<![CDATA[Sustainable development within indigenous community of Sibandang Island often confronts the structure-agency dichotomy, where traditional kinship systems are frequently perceived as impediments to progress. This study transcends that dichotomy by viewing dalihan na tolu kinship system as a dynamic, catalytic mechanism for sustainable development, while seeking to understand how local wisdom generates social capital and collective action. Employing an ethnographic approach, research involved 35 informants, FGD, and document analysis across three villages. The findings reveal layers of interaction. At micro level, marsiadapari is an integral part of daily life, a practice so commonplace that it is no longer viewed as extraordinary. At meso level, various clans collaborate through horja; here, kinship rank dictates the order of activities, yet the principle of elek marboru softens this hierarchy, ensuring the flow of reciprocity in both upward and downward directions. At macro level, the entire community, where kinship ties serve as a ready-made channel for mobilization, tangibly enhancing program implementation effectiveness. This process gives rise to a “collective habitus”. Sustainable development hinges on policies that are culturally grounded and capable of activating the community’s social architecture. The study offers a replicable framework for integrating traditional institutions with development objectives.]]>
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