View on The Global Environmental Justice site
This is one of seven short films about sustainable living in the forests of Indonesia, Costa Rica and Brazil. Taken together, they tell a story of oppression, resistance, accomplishments, and confidence for the future.
CURATOR
Laura Miller
Applied ethicist and instructor, Southwestern Illinois College, St. Louis Community College, Fontbonne University, and Webster University
Teacher's guide
Please download the teacher's guide containing maps, background information, suggested subjects, questions and activities for the series.
THE FILMS
Indonesia
1. Sungai Utik: The Fight for Recognition (21:00)
2. Building a Traditional Longhouse as a Cultural Center (11:40)
3. The Dyak Iban Way of Farming (12:30)
4. Homecoming: Indonesian Indigenous Youth Return to the Community (8:20)
Costa Rica and Brazil
5. A Sustainable Solution: Environmental tax to maintain forests in Costa Rica (6:30)
6. Brazil's Warrior Women: Women’s movement wins access to babassu oil (7:30)
7. A Tribute to Dona Dijé, Babassu Woman Warrior: An interview with a leader of the babassu movement (4:10)
WHY I SELECTED THESE FILMS
These films are unique because they highlight victories for the Indigenous people in their countries. In this series of seven films, we see the impact of the women’s movement on the women of the babassu forest, traditional teaching by the elders of the Sungai Utik people, and success in claiming ownership of the forest that they call home. It is important to me to show that Indigenous peoples are not helpless victims but instead are empowered to act as advocates for themselves in standing up to government entities, corporations, and threats. Here we see Indigenous peoples’ will, strength,and determination that should be celebrated.
Film 1 Sungai Utik: The Fight for Recognition
SYNOPSIS
The Sungai Utik, a Dayak community, follow the cultural practices of their ancestors passed down to them by their elders. For more than 40 years, the Sungai Utik people sought to protect their forested land from interference by government and from the greed of outsiders who were decimating ancient forests and homelands to create lucrative palm oil plantations. In response to the community’s complaints, the government denied the Sungai Utik electricity, paved roads, and fresh water. This hostile treatment drew the attention of NGOs, who helped the Sungai Utik register legal claims to the land on which they lived. On May 1, 2020, the government formally recognized the community’s historical right and relationship to the land.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOCUS
There are reminders throughout this film series that the land and the Indigenous people are interconnected. This essential connection has led Indigenous people to defend their land and, by extension, their ability to live as their ancestors once lived. In these films we see a cultural center that is a gathering house for the Indigenous community and visitors; we see a fight for land that is also a fight for a future; we see ancestral farming methods; and we see the impact of modernity on the protection of tradition. While there are many focuses of each individual film, and all are worthy, the fundamental connection between land and people remains the common thread.
If land is taken, the Indigenous people disappear. If the land is harmed, so are the Indigenous people. If their land is given to others, pieces of their history are lost. One cannot separate them; they are each part of the other. To provide justice, justice must be given to the land through the people willing to defend it. These films allow us—even if only for a moment—to begin to see what a just Global South would be like.
Read more about teaching environmental justice with documentaries. Download the teacher's guide for If Not Us Then Who?
REVIEWS
If Not Us Then Who?
Reviews by Isadora Lambert for Video Librarian 21 April 2023
The seven short films collected in If Not Us Then Who? chronicle sustainable practices in the forests of Indonesia, Costa Rica, and Brazil. While many environmental documentaries focus on the devastation humankind inflicts upon the world, these seven films demonstrate resilience and hope for the future.
Part One: Indonesia
Sungai Utik: The fight for recognition (21 min)
The first film in “If Not Us Then Who?” is Sungai Utik: The fight for recognition. At 21 minutes, this is the longest film in the collection. Sungai Utik profiles a Dayak community that follows sustainable practices passed down by their ancestors to protect forest lands. While outsiders see the financial gain in exploiting the forest’s resources, the Sungai Utik take only the resources they need and repay the earth for what they take by planting new trees. The film follows their quest to receive legal protection and fair treatment from the government.
Building a Longhouse as a Cultural Center (12 min)
The second film in the collection follows the Sungai Utik people as they build a traditional longhouse for the first time in fifty years. This building acts a cultural center where the community can gather, attend school, make food, and live together. The indigenous filmmaker of Building a Longhouse as a Cultural Center emphasizes the community effort that makes this construction possible and pays particular attention to the elders in the community.
The Dyak Iban Way of Farming (13 min)
This documentary short discusses traditional Dayak Iban farming methods. Their process involves rotating farmlands and utilizing carefully controlled burning. Although this is a traditional technique, the government has deemed controlled burning illegal due to pollution and forest fires. However, the true environmental damage is caused by massive palm oil plantations. The Dyak Iban Way of Farming demonstrates the cultural and ecological value of maintaining traditional practices.
Homecoming: Indigenous youth return to the land (8 min)
Homecoming: Indigenous youth return to the land focuses on Indigenous youth and how crucial this generation is to environmental activism. While many youths choose to leave their communities to study and work in cities, this documentary examines those who choose to return in order to help their communities by integrating tradition with sustainable planning.
Part Two: Costa Rica/ Brazil
A Sustainable Solution: Environmental tax to maintain forests in Costa Rica (7 min)
This documentary short highlights the impact Indigenous people have made in reducing logging in Costa Rica. A government program called Payment for Environmental Services supports sustainable practices and motivates communities. A Sustainable Solution proves that government intervention can have a positive impact on the environment.
Brazil's Warrior Women: Women’s movement wins access to babassu oil (8 min)
In Brazil, 400,000 women harvest nuts from the babassu palm in order to maintain a living. However, some ranchers and farmers pose a threat to these women, threatening to physically ban the women from the fields. Brazil's Warrior Women follows the passing of a law that allows these women to remain in the fields and provide for their families.
A Tribute to Dona Dije, Babassu Woman Warrior: An interview with the leader of the babassu movement (4 min)
A Tribute to Dona Dijé, Babassu Woman Warrior pays special tribute to Dona Dijé, a central organizer of the Babassu movement. In this interview, she reflects on how the movement has impacted both the protection of women as well as the Amazon.
These seven documentary films are unique in their emphasis on how Indigenous communities influence environmental conservation. “If Not Us Then Who?” champions perspectives that are often not shown on screen. These inspiring stories would be welcome in both high school and college classrooms.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
This film would be suitable for students and library patrons interested in environmental studies, public policy, political science, and global studies.
How does this film contribute to a discussion of environmental or climate justice, and/or to environmental literacy?
If Not Us Then Who? contributes to discussions of climate justice by demonstrating solutions for environmental issues, and prioritizing indigenous voices.
What type of library programming could use this title?
These short films would be perfect for library programming events focused on sustainable solutions for the future.
00:00:56.260 --> 00:00:59.720
First I'll tell the story of
how we moved from Lanjak
00:01:01.940 --> 00:01:03.760
Our ancestors...
00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:07.620
because they always got along
with the Embaloh people
00:01:08.020 --> 00:01:10.160
they've lived
with the Embalohs
00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:13.420
and so they asked them
for a piece of land
00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:16.740
"we're searching
for a vast territory"
00:01:18.420 --> 00:01:21.200
they asked the tribe's nobleman
Malin Malunsa
00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:25.560
and so Malin Malunsa gave them
the territory of Sungai Utik
00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:30.300
"if you can live alongside us,
over there is your land"
00:01:30.900 --> 00:01:33.900
"over there
is your land"
00:01:34.720 --> 00:01:39.120
"it was our land, this is the land
where our village once was"
00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:44.560
"now we give it to you,
all the fruits of this land is yours"
00:01:57.240 --> 00:02:00.960
In the past,
our grandpa Judan
00:02:00.960 --> 00:02:06.260
asked for this territory
from the Ulak Pauk nobleman
00:02:06.260 --> 00:02:09.240
grandpa
Malin Malunsa
00:02:11.420 --> 00:02:15.780
to Judan he said
"you can move there"
00:02:16.320 --> 00:02:20.120
"Even if there is only one
of you living here"
00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:25.700
"the territory still belongs to that person"
said grandpa Malin Malunsa
00:02:27.040 --> 00:02:30.980
what he meant was that
we must protect this territory
00:02:30.980 --> 00:02:35.860
we have to care for it and
preserve it for our descendants
00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:42.000
this is the way that
we must pass down the story
00:02:55.980 --> 00:03:02.040
if all our trees are
cut down and taken
00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:10.180
what would we do
if we no longer had any trees left
00:03:34.980 --> 00:03:38.780
When people first came here,
wanting to take our land
00:03:39.620 --> 00:03:41.160
we refused them
00:03:41.600 --> 00:03:46.080
Bumi Raya Limited and Lanjak Entimau Limited
tried to come here
00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.500
many many companies tried
to come into our forest
00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:49.960
we drove them
all away
00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:53.540
even when the biggest logger,
Apheng came we rejected it as well
00:03:53.540 --> 00:03:55.800
we do not
want it
00:03:55.860 --> 00:03:58.280
this is our territory
and we don't want it to be ruined
00:03:58.280 --> 00:04:02.380
the land, the fruits,
the fish here are ours
00:04:02.380 --> 00:04:05.140
the trees here
are ours
00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:09.160
this customary territory
is ours to protect
00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.040
most people see the forest's value
as money, we don't,
00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:57.980
what we care more for
is natural wealth
00:04:58.520 --> 00:05:01.200
If what we wanted was money,
then we would've sold
00:05:01.200 --> 00:05:02.920
all the trees in our forest
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.160
but when the trees run out
so will the money
00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:11.360
if we have unity in the community
it's easy
00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:17.420
the companies still have to ask us,
and if we are in unison we can reject them
00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:21.740
natural wealth means that
we plant these trees
00:05:21.740 --> 00:05:25.200
and they will continue to replenish
never running out
00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:29.580
our rule is when you cut one tree down
you plant 2 more
00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:00.420
when we are about
to cut down a tree for building
00:06:00.820 --> 00:06:04.560
we make an offering
with a ritual
00:06:05.780 --> 00:06:09.455
so as to not disturb
the forest
00:06:11.640 --> 00:06:16.120
not because we cherish the trees,
we use them as building material
00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:18.420
never as something
to be sold
00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:23.220
this is why we have
protected the forest,
00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:26.580
it's where we get
the building blocks for our houses
00:06:27.540 --> 00:06:29.540
we depend
on the forest
00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:34.460
these trees are difficult to find,
once you cut it down
00:06:34.460 --> 00:06:36.960
it takes hundreds of years
to regrow
00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:48.140
we have protected these forests,
never letting anyone or any company take it
00:06:48.260 --> 00:06:52.700
we protect these forest
for our future grandchildren
00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:59.140
we don't want the land to be ruined,
the river to be contaminated
00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:03.140
the forest is still here
00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:06.580
there are still many trees
00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:13.200
like what we are doing here,
we don't want to use tin roofs
00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:16.860
it has to be wood
00:07:29.200 --> 00:07:37.160
since 1996 Sungai Utik
have started organizing ourselves
00:07:37.640 --> 00:07:43.080
many NGOs helped and had discussions
alongside the community
00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:51.900
in 1998 everybody agreed
that Sungai Utik has to be mapped
00:07:54.960 --> 00:07:59.020
this is so that we know
how vast our territory is
00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:03.120
so that we know what exists
within our customary territory
00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:06.820
the type of trees,
everything was identified
00:08:08.880 --> 00:08:18.140
and also so we all know
where the boundary between the villages are
00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.620
our customary territory
is split into different zonations
00:08:28.260 --> 00:08:32.700
Kampung Galau
00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.840
Kampung Taroh
00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:35.980
Kampung Endor Kerja
00:08:42.800 --> 00:08:50.160
Kampung Taroh is the protected forest,
and we will protect it forever
00:08:50.260 --> 00:08:55.820
the protected forest keeps
our water sources clean
00:08:55.980 --> 00:09:00.060
that is why it's important to us
00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:20.100
and then the Kampung Galau,
it is also a protected forest
00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:27.700
but if the trees in the production forest are
still small then we won't cut it down
00:09:27.880 --> 00:09:33.720
instead we'll search for trees in the Kampung Galau,
and even then it's done very selectively
00:09:59.520 --> 00:10:06.400
Kampung Endur Kerja is where we go
to find wood when we are building
00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:16.180
the small trees will grow big, and so we only take
what we need for the community
00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:32.080
people saw that
00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:38.760
here is a community
that has truly protected their territory
00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:43.720
we received the Kalpataru award
00:10:44.105 --> 00:10:47.145
the Equator Prize from the UNDP
00:10:47.145 --> 00:10:51.200
and it meant a lot for Sungai Utik's fight
00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:04.400
we have protected our territory this far
not just for ourselves,
00:11:04.400 --> 00:11:08.220
and people saw
our sincerity in this fight
00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:18.320
we have gone through
many difficulties and hardships
00:11:20.180 --> 00:11:27.180
it's not just about
receiving the awards
00:11:27.260 --> 00:11:32.940
our aim wasn't to receive these awards,
that wasn't our purpose,
00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:35.480
that's not what
we were hoping for
00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:39.020
but it's more that
we were certain
00:11:39.020 --> 00:11:42.220
from the very start we wanted
to protect this territory,
00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:46.840
without hoping for
any compensation from anyone
00:11:55.780 --> 00:12:01.860
for more than 20 years
we have fought
00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:05.220
so that we can protect
this territory
00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:09.340
and to receive legal recognition of it
from the government
00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:25.220
our first step in the fight
is to work alongside NGOs
00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:31.280
to create a map
for our customary territory
00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:37.540
after seeing the map it was clear
that there is an indigenous community that owns it
00:12:37.540 --> 00:12:42.400
a community that is still hanging on to their
customary beliefs, still practice their rituals
00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:46.560
that still has their customary forest,
still has their traditional clothes
00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:56.980
the government saw that this is a community that
they have to legally recognize
00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:09.320
Here Apai Janggut-
00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:13.840
and with that the community
and our customary territory
00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.100
is legally recognized
by the local government
00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:26.580
according to the decree issued by the head of district,
on the 30th of October 2019
00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:32.500
first point, there exist
an indigenous community
00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:35.980
that has been recognized
by the local government with a decree
00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:43.040
there exist a customary territory
that's partially or fully forest
00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:44.860
there is, valid
00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:52.680
the verification team
have all signed it
00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:56.420
you have waited long
for this process
00:13:56.420 --> 00:14:00.140
all that's left is to ask
Apai to sign it
00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:13.320
we now have a decree
recognizing our customary forest
00:15:13.660 --> 00:15:18.060
from the Ministry of Environment
and Forestry of Indonesia
00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:23.080
we wanted it to legally be
a customary forest
00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:27.200
because it is
a rights-based system
00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:33.420
meaning the community is given the freedom
to manage their customary territory
00:15:33.420 --> 00:15:38.860
according to their traditional
way of living
00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:43.260
if the community is still able
to take care of and manage their territory
00:15:43.260 --> 00:15:46.540
then the territory will still belong
to the community
00:15:46.540 --> 00:15:48.460
that is
what we want!
00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:58.340
we don't want them to
give differing rights
00:16:04.900 --> 00:16:08.820
they could have given
concession rights
00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:11.920
they could've given it
to palm oil companies
00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:14.980
if it is owned by
the people of Sungai Utik
00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:19.340
like it is now that it's been recognized
as a customary forest
00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:22.580
this means that if the government
wants to do something here
00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:25.020
they need permission
from the people
00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:28.200
if they don't ask for permission,
then they are breaking the rules
00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.720
that they've
put up
00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:45.220
This is the bird's wood,
it is to protect our kids
00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:48.840
protect our wood
and our land
00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:50.940
freed from dangers
00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:53.200
our fields yield
good paddy
00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:06.140
thank you to everyone who has helped us
in every step of our journey
00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:10.360
may it be from an organization
or individually
00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:13.120
from Indonesia
or from abroad
00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:15.400
thank you
from all of us
00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:43.240
we at Sungai Utik
see an opportunity
00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:48.060
it's not enough
just to protect it
00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:55.440
we need to be able to do this sustainably,
and we can do that with tourism
00:18:00.140 --> 00:18:06.620
we saw that it was in line
with what we wanted
00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:10.680
they want to walk in our forest,
to see the towering trees
00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:16.780
they want to go upstream of the river,
the water is still clear
00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:41.140
the guests that come here
doesn't cause any harm
00:18:41.280 --> 00:18:46.120
they bring
many positive impacts
00:18:48.760 --> 00:18:52.040
it's important
for Sungai Utik
00:18:52.040 --> 00:18:57.200
if we want a sustainable
and independent future
00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:05.120
we have to protect this customary forest
forever and ever
00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:10.920
it will never run out and
it will be passed down to our children
00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:20.700
if it's not protected then
this forest will be gone
00:19:21.300 --> 00:19:24.320
then there won't be any forest
for our grandchildren
00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:27.500
this customary territory
belongs to us
00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:57.260
♪ We are the kids of Sungai utik ♪
00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:02.980
Born from seeds of water
00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:10.120
We play in the river, we play in the forest,
we play in the fields
00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:14.160
Oh! what fun
00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:17.940
We are the kids of Sungai Utik
00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:22.140
Raised in the forest
00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:28.500
We like to dance, we like to sing,
we look for fish
00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:32.120
Oh! What fun
00:20:32.280 --> 00:20:39.240
Ancestral lands,
don't ever let go off it
00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:44.160
For temporary gains
00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:50.840
Our Ancestral lands, this river,
this forest
00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:54.320
Are our lives forever
