This project aims to safeguard and advocate for the endangered indigenous culture of the Sama Dilaut, a nomadic sea-dwelling group in the Sulu Sea of Southeast Asia. The Sama Dilaut have historically fostered a harmonious relationship with their environment, practicing small-scale fishing methods with little impact on marine ecosystems. As great navigators and divers, they view the ocean as a sacred realm intertwined with ancestral spirits. However, despite their deep knowledge of the sea and rich cultural heritage, they face multifaceted challenges that endanger their traditional way of life, including dwindling fish stocks and social and political discrimination. 

This project focuses on the injustice perpetuated by coastal development, often forcing them to abandon their ancestral lands, seas, and centuries-old lifestyles. Grounded in the belief that Indigenous perspectives are essential for challenging the dominant narratives and revealing systemic inequalities in spatial development, this project employs a counter-archiving methodology to document their culture. It prioritizes the perspectives of the Sama Dilaut, aiming not only to preserve their culture but also to challenge prevailing power dynamics and advocate against the injustices imposed by the dominant structure.

While anthropologists have often portrayed their boat-dwelling lifestyle as disappearing, observation from Erik Abrahamsson in 2017 suggested a resurgence of this way of life in Semporna, underscoring the urgency and opportunity to document and preserve their culture.

Supported by Creative Industries Fund NL’s Internationalization of the Design Sector Grant Scheme, one-month-long fieldwork will be carried out in Semporna, Malaysia. )