Local Wisdom for Marine Sustainability: Learning from Mandar Fisher Families’ Communication in Transmitting Paissangang Sumombal Values of the Sandeq Boat
Speakers
Prof. Dr. Tuti Bahfiarti
Full-Time Lecturer and Professor of Communication Science at Hasanuddin University
Aone van Engelenhoven
University Lecturer at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies
Andi Nur Fitrah, M.I.Kom
Researcher and Academic Affiliated with the Media and Communication Thematic Research Group at Universitas Hasanuddin
Muhammad Ridwan Alimuddin
Independent Researcher on Nusantara Maritime Traditions and Mandar Culture and Founder of "Perahu Pustaka
Event Details
When hearing about the Mandar people, a maritime community in West Sulawesi, Indonesia—many may immediately recall the sandeq, a traditional sailing vessel renowned as one of the fastest in Southeast Asia, capable of reaching speeds of 15–20 knots (30–40 km/h). Yet, beyond this fame, few scholarly works have examined how the Mandar regard the sea not merely as a source of livelihood, but as a heritage to be safeguarded through local wisdom passed down across generations of fishing families.
This session invites participants to explore how the values of paissangang sumombal which emphasize responsibility, skill, courage, simplicity, balance, cooperation, and maritime ethics shape sustainable marine practices within Mandar life, and what lessons they offer in the era of climate change.
Bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives from Indonesia and the Netherlands, the discussion integrates cultural communication studies, oral traditions, and sustainability. Together with leading experts, we will examine how language and local narratives shape perceptions of the sea, and how this oral heritage can inspire intergenerational and cross-border strategies to transform local knowledge into global sustainability frameworks.