Do Indigenous Peoples have knowledge?
Do Indigenous Peoples master technology?
These two questions arise, because many people are misguided in seeing the existence of indigenous peoples. First, there is an assumption that indigenous peoples are underdeveloped societies, far from the touch of ‘modern’ life that is full of technology. Second, in line with the views of underdeveloped indigenous peoples, it closes the possibility that indigenous peoples have or control technology.
Knowledge is the result of knowing from a person after he or she senses an object (Notoatmodjo 2010). The sensing in question is through the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Knowledge is obtained through various means, such as personal experience, interpersonal communication, formal education, information media, etc. The Great Dictionary of Indonesian Language (KBBI) defines knowledge as everything that is known, intelligence, and everything that is known regarding a thing.
Meanwhile, technology is defined as the application of knowledge, skills, and methods to create tools, techniques, and services. Technology can also be interpreted as a whole means to provide the goods needed by humans. The form of technology is tools, machines, teaching methods, software and systems.
If you look at the two definitions above, it should be clear that indigenous peoples as living beings have knowledge and technology. Starting from knowledge of agriculture, medicine, seed breeding, weaving, carving, dance, musical instruments, astronomy, farming calendar, knowledge of sea travel, food, gastronomy.
Indigenous peoples in Java have their own calendar in farming based on the apparent circulation of the sun. Thus, they have a schedule for farming, understand the good times when to plant, especially those who rely on rain as a source of water. They will use prey institutions as a guideline.
Along with that knowledge, technology was born, such as technology in clothing (weaving), boards (houses, buildings), food (farming, hunting, food processing), transportation (boats). Isn’t it when indigenous women produce a piece of woven fabric, it is born from the support of technology? From the yarn spinning tool to the loom, from making various colors for the fabric, from the patterns created on the fabric with various techniques. Also When the phinisi boat was created by the indigenous people in Bulukumba, didn’t this involve technology?
When many music artists make a fuss about the performance rights of the song creators of their songs in the legal context of Agnes Monica (singer) vs Ari Bias (songwriter). None of the artists are disturbed to think, let alone fight for the performance rights of indigenous peoples whose dances are used in various ceremonial ceremonies of the state, or just welcome dances in various tourism attractions.
The problem is that today there is no recognition of knowledge and technology or intellectual property controlled by indigenous peoples, so as a result people can arbitrarily hijack or copy the knowledge and technology without compensating the rulers of the origin of the knowledge and technology.
Although a set of regulations regarding intellectual property has been born, such as Law No. 14 of 2001 concerning Patents which regulates exclusive rights to product inventions and/or production processes. Law No. 15 of 2001 concerning Trademarks: Regulates exclusive rights to trademarks, including trademarks and service marks. Law No. 19 of 2002 concerning Copyright: Regulates copyright of intellectual works in the fields of science, art, and literature. Law No. 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright: Regulates Collective Management Institutions (LMK). Government Regulations (PP) and Regulations
Minister (Permen): Government Regulation No. 2 of 2005 concerning Intellectual Property Rights Consultants. Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021 concerning the Management of Song and/or Music Copyright Royalties: Regulating the Management of Copyright Royalties, and Government Regulation Number 56 of 2022 concerning Communal Intellectual Property.
However, all of the above regulations are not compatible with the style of indigenous peoples who have distinctive rules of conduct, decision-making and production systems. Therefore, this article is the beginning of an invitation to all parties to think about the intellectual property controlled by indigenous peoples, so that their intellectual property is protected, recognized and appreciated. One of the best ways is to have a law-level regulation that recognizes, respects and protects the knowledge and technology controlled by indigenous peoples. Then identify and document knowledge and technology in a safe and easily accessible system. The presence of the Law on Indigenous Peoples is important.
Disclaimer: This article was written in Indonesia and has been translated by Google Translate. In case of dispute or discrepancy, the original language of the article should prevail.
