ADAPTATION OF THE KAREN COMMUNITY AT UPPER THA MAE LOB RIVER BASIN AT THA MAE LOB SUB-DISTRICT, MAE THA DISTRICT, LAMPHUN PROVINCE

Abstract

Obbjectives of this research were: 1. To analyze the crisis of Karen communities in the upper Tha Mae Lob River basin, 2. To develop a learning process for adaptation of the upper Tha Mae Lob watershed community using the Karen way; and 3. To propose a method that facilitated the adoption of local wisdom and modern science in adaptation of Tha Mae Lob River basin community with Karen ways. This was a participatory action research. The target groups were Huai Hia community, Ban Mon Hin Khao, Ban Huai Hom Nai, and Ban Khun Kong. Data analysis was done by the content descriptive interpretation.

         According to the result of the study, it was found that the Karen community faced a very similar crisis such as the natural resources, social and cultural crisis, infrastructure, and community economic system. For the development of learning process with Karen ways, it was found that there were learning about the law of community rights, restoring culture, tradition and rituals, forest management with rangers, connecting network within and outside the communities, and constructing a clear identity of Karen communities. Furthermore, the methods supporting the local wisdom and modern approaches with Karen ways, it was found that in terms of lifestyle, the priority was given to the spiritual and official leaders. In terms of law, there were the violation of the right, and the need of providing a training about community right law. For natural resources, local wisdom was resurrected to manage natural resources. For infrastructure, the communities received more support from external organizations. For social aspect, modern approaches were used to cure patients. Official leaders were given more roles. There was value adjustment in costume, food, and industrial occupation while old local wisdom was seen as important matters when returning to the community.