Indonesia, an archipelagic country, is home to a rich and diverse cultural landscape, encompassing a wide array of traditions, languages, ethnic groups, and indigenous communities. With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s indigenous peoples possess unique customs, practices, and knowledge systems that have shaped the country’s identity for centuries. Despite this wealth of diversity, the depth and significance of indigenous cultures remain largely under-documented and under-explored in a systematic manner.
To address this gap, PASAGI – Centre for Indonesian Indigenous Studies was founded as a dedicated research, study, and development center focused on indigenous knowledge in Indonesia. Established by a group of lawyers, academics, researchers, and activists who are passionate about indigenous issues and their rights, PASAGI’s mission is to preserve, document, and develop the vast and intricate body of knowledge that indigenous communities have developed over generations.
The indigenous knowledge in Indonesia spans a broad range of disciplines, including indigenous philosophy, religion, traditions, customary law, wisdom, pharmacy, food processing techniques, environmental management, climate change adaptation, indigenous psychology, architecture, traditional clothing, rituals, traditional arts, and sustainable development practices. PASAGI recognizes the importance of preserving this knowledge for future generations, and our research initiatives aim to document, study, and explore the richness of this heritage in a comprehensive and accessible way.
PASAGI adopts an interdisciplinary approach in its studies, combining various academic fields to better understand the complexities of indigenous knowledge and its relevance in modern contexts. Through this approach, PASAGI also advocates for the recognition and protection of indigenous rights, focusing on pressing issues that affect indigenous communities. We engage with regional, national, and international bodies to promote policies that safeguard the cultural, environmental, and legal rights of these communities.
Beyond research and advocacy, PASAGI actively engages in organizing and campaigning for the rights of indigenous peoples. We collaborate with local and international partners to raise awareness, mobilize support, and create platforms for dialogue that strengthen the voices of indigenous communities. Through these efforts, PASAGI aims to ensure that indigenous knowledge and cultures continue to thrive in the face of modern challenges, contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.
Click the following link to learn more about Indigenous Knowledge: https://pasagi.org/what-is-indigenous-knowledge-system/
PASAGI – Centre for Indonesian Indigenous Studies is located in Bogor, West Java – Indonesia, an ancient region of the Sundanese ancestors, once known as the Political Unity of Pakuan Pajajaran, which has inherited Sundanese values, knowledge, teachings, arts, and traditions that continue to thrive today in the Bogor area, West Java, and the surrounding Indigenous Villages in Pasundan Land. We pay respect to the Ancestors and Elders -past, present, and future-, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge at the PASAGI.