UNAIR NEWS – August 9 marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This year, the United Nations has chosen the theme “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Sharing Futures,” calling on the global community to examine how technology—particularly artificial intelligence (AI)—can 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 Universitas Airlangga’s 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.
“The Constitutional Court’s 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,” he said.
Double-edged sword
Wisnuyana likens technological progress—especially AI—to 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—the 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).
“All cultural data use must be transparent, with the community’s full approval. They have the right to accept or reject, and they must maintain control over their data,” 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.
“This integration can support adaptive environmental management—but it must not undermine local wisdom. Losing that wisdom means losing identity,” he warned.
He cited Bali’s subak irrigation network and Maluku’s agroforestry systems as examples of traditional practices that ensure both food security and environmental balance. “These local approaches offer sustainable alternatives to industrial monoculture. Some communities have already integrated modern technology while keeping their traditions intact,” 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.
“Indigenous 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,” he concluded.
Author: Fania Tiara Berliana Marsyanda
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
