Long before industrial development came to Indonesia, local people held fast to customary values. However, this way of life has been reduced due to economic and development pressure.

Various national and local initiatives have attempted to accommodate the rights of indigenous people. In 2013 the Constitutional Court ruled that the rights of indigenous people should be recognized by the state. The national social forestry initiative seeks to recognize the rights of indigenous people through the Customary Forests scheme. Through the 2014 Village Law, the government intends to revive customary governance based on adat rights. This law was responded well by several local governments, including the Siak regency in Riau.

In 2015, the Siak administration issued a bylaw on the establishment of eight indigenous villages in the regency. These customary rights’ recognitions intend to enhance the role of customary governance and preserve almost lost customs. However, it has several fundamental flaws. Local communities in Siak cite “picking up sinking wood” to describe extraordinary efforts needed to restore something that has long faded.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.