By Sinee Chotboriboon (Thai team)
Research on food systems, climate change, and the nutritional status of all ethnic groups are significant but complicated by various factors. Research to create new knowledge must begin with an understanding of study areas and ethnic groups in many aspects. Although the project and activities were communicated through community leaders and local research assistants during the project launch event, this is not enough to create the necessary understanding and acceptance by the community. That, in the own words of Mr. Thawatchai Saisangkhathatsanee - one of the local collaborators, assistant village headman and head of the community youth group - "must be built on trust". Therefore, we (the RISE Thai team) decided to travel to the Koh Sadueng village to explain the RISE project again and reach out to the largest community.
Our visit was conducted during 6 -11 February 2022. To reach the village, we had to travel by four-wheel drive vehicles on rough roads crossing dozens of creeks. The travel was worth it though, reaching a destination to find a very fresh and pure atmosphere. Our hosts greeted us with great friendliness and kindness, offering us to stay for 7 days and giving us a chance to get to know each other and exchange personal views as this was a time of new acquaintance for all of us.
Our informal presentations and discussions to clarify the project over our stay were divided into three main activities:
Activity 1 ─ Small group discussion. We talked to the community leaders (formal and informal leaders), community members (including men and women, adults and youngsters), and community researchers (experienced and new generation). This activity enabled researchers and community to understand each other through methods such as storytelling and the use of body language and illustrations to facilitate interactions and communication. We also showed and demonstrated the use of some tools and materials that will be later used in our field sampling such as weighing equipment and blood collection tubes, and presented examples of communication of research findings, such as translating weight results, which were shared by community members, especially women, to others in the community.
Activity 2─ Strolling around the community. This activity allowed us to see and learn of the locations that are important community landmarks and to greet and get to know important community personalities such as teachers or spiritual leaders. In addition, we could also learn about the history and culture of the community through narratives of the past and accounts of their traditions and beliefs.
Activity 3 ─ Clarification of the RISE project during the monthly village meeting. This activity allowed us to hear directly from the community leaders and members regarding any doubt or concern they may have about our project. At the same time, it was an opportunity for community members to observe the behavior of researchers towards the community.
This visit was very important for our team as we could start to build trust and mutual understanding with the community leaders and members and their acceptance towards our project as evidenced by the initial greetings by the participants as well as the words of the community leaders saying their goodbyes to us prior to departure “...if there anything I can help you with, just tell me…”
In addition, the Koh Sadueng community is interesting in that the local research assistants are youth groups who actively cooperate in preserving nature-dependent lifestyles based on the wisdom of Karen groups. The youth group has collaborated with external organizations to survey habitats of animals such as aquatic animals, birds, reptiles, and insects in the environment near the community. They also have networked with youth groups in other villages in Laiwo Subdistrict. This network is an indication that the Karen community has the social capital to work with research teams toward the same goals under this project. Although the community has many activities to maintain the traditional Karen way of life, they need scientific knowledge and current information to combine with traditional wisdom in order to find a balanced and sustainable solution in the face of changing social conditions and global climate change affecting the existence and diversity of traditional food systems.
From this trip, we see multi-dimensional challenges that await us to work with the community to think, learn, and develop new knowledge that combines harmoniously between academic knowledge and the wisdom of ethnic communities.
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