An Academic Symposium and Cultural Festival “Voices from the Forest to Society” Collaborative Learning for the Future of the Maniq People

An Academic Symposium and Cultural Festival

“Voices from the Forest to Society”

Collaborative Learning for the Future of the Maniq People

25–26 August 2026

The Sirin Natural History Museum, Walailak University

Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

Inter–Asia Cultural Studies Society, Sirin Musuem, Walailak Botanic Park, School of Political Science and Public Administration, School of Law and Center of Geosocial and Cultural Research for Sustainable Development, Walailak University

At Sirin Museum, Walailak University, NakhonSithammarat, Thailand

The symposium is under the research project: Co–Creation Towards a Living Museum: Integrating Knowledge and Participatory Learning supported by Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG)

Who Are the Maniq? The Maniq are among the oldest Indigenous peoples of the Malay Peninsula. They are part of a wider constellation of Indigenous forest communities found across Peninsular Thailand and Malaysia and are historically connected to other Indigenous populations throughout Island Southeast Asia. Although these communities have developed distinct languages, cultures, and histories, they share long-standing relationships with tropical forests and diverse ecological landscapes. The Maniq are known by different names in different places and historical records, including Maniq, Mani, Menriq, Meniq, and, in older literature, Sakai. In Thailand, Maniq communities are found primarily in the forested mountain ranges of the southern peninsula, including Yala, Satun, Trang, Phatthalung, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. However, many communities regard Sakai as an outdated and pejorative colonial term, and therefore prefer to use their own community names. Related communities also live in Peninsular Malaysia, where they are recognized as part of the Orang Asli, particularly among the Northern Aslian-speaking groups. Beyond the Malay Peninsula, anthropologists have noted historical and genetic connections with other Indigenous peoples of Island Southeast Asia, including communities in the Andaman Islands, the Philippines, and parts of eastern Indonesia. These communities reflect the remarkable diversity and deep human history of the region.

The Maniq have maintained knowledge of forests, wildlife, medicinal plants, seasonal cycles, and reciprocal relationships with the natural environment for thousands of years. Therefore, their history demonstrates that tropical forests are not empty wilderness but living cultural landscapes shaped through generations of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship. Today, however, rapid economic and social change, together with shifting government policies, has created significant challenges for the continuity of Maniq ways of life. These include the intergenerational transmission of knowledge, access to rights, and broader public understanding of their culture and identity. Walailak University has been conducting research on the Maniq community through the development of a Living Museum initiative. The project adopts a co-creation approach that brings together researchers, community members, and partner organizations to collaboratively produce knowledge, strengthen community ownership, and develop a sustainable learning space rooted in the lived experiences of the Maniq people.

To share the outcomes of this research with a wider audience, Walailak University is organizing the Maniq Living Heritage Forum 2026. The symposium combines academic presentations, community dialogues, exhibitions, documentary screenings, cultural performances, hands-on workshops on traditional knowledge, and a cultural marketplace. More importantly, it seeks to create a shared learning space where the Maniq community, academics, students, government agencies, civil society organizations, and the wider public can engage in meaningful dialogue and collaborative learning.

Objectives

1. To share knowledge and research on the Maniq people with the wider public.
2. To provide a platform for Maniq community members to tell their own stories and share their lived experiences.
3. To foster greater public understanding and reduce prejudice towards Indigenous and ethnic communities.
4. To promote participatory learning through the concept and practice of a Living Museum.
5. To strengthen collaborative networks in research, education, and cultural heritage preservation.

There are 3 Forum Formats

1. Academic Forum

Panel discussions, keynote lectures, and research presentations by scholars, community researchers, students, and practitioners on Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, living museums, and participatory research.

2. Living Museum

An interactive learning space led by Maniq community members, featuring demonstrations of traditional knowledge, forest-based practices, storytelling, language, crafts, music, and everyday cultural experiences. Visitors are encouraged to learn through dialogue and direct participation.

3. Student and Digital Media Showcase

Creative projects by university students and young media practitioners, including documentary films, digital storytelling, multimedia installations, photography, podcasts, and interactive exhibitions that communicate Maniq heritage through contemporary media.

Activities Throughout the Forum

Throughout the event, participants are invited to explore a range of exhibitions, learning spaces, and cultural activities, including:

• Maniq Ethnographic Photography Exhibition – documenting the everyday lives, landscapes, and cultural heritage of the Maniq people.
• Books and Research Showcase – featuring publications, research findings, and educational resources on the Maniq community and related topics.
• Maniq Language Corner – an interactive space to learn basic Maniq vocabulary, expressions, and language through engaging activities.
• Children’s Learning Corner – creative and educational activities designed for children and families.
• Photo Booth – a space for visitors to capture memorable moments inspired by the forum’s theme.
• Cultural Market – local products, handicrafts, community-based enterprises, food, and cultural products from participating communities and partner organizations.

Program Schedule

Day 1: Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Day 2: Wednesday, 26 August 2026

The Forum on Maniq and Politics of Indigenous Knowledge in Inter–Asia