Women AMAN PHD Tilung Indung is a Wing Organization of the Indigenous Women's Association of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago in the form of a Regional Daily Management named Tilung Indung which means "Mother's House". Formed based on the desire of Indigenous Women in Hulu Sungai Tengah to have a forum to be able to convey opinions, aspirations, and be active in the struggle for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in South Kalimantan. Consisting of 31 Indigenous Women from the Balai Batu Kambar, Balai Juhu, Balai Buhul, Balai Sumbai, Balai Peninggalan Datu Nini, Balai Kiyo, Balai Datar Batung, Balai Manta, Balai Linau, and Balai Payatnya Mula Ada communities. Before forming PHD Tilung Indung, members of PHD Tilung Indung had been active in the struggle of Indigenous Peoples in Hulu Sungai Tengah, both in pushing for various policies, demanding commitment from the local government, being active in development planning at the village level, and customary institutions in each community.
After the formation of PHD Tilung Indung, these Indigenous Women have their own forum to jointly fight for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, especially women's rights, maintain the sustainability of nature as a source of life, and maintain traditional knowledge as a legacy of ancestors to be passed on to future generations. Our Indigenous Community is located in the Meratus Mountains, with limited infrastructure, both road access, services, and network availability. Farming and gardening are the main activities carried out by Indigenous Women, especially in the Hinas Kiri Village community and the Meratus Mountains in general.
Indigenous Peoples in our community still face obstacles in managing forest products, gardens, and agricultural products in our customary areas. So that the results of the customary areas cannot be maximally enjoyed by the community. Middlemen are still a challenge that we face, buying forest and garden products at prices much lower than market prices.
The increasing demands of needs with limited access, Indigenous Women must be creative in managing garden and agricultural products in order to meet family food needs or be sold independently through groups. Gardening and utilizing forest products is a hereditary tradition carried out by Indigenous Women in Meratus. This must be maintained because the forest is a source of life, if the forest is damaged then the source of life will be threatened.
Another challenge, particularly faced by Indigenous women in Hinas Kiri Village, is very limited access to education. This is due to cost and women's obligations to take care of the household. Educational facilities provided by both government and private institutions are still inadequate and not a priority for women. In addition to these factors, Indigenous women, especially those who are married, still feel inferior about accessing education, even through government-funded package schools. However, Indigenous women expressed a desire to be literate. Reading is a window to knowledge and understanding, and Indigenous women feel this is quite important for gaining access to various information about the environment and their customary territories. They no longer simply hear, but can also read the information conveyed. They discuss land grabbing, discrimination against women and Indigenous Peoples, policies within Indigenous Peoples' territories, and Indigenous women are no longer embarrassed to attend meetings at the village, sub-district, or district level because they can now write their own names on attendance lists. Seeing the Indigenous women's enthusiasm for literacy, PHD Tilung Indung proposed this program. We are very grateful to the Solidarity Foundation. Dana Nusantara Through the Nusantara Fund program, this has resulted in changes that there are no boundaries for education in terms of age or gender.
The existence of this program can show other indigenous women and young people to maintain the tradition of gardening and the importance of education. The results of this program are expected to be support for indigenous women as an effort to improve the economy but still protect their ancestral land from various threats.