For over two decades, I have seen many Indigenous communities whose lands have been scarred by mining. From Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi, where Newmont Minahasa Raya poisoned the waters with mercury and arsenic, to Timika in West Papua, where Freeport McMorran’s operations have turned sacred lands into a wasteland. I have seen firsthand the…
Month: October 2024
Moana
As a person with Polynesian roots, watching Moana felt like witnessing a blend of pride and discomfort. It’s rare to see a Disney movie, or any major Hollywood production, centering Polynesian culture, but with that representation comes both responsibility and scrutiny. While Moana captures some beautiful aspects of Polynesian life, traditions, and landscapes, it also…
Beyond the Rhetoric: Dismantling Cognitive Colonialism in the Fight for Indigenous Autonomy
For two decades, I have worked at the intersection of Indigenous rights and environmental justice, advocating for my people and many others across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand how Indigenous Peoples’ voices continue to be sidelined within the very movements that claim to support us. This marginalisation of Indigenous…