A new book spotlights Indonesian women environmental defenders who blend indigenous ritual, grassroots organizing, and modern activism to resist mining and protect land, culture, and community rights.
In Indonesia, women are emerging as formidable defenders of the environment, blending traditional knowledge with modern activism to safeguard their land and communities. The new book Senjata kami adalah upacara adat (Our Weapon is Traditional Ritual), edited by Siti Maimunah and Noer Fauzi Rachman, profiles several of these women and their inspiring campaigns against destructive mining practices.
Rukka Sombolinggi, in her introduction, sets the tone: “The indigenous women in this book show that singing prayers is not a form of surrender but a declaration of resistance.”
Gunarti, a leader in the Samin movement in Central Java, one of Indonesia’s oldest social movements, uses her “mantras” to inspire nonviolent resistance and a fierce love for the Kendeng Mountains. “To farm is to fight,” she says, “and to fight is to farm. I view Mother Earth as my mother, the one who sustains me. But I feel I have not yet been able to make Mother Earth completely happy, make her smile.”
In West Timor, Aleta Baun leads her community in protecting the Nausus Mountains. “Traditional rituals are our weapon,” she says. “Together with our ancestors, we resist the destroyers of Mother Earth.”
Jull Takaliuang has successfully led opposition against gold mining operations on Sangihe Island in North Sulawesi. “Since the universe has chosen us to be its guardians,” she says, “we as humans cannot refuse. We must use all our strength and resilience to protect nature, whatever the risk.”
Editor Siti Maimunah reflects on the lessons she has learned from these women: “When we damage nature’s body, we damage our own.” Drawing on decades of environmental activism from the coalfields of Kalimantan to the nickel mines of Sulawesi, she shows how indigenous knowledge and modern advocacy intersect to defend human and environmental rights.
The book demonstrates how women activists in Indonesia are leading holistic, community-driven campaigns against short-term exploitation by mining companies and other industries. Their work underscores the crucial link between culture, ritual and sustainable environmental management.
Globally, their activism resonates with the growing movement of women environmental defenders who stand at the forefront of climate resilience, biodiversity protection and local adaptation. From Southeast Asia to South America, these community-led initiatives highlight how traditional knowledge, grassroots organizing and gender-sensitive approaches are critical for sustainable environmental solutions in the face of climate change and industrial pressures.
Senjata kami adalah upacara adat not only celebrates their resistance but also inspires readers worldwide to recognize the power of local knowledge, ritual and collective action in protecting the environment.
