Southeast Asia’s Sea Nomads: A Case for Decolonizing Environmental Peacebuilding Scholarship by Integrating Indigenous Sama-Bajau Perspectives

This chapter adopts a critical and context-specific approach to expanding environmental peacebuilding theory and practice. It proposes a decolonizing approach to environmental peacebuilding, where peace and sustainability are pursued beyond mainstream, Western-centric paradigms, and instead are informed by Indigenous practices, traditional ecological knowledge, and local wisdom that harmoniously integrate humans and nature. Centering Indigenous epistemologies and ontologies encourages a rethinking and reshaping of perspectives and actions toward peace, the environment, and Indigenous knowledge. Southeast Asia’s Sama-Bajau (Sama, Sama Dilaut/Pala’u, Bajau Laut, Badjao, Bajo, or the “sea nomads”) offer an illustrative case. These Indigenous maritime communities often face marginalization and neglect due to their unique lifestyle and dependence on the sea, as well as increased vulnerabilities due to climate change and environmental degradation. In essence, decolonial peace for the Sama-Bajau goes beyond the absence of conflict; it involves acknowledging social injustices, embracing cultural perspectives, and integrating environmental sustainability. Environmental peacebuilding becomes a way forward by fostering a holistic approach that complements the sea tribes’ agency and ability to shape their own path toward durable peace.