MARGINALIZATION OF THE ATA MODO TRIBE THROUGH THE CONSERVATION DISCOURSE OF KOMODO ISLAND

Abstract

The following research discusses marginalization of the Ata Modo tribe through the conservation discourse of Komodo Island. The study analyze the reasons, forms, and impacts of the Ata Modo tribe marginalization through conservation implemented by state policies that strengthen conservation based tourism industry. While intended to protect biodiversity, these conservation practices have restricted the Ata Modo’s access to their ancestral living spaces, natural resources, and recognition of their traditional knowledge. Theoretical frame of critical ethnography and the using theory of power relations by Michel Foucault, political ecology, and Gayatry Chakravorty Spivak’ study of subaltern applied to interpret how structural power mechanism works to silence local perspective and legitimizes obedience to authorities. The result of study indicates that Ata Modo tribe has been marginalized by hegemonic discourse of conservation that reproduces unequal power relationship between state and Ata Modo Tribe. Conservation discourse operates as a form of social exclusion and territorial dominance rather than environmental action. Ata Modo tribe was excluded spatially, economically, culturally, and politically. These forms of marginalization create social inequality, economic susceptibility and loss of identity crisis as indigenous people of Ata Modo Tribe. This research conclude that conservation discourse creates social injustice among indigenous people by justifying their exclusionary practices. Therefore government should implement participatory and inclusive conservation that formally acknowledge their indigenous knowledge and rights.