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Abstract

Resilience is one key concept of culture and ecology. It highlights a particular system's adaptive and thriving capacities in facing various challenges. This research-based article investigates the reciprocity of cultural-ecological resilience in three traditional communities in Eastern Sumba. It starts with the examination of cultural resilience and ecological resilience using five and seven qualitative indicators, respectively. The last part of the discussion analyzes how culture and ecology reciprocate in the given communities. The research employs a descriptive qualitative method. Data are collected by conducting mini-ethnographic field research for interviews, documentation, and focus group discussions. Using the five and seven indicators to examine cultural resilience and ecological resilience respectively, the research reveals that the communities are generally culturally resilient, yet ecologically vulnerable. The culture and ecology of the three traditional communities are non-reciprocal. Traditional communities require empowerment through collaborations to transform their ecological spirituality into tangible actions to build cultural-ecological resilience.

Bahasa Abstract

Resiliensi merupakan salah satu konsep kunci dalam kajian budaya dan ekologi. Konsep ini menyoroti kapasitas adaptif dan kemampuan suatu sistem untuk bertahan serta berkembang dalam menghadapi berbagai tantangan. Artikel berbasis penelitian ini mengkaji timbal balik resiliensi kultural-ekologis pada tiga komunitas tradisional di Sumba Timur. Kajian dimulai dengan menelaah resiliensi kultural dan resiliensi ekologis melalui lima dan tujuh indikator kualitatif. Bagian akhir pembahasan menganalisis bagaimana budaya dan ekologi saling berhubungan dalam komunitas yang diteliti. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Data diperoleh melalui penelitian mini-etnografi dengan teknik wawancara, dokumentasi, dan diskusi kelompok terfokus. Berdasarkan lima indikator resiliensi kultural dan tujuh indikator resiliensi ekologis, penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa komunitas yang diteliti umumnya memiliki ketahanan budaya yang kuat, namun rentan secara ekologi. Budaya dan ekologi pada tiga komunitas tradisional tersebut bersifat tidak resiprokal. Oleh karena itu, komunitas tradisional memerlukan pemberdayaan melalui kolaborasi untuk mentransformasikan spiritualitas ekologis mereka ke dalam tindakan nyata guna membangun resiliensi kultural-ekologis.

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