An Enchanted Landscape: Rethinking ‘Irrational Ideas’ of Human Relations to Nature

The discourse on re-claiming legitimacy and authority in indigenous knowledge by indigenous scholars has gained traction in recent decades. For the indigenous West Malaysians whom I work with, the Orang Asli, their traditions are not “lost”, but are still not properly acknowledged within the wider discourse on conservation-related knowledge. Within the framework of ecological society and decolonising discourse, I specifically describe different aspects of Semai/Seng-oi knowledge about their social relationship to the landscape. I argue from the position that in order to engage meaningfully, one must recognise indigenous claims to land. But what does the recognition of such claims mean in practice? Do environmental conservation actors simply frame land as a resource for use? This discussion will explore how they construct their social relations with land and the natural landscape, including through oral narratives, and finally calls for the recognition and respect for indigenous knowledge.