Indigenous Community Has Unique Democracy

Democracy literally means rule by the people. The word comes from the Greek dēmokratia, which was used to describe the political structures in place in various Greek city-states, most notably Athens, in the middle of the 5th century BCE. The words are derived from dēmos ("people") and Kratos ("rule").

Scholars have traditionally thought that democracy refers to rule by the people, specifically through elected representatives which originated around 2,500 years ago in Greece before spreading to Europe[1] and the United States. From a general perspective, many people may know recognized most European countries and the United States are deeply shaping real democracy and spreading democracy to the world. In this article, we will share more about how Democracy exists in Indigenous communities.  If we describe the democracy of Indigenous peoples, no one knows about real democracy which has shaped Indigenous communities for many centuries based on their practice culture, and context.

Indigenous democracy is a system of governance rooted in the traditions, values, and cultural frameworks of Indigenous peoples. It involves collective decision-making, consensus-building, and community participation. It acknowledges the inherent rights, knowledge, and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, and their ongoing struggles for self-governance and protection of their lands, resources, and cultural heritage. Indigenous democracy empowers Indigenous communities to shape their futures, uphold traditional governance systems, and maintain their distinct identities within broader national or international frameworks. It is a crucial aspect of Indigenous self-determination and the pursuit of justice, equality, and cultural preservation.[2]

For many centuries, Indigenous communities often practiced traditional democracy for a variety of communities in daily life, addressing internal conflict, and applying to protect their natural resources. Democracy plays a significant role in allowing indigenous peoples to consultation, participation, and consensus-building, and ensuring that decisions are made collectively, and voices of all communities are heard.

The traditional democracy of Indigenous peoples is rooted in the traditions, values, culture, community participation, and inclusively community in the world.

Traditional communication of Indigenous peoples is quite different from other communities, it has a unique communication that they have good relations among community members. In one village, everyone knows each other, even the individual named. They are so friendly and supportive to each other no matter what happens to them. As my experience, I have been living in my village which is a place that I cannot forget because I know more people and have a memorable day. My family and neighborhoods always supported each other even sharing food. It shows that indigenous peoples have deep spiritual democracy in their community. 

The Mediation/Elder Councils: Indigenous communities utilize mediation for various issues like land use planning and project development, with specialized mediators possessing cultural sensitivity and experience to facilitate productive discussions among community members. Most of the mediators refer to Indigenous elders who have experience in addressing the issues in the community. The process provides opportunities for building peace, respect and enhancing relations with both partners and communities as well.[3]

Collective Conflict Discussion: The collective rights of indigenous peoples to lands, territories, and resources are firmly recognized and provided for in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous peoples clans have long-standing custom structures of governance, and community representation through collective decision-making. Likewise, when a member of the community has conflict in the community, those elders, mediators, and all of the communities participate to hear about the issues on both sides of a member to make a collective judgment. Both sides received win-win results with peace and remained relationship after the discussion.

Collective Culture: Even in indigenous traditional weddings, specific Bunong marriage is of democratic practice in which they are collective discussion between the groom, and bride's parents, and the collective participation from elders and neighbors in the process of a wedding. Before getting officially married, all neighbors are involved in the wedding by drinking and eating together to celebrate the day. On the wedding day, all siblings and villagers help each other even cooking food, dancing together, and wishing together. This is the way that shows they almost practice democracy based on their collective practice in daily life. 

Rotational farming: Rotational farming is an agricultural technique that involves alternating cultivation between different plots within a single location, while leaving other plots to follow suit (PAR, 2010). Indigenous communities built a unique culture and societies rooted in caring for their land and natural resources. Rotational farming is practiced by Indigenous peoples across the world in many countries. In this case, I will be raising a case in Cambodia on indigenous practicing rotational farming on the same soil. In doing rotational farming, villagers in the village help each other to grow crops in the planting season and they always support each other to collect the crops. Collective participation in agriculture, we considered it be one of the great practices of civic engagement that made inclusive of the Indigenous community.

Indigenous Collective Housing: In the Indigenous community, most villages have collective houses that serve as communal spaces for community building. It is crucial for enhancing solidarity, preserving cultural traditions, and creating a good environment for people. Likewise, the Jarai people have a long house as their traditional house for the whole family to live in the same house. Besides, the Indigenous community has a community hall for space for community meetings, ceremonies, cultural events, and other events. It shows that communities have time to come together. This symbol of a house or hall shows that the Indigenous community has its own space to practice its democracy.

Indigenous democracy has been deeply rooted in Indigenous communities for many centuries, but they do not know what real democracy is. Traditional democracy is the most important for Indigenous peoples to build relationships, ensuring inclusive participation and consultation. Through the democracy practiced, indigenous communities would able to protect their cultural and perverse natural resources for the long term.