, and supporting the protection of economic and cultural rights as part of efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in West Nusa Tenggara Province.