Tag: culture

• Bumiputera Privileges: Why They Are Justified and Should Not be Challenged

  

  In Southeast Asia, the question of indigenous rights and privileges often arises in public discourse, particularly in multi-ethnic nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore. Indigenous or native communities, including the Malays in Malaysia and Singapore, the Brunei Malays, and various native groups in Indonesia, have historically been granted special rights, protections, and access…

  The Indigenous Narrative

  December 25, 2025

  the indigenous narrative

  culture, history, indigenous people, Indonesia, Malaysia, singapore, southeast asia, Thailand

• Rooted and Unapologetic: Embracing Indigenous Pride in Southeast Asia

  

  Indigenous identity in Southeast Asia has been historically devalued, leading many native people to suppress who they are. Pride must endure even when it is questioned, mocked, or dismissed by more economically affluent migrant communities. According to UNESCO, indigenous peoples across the Asia-Pacific region have faced sustained cultural marginalisation that pressures them to abandon language,…

  The Indigenous Narrative

  December 21, 2025

  the indigenous narrative

  ASEAN, asia, colonialism, culture, history, indigenous people, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, singapore, southeast asia, Thailand, UNESCO

• Renaming Food Is Not Branding. It Is Erasure.

  

  It happens quietly, almost imperceptibly at first. You walk into a café and see nasi lemak reintroduced as a “Nanyang Coconut Rice Set.” A packet of rendang is described as “Peranakan Braised Beef.” A bowl of laksa that follows Malay techniques and ingredients is marketed as “Nyonya Laksa.” Even traditional desserts like putri salat, kuih…

  The Indigenous Narrative

  December 10, 2025

  the indigenous narrative

  culture, food, indigenous people, nonya, southeast asia, the indigenous narrative

• Before There Was Singapore, There Was Us: The Indigenous Malays of the Island

  

  When a TikTok user with the username “joeiboaz” began her video with the question, “Did you know Singapore has indigenous people?” , the comments section lit up with surprise. For some, it was a revelation. For others – especially Malays – it was a strange feeling. How could something so fundamental to our identity be…

  The Indigenous Narrative

  November 5, 2025

  the indigenous narrative

  ASEAN, asia, culture, history, indigenous people, malays, nusantara, singpaore, travel

• Echoes of The Indigenous Narrative: Our Story Begins Here

  

  For centuries, the voices of Southeast Asia’s first peoples have echoed through its forests, islands, and seas, yet their stories remain unheard. The Indigenous Narrative was created to change that. Southeast Asia is a region overflowing with diversity, heritage, and culture. From its mist-covered highlands to its vast archipelagos, this land has always been home…

  The Indigenous Narrative

  November 3, 2025

  the indigenous narrative

  ASEAN, culture, heritage, history, indigenous, indigenous people, Indonesia, Malaysia, singapore, southeast asia, Thailand, the indigenous narrative, travel, writing