Blending Indigenous knowledge and design for local health in rural communities

What is it about?

This paper explores how design research can better support the health of Indigenous Dayak communities in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It focuses on working with local people in respectful and ethical ways, rather than treating them only as research subjects. By combining Indigenous knowledge with human-centred design, the study shows how local voices, stories, and everyday practices can guide health-related research and solutions. It introduces methods such as community gatherings, storytelling, and collaborative workshops to build trust and understanding. Overall, the paper highlights the importance of listening to communities and designing with them to create more meaningful and culturally appropriate health approaches.

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Photo by You Le on Unsplash

Photo by You Le on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Addresses urgent health challenges in Indigenous Dayak communities amid mining and post-pandemic impacts by centring local voices often overlooked in design and health research. Uniquely blends Indigenous knowledge with human-centred design through culturally grounded methods like bajenta and collaborative storytelling. Offers a timely, ethical approach that shifts design from extracting knowledge to co-creating solutions, with potential to reshape how researchers engage with Indigenous communities globally.

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