Jurnal Sosiologi Andalas
Vol. 12 No. 2 (2026)

Local Wisdom, Indigenous Identity, and Food Security in Sihaporas Village

Harahap, Rahma Hayati (Unknown)
Munthe, Hadriana Marhaeni (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Oct 2026

Abstract

Culture plays a vital role in shaping community resilience, yet contemporary studies often overlook how indigenous knowledge acts as a practical mechanism for modern challenges. In Indonesia, the indigenous community of Sihaporas, North Sumatra, preserves Ulaon Manganjap - an ancestral agricultural ritual. While existing literature acknowledges its role as general local wisdom, there remains a critical gap in understanding how traditional rituals actively translate into concrete household survival strategies amidst global disruptions. This study addresses this gap by examining how Ulaon Manganjap functions as both a cultural practice and a resource management system. This study employs a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach, utilizing participant observation, in-depth interviews, and cultural mapping within the Sihaporas community. The findings reveal that Ulaon Manganjap applies sacred agricultural values that directly support food security - specifically enhancing food availability and ecological stability through collective labor organization and mutual cooperation (siramun/horja). Rather than remaining a static ceremonial custom, the practice fosters a cohesive social order that mitigates food scarcity risks. This study demonstrates how culture represents a dynamic process of indigenization, wherein a sacred tradition successfully transforms into a customary survival strategy against globalization. Theoretically, this paper contributes to the fields of rural sociology by offering a localized framework on how indigenous identity transformation secures community sustainability through cultural preservation.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jsa

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Jurnal Sosiologi Andalas, is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Laboratorium Sosiologi, Departement of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Andalas. This journal aims to facilitate academic discussion about relevant issues sociologically, especially on conflict ...