TRIBUNPALU.COM, POSO – Indonesian Social Forestry Management Association (AP2SI) Central Sulawesi in collaboration with Green Earth Equator Foundation (BIJAK Foundation), Central Sulawesi Participatory Mapping Service Node (SLPP), and People's Education Foundation (YPR) implementing the Workshop on Preparing the Work Program of the To Pekurehua Wanua Watutau Indigenous Community.
The activity took place on May 7–8, 2026 in Baruga Watutau Village, Lore Peore District, Poso Regency.
This workshop became a space for consolidation of the Wanua Watutau indigenous community in formulating the direction of struggle, strengthening customary institutions, protecting customary territories, and developing livelihood sources based on local wisdom and environmental sustainability. The activity was attended by elements of customary institutions, village government, community leaders, women, young people, and civil society organizations.
During the two-day event, participants jointly mapped the potential, strengths, challenges, and threats faced by indigenous communities in managing natural resources and maintaining their living spaces.
During the workshop, participants developed a shared vision and short-, medium-, and long-term work plans that would serve as guidelines for future community organizing.
The formulated work program includes strengthening customary institutions, protecting customary territories and natural resources, developing community-based businesses, and strengthening the role of women and the younger generation in community governance.
Representatives from the organizers said that indigenous communities have an important role in protecting forests, land, and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, strengthening indigenous communities must be an important part of equitable and sustainable development.
“"This workshop is not just about compiling a list of activities, but also about creating a shared space to strengthen the direction of the indigenous community's struggle to safeguard their territory, identity, and the future of their generations," said Watutau Indigenous Community Leader Christian Toibo on Friday (May 8, 2026).
The Chairman of the Central Sulawesi SLPP, Agus M. Suleman, emphasized that the To Pekurehua Wanua Watutau Indigenous Community has faced various challenges related to the protection of customary areas and access to natural resource management.
“"Geographically, the Watutau traditional territory is being squeezed by the claims of the Land Bank agency which entered and occupied the Watutau traditional territory from the east," he said.
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