Return to the Roots :
A Saga of Suffering and Survival of Community by the
Keren Pgagayor Ethnic Group of Mae Wang, Chiang Mai Thailand
Presented By Dr.Phisit Kotsupho,
The Expert Lecturer, MC.BU. Chiang Mai Campus
Thailand.
Abstract
Before 1995, the Government
of Thailand has encircled 25% of the high land to be the Reserved Area causing
the conflict between Govt. Officers and the Ethnic Groups and Communities who
are used to primary live in the high
lands. Especially, the Keren Pgagayor Ethnic Group of Mae Wang, Chiang Mai
Thailand, confronts directly the problems that they have to leave from
their a long lived place by law. To move from their places, that is the most
sufferings, because they have no places to live. To survive the lives, they get
up to prevent and protect the land by show how the high land people can live harmoniously in the forest with the idea “a
man and the nature”. The Pgagayor of Ban
Nong Tao, Tambon Mae Win Amphue Mae Wang, led by Pati Jorni Odochao urges his
community back to their roots, that is their belief, tradition and culture.
According to their belief and tradition on the reservation of the nature and
environment had handed down from the fore fathers that human life has
inevitably mutual related to the tree or the forest. It said that when the
new children’s birth, their umbilical cord have to hang on the
particular tree, and those trees are the symbols of their spirits not allow to
cut down. More over, they belief that human souls are totally 37 in numbers, 5
souls exist in human being, other 32 souls reside in the forest, nature, in
every animals,. If there is lack of any part from the whole, means the human
soul dies. This is why they have to return to their roots by reserve and
protect the nature related to their living lives. The Pgagayor’s ways of lives
had empirically reflected the original tradition and beliefs so that the Thai
Govt. agrees to allow them living in the Reserved High Land since they actually
practiced in accordance with their culture and the root idea.
Keywords : the Roots; Survival of Community, Keren Pgagayor, Ethnic Group, Mae Wang,
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Presented on 1 Feb 2018 at
the 6TH ICCS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & GATHERING OF THE ELDERS , Mumbai India.
