By: Debora Ivanna Marcelina, Nisrina Nur Azizah, Muhammad Izzuddin
Central Sulawesi — The RIMBAHARI team conducted field research in the city of Palu, Donggala Regency, and Sigi Regency from April 11 to June 5, 2025. The main focus of this study was to explore biocultural connections in the daily lives of indigenous communities, particularly the Nggolo and Ngata Ona communities.
Nggolo traditional villages are spread across several locations, including Salena, Sintulu, Pu’u Ntana, and Duriamporanggu. Access to these villages is challenging—for instance, reaching Pu’u Ntana required a seven-hour walk. However, the warm welcome from the local community made up for the exhaustion: they gathered at the bantaya (customary assembly hall) and greeted us with a shared meal.
Meanwhile, the journey to Ngata Ona, especially to Vuntuneno Hamlet in Lewara Village, was also far from easy. The rocky and steep paths could only be navigated by motorcycle, requiring a high level of caution.
The indigenous communities in this region generally rely on small-scale farming. They cultivate crops such as cassava, corn, candlenut, nutmeg, and cocoa. Trips to the fields often involve long walks and crossing koala (rivers). In Sintulu, some residents also depend on traditional gold panning—shaking sand in a large wooden pan to separate gold from sediment.
The Nggolo and Ngata Ona communities border protected forest areas. However, for them, nature is not merely a resource—it is a living space. This relationship is built on values, lived experience, and respect passed down through generations. In Ngata Ona, there is a system known as pangale baraka (sacred forest), an unwritten customary rule that limits resource use to preserve environmental sustainability.
Our research was warmly received by the community. Arman Seli from AMAN Kamalisi and the Nggolo community even invited us to write a research reflection to be published on celebesta.com under the title “University of Indonesia Students Conduct Bio-cultural Research in the Nggolo Indigenous Community.” This reflects the community’s strong enthusiasm and openness toward research collaboration.
This experience broadened our understanding of resilience and sustainability in the everyday lives of indigenous communities. Traditions, customs, and local knowledge serve as the foundation of the relationship between humans and nature. We hope this research will contribute not only to academic discourse but also to the continued well-being of the communities themselves.
