Indigenous Tontemboan Tribe Revitalizes Heritage with $10K Grant
The Tontemboan Tribe of the Minahasa Nation in Indonesia has received a significant grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Fund. The 2024 award, totalling $10,000, is dedicated to bolstering community media and empowering locals to document their rich heritage amidst environmental threats and cultural erasure.
The project, titled 'Mapantik ne Kelung' or 'The Writing of the Shield', kicked off with a gathering of young Minahasan men and women eager to reclaim their ancestral stories and traditions through writing and media. They began by repairing and cleaning several waruga, stone sarcophagi at risk of destruction, acting as a spiritual healing process.
The project's impact was profound. It strengthened community networks, empowering women to find their voices and providing young people with tools to document their culture. The culmination of their efforts resulted in Kelung's first-ever printed magazine, a powerful testament to their journey and a gift to Elders, youth, and community leaders.
On April 17, 2025, the project organised the Hari Kebangkitan Masyarakat Adat Nusantara, celebrating the right of Indigenous Peoples to defend their heritage. Short documentaries were produced to reach a wider audience in this culture rich with oral traditions, highlighting the impacts of mining, stories of resistance, and glimpses of Minahasan culture. The project also helped restore several waruga, spiritual sites at risk due to environmental destruction caused by massive gold mining operations from companies like PT Meares Soputan Mining and PT Tambang Tondano Nusajaya.
The 2024 grant from Cultural Survival’s Indigenous Community Fund has been instrumental in empowering the Tontemboan Tribe to document and preserve their rich heritage. Through 'Mapantik ne Kelung', they have reclaimed their ancestral stories, strengthened community bonds, and raised awareness about the threats posed by extractive industries. The project's success serves as a beacon of hope for other Indigenous communities facing similar challenges.
