E’Ha Local Wisdom as Social Control and Management of Natural Resources Typical of the Talaud Ethnic in the Indonesia-Philippines Border Area

Abstract

Small and outermost island communities on the Indonesia-Philippines border, such as Kakorotan Island in Nanusa sub-district, Talaud district, prov. North Sulawesi, for a long time has developed the e’ha custom, namely the prohibition of taking crops both on land and at sea at random, there are certain times to take the produce which is adjusted to the best harvest time to see celestial objects which are believed to have a direct effect on the earth’s ecosystem. Through qualitative field research, the authors get the e’ha tradition as a cultural value that has broad meaning regarding many aspects of human life, as local wisdom that controls the social life of the community and organizes the management of local natural resources. Born from the hardships of the community on a small island, it has a history of natural disasters, so that the togetherness of its citizens regulates the use of food plants and food sources from the sea. Furthermore, it is directly related to environmental conservation, social control, mutual cooperation, deliberation, people’s economic welfare, and food security.