By: Azzikri, Delvina Nabila, Farentina Putri, Tri Nugraheni
Central Maluku, Indonesia — When we were first assigned our research site, Negeri Akoon was still just a name we could barely picture. This study was part of the RIMBAHARI program (Research Initiatives on Management of Biocultural Heritage and Resilient Innovations), an internship program organized through a collaboration between BRWA and the Anthropology Study Program at Universitas Indonesia. As part of the program, we were required to conduct an ethnographic study for about a month and a half to explore and better understand biocultural connections in our respective field sites.
Our journey began on April 12 and concluded on June 7, 2025. Akoon is widely known for its practice of sasi, a customary system that regulates the use of natural resources. Located on Nusalaut Island, part of the Lease Islands in Central Maluku, Akoon offers not only cultural richness but also a distinctive way of life. It is common for people here to take on more than one role in a day—working as both fishers and farmers.
Spending several weeks in Akoon gradually allowed us to understand the rhythms of daily life. What people eat—including the warm meals always prepared by Oma—reflects what they harvest from the sea and their gardens. Fish, octopus, shellfish, sea cucumbers, and a variety of homegrown vegetables form the foundation of their subsistence.
Many residents, often with a smile, told us they never worry about food because nature provides what they need. “It depends on the person. If you’re lazy, you won’t survive,” said Kak Franky, our field assistant who accompanied us throughout our time in Akoon.
Beyond meeting daily needs, households in Akoon also rely on the production of a traditional drink made from tipar mayang. Every morning and evening, we would see men carrying jerrycans filled with sageru—palm sap collected from mayang trees—on their shoulders or on their motorcycles. This drink is not only a source of income, helping families send their children to school outside the island, but also an essential part of ongoing customary rituals.
As a small island surrounded by the sea, Akoon is home to beautiful beaches and rich marine life. Yet beyond its natural beauty, what stands out most is the warmth and openness of its people. We were included in prayers—both in church and in communal gatherings before customary ceremonies—even though we come from different religious backgrounds. The people of Akoon welcomed us wholeheartedly, inviting us to take part in various activities, from clan initiation ceremonies and farewell gatherings for the pastor’s wife to the tutup sasi ritual.
There were moments when we struggled to gather data, especially given the broad scope of our research. However, with the support of our mentors and the willingness of residents to share their stories, we were able to move forward with relatively few obstacles. Over nearly two months of living and engaging directly with daily life in Akoon, we learned not only about its history and livelihoods, but also about the broader dynamics of coastal communities, particularly on small islands.
We witnessed the determination of Akoon’s residents to provide the best possible education for their children, and how they continue to safeguard their environment and living spaces through customary values. We hope this research can be completed responsibly and ethically, as what we carry with us are the voices and stories of the people of Akoon—people we have come to know personally.
We also hope that the outcomes of this internship will be meaningful, both for academic purposes and as knowledge that can be more widely accessed, especially by the people of Akoon themselves. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported us throughout this research: Kak Angky, Kak Linda, Oma Mesi, Oma Ube, Bapak Eki, Kak Petra, Kak Lenny, and many others whose names we cannot mention one by one. The memories we made—of experiences, friendships, and life lessons—will stay with us long after our time in Akoon.
