Rights to Territories and Collective Enterprises of Indigenous Communities in Simahiang, West Java

Indigenous communities in West Java Province have one umbrella organization, namely the Daily Management (PH). AMAN Simahiang. PH AMAN Simahiang consists of 13 indigenous communities, some of which are located in the regencies of Garut, Bandung, Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, Majalengka, and Kuningan. These thirteen members face varying challenges and threats. The Cikondang indigenous community in Bandung Regency and the Cibali indigenous community in Majalengka Regency are currently assisting. Both communities lack maps of their customary territories. This is a concern because the two communities lack clear boundaries for their customary territories. Therefore, potential threats and conflict are inevitable.

Another challenge faced by the Kandangwesi indigenous community in Garut Regency is food self-sufficiency. They have not yet established a collectively managed business group. Without a collectively managed business, they lack bargaining power in the market, making it difficult to obtain fair prices. Consequently, they struggle to market their products effectively. To address this issue, the indigenous community, along with PH AMAN Simahiang initiated participatory mapping of customary areas in Cikondang and Cibali. In Kandangwesi, they agreed to establish a goat farming group.

Participatory mapping was carried out by members of the Cikondang and Cibali Indigenous Communities by tracing and marking the boundaries of their customary territories using survey tools. (tracking) GPS data was then processed using mapping software. In Cikondang, they successfully mapped their customary territory, covering 1.577 hectares, consisting of residential villages, forbidden leuweung or forbidden forests, fields, rice paddies, mountains and tilu forests, and mountains and Lamajang forests. Meanwhile, in Cibali, they successfully mapped their customary territory, covering 342 hectares, consisting of cultivated land, residential villages, rice paddies, and protected forest or protected forests, and leuweung prohibition.

The impact of mapping in these two locations creates space for the recognition of collective land rights by Indigenous Peoples living in adjacent areas and the government. It also protects and strengthens the position of Indigenous Peoples in the face of external pressures that could potentially threaten the sustainability of their customary territories.

Meanwhile, in Kandangwesi, they successfully formed a 10-member goat farming business group. They began by purchasing 15 goats to raise. This initiative helped the Kandangwesi Indigenous Community understand that economic independence can be achieved through well-planned, collectively managed businesses. The existence of this business group opened up new job opportunities, increased bargaining power, and increased collective income for the Kandangwesi Indigenous Community.