UNAIR NEWS 鈥 August 9 marks the International Day of the World鈥檚 Indigenous Peoples. This year, the United Nations has chosen the theme 鈥淚ndigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Sharing Futures,鈥 calling on the global community to examine how technology鈥攑articularly artificial intelligence (AI)鈥攃an help protect the rights and future of Indigenous communities.
In Indonesia, indigenous peoples remain in a vulnerable position. Biandro Wisnuyana, S.Ant., M.A., an anthropology lecturer at a鈥檚 Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), describes their situation as a paradox. While formal recognition of Indigenous rights has strengthened, he notes that on-the-ground realities often fall far short of expectations.
鈥淭he Constitutional Court鈥檚 Ruling No. 35/PUU-X/2012 confirmed that customary forests are no longer state property. However, large-scale plantation and mining operations continue to erode Indigenous territorial sovereignty,鈥 he said.
Double-edged sword
Wisnuyana likens technological progress鈥攅specially AI鈥攖o a double-edged sword. On one side, it offers powerful tools, from documenting languages and cultural archives to creating digital maps of Indigenous territories and assessing environmental threats.
On the other side are significant risks. One pressing concern is data colonialism鈥攖he extraction of cultural information without consent or the misuse of technology to enable industrial expansion into Indigenous lands. To address this, Wisnuyana stresses the need for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
鈥淎ll cultural data use must be transparent, with the community鈥檚 full approval. They have the right to accept or reject, and they must maintain control over their data,鈥 he said.
Harnessing local wisdom
Indigenous knowledge, Wisnuyana argues, can be a key asset in combating the climate crisis. When combined with satellite data, AI could monitor deforestation in real time, forecast local weather, and track ecosystem changes.
鈥淭his integration can support adaptive environmental management鈥攂ut it must not undermine local wisdom. Losing that wisdom means losing identity,鈥 he warned.
He cited Bali鈥檚 subak irrigation network and Maluku鈥檚 agroforestry systems as examples of traditional practices that ensure both food security and environmental balance. 鈥淭hese local approaches offer sustainable alternatives to industrial monoculture. Some communities have already integrated modern technology while keeping their traditions intact,鈥 he said.
Decisions that shape the future
Wisnuyana believes the future of Indigenous peoples hinges on decisions made now. He outlines four urgent steps: passing the Indigenous Peoples Bill, promoting the digital preservation of Indigenous knowledge under community stewardship, protecting Indigenous lands as biodiversity strongholds, and developing culture-based sustainable economic models.
鈥淚ndigenous communities face land disputes, resource exploitation, modernization that distances youth from their roots, and exclusion from decision-making. If these challenges go unaddressed, we risk losing our identity as a multicultural nation,鈥 he concluded.
Author: Fania Tiara Berliana Marsyanda
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
