Moken-led beach restoration In 2020, a group of Moken elders proposed an innovative project to connect conservation, cultural empowerment, and meaningful work for adults who are unemployed due to Covid. Their idea – to restore beaches of Koh Surin while teaching their children ancestral knowledge that might otherwise fade. This project promotes environmental justice by removing …
The following reflections were inspired by the questions asked through an interview by Biliana Boneva, a journalist from Bulgarian National Television: Hooks Reflections: Introducing myself: My name is Hook I am Moken. My parents saw the changes coming for the Moken and they felt the need to teach us both cultures. So, I grew up …
The Rains Have Come, The Park is Closed The National Park on Surin closed 5 days before the official end of the season due to bad weather. The Park is open for tourism from November to May, during the dry season. The tourism season is when Moken make most of their income, working 7 months …
All Moken have moved from their temporary shelters into new homes. In total there are 61 new identical houses, built of wooden beams and thatch walls. In addition to housing, the government has also provided bedding and basic kitchen items. As the hard-working soldiers have moved on, the villagers are finishing the last construction details …
Two Months After the Fire – New Houses are Complete Read More »
Although the houses are almost ready, they are still waiting for the third and final delivery of nipa palm leafs. The leafs are used to cover the roof and the sides of the houses. The authorities have been searching three different provinces for the leafs. There are many different types of nipa palm, but the …
Long periods of waiting. Updates from the Moken Village Read More »
An article published by the Guardian recounts the burning of the Moken village on Koh Surin and its aftermath. As amenities are still lacking and must be shared among the 273 people whose homes were destroyed, “daily life is challenging.” After the incident, the park authorities and the Thai navy quickly stepped in to provide …
Reconstruction disregards Moken wishes, reintroduces fire risk – The Guardian Read More »
We are grateful to Kristin Sherwood for the lovely blog describing her stay with the Moken of Surin: “Imagine waking up to the sound of water lapping along the shore, a picture-perfect beach outside your window. The shallow sea is a mesmerizing aquamarine. There are no cars, no commercial fisherman, no loggers to threaten this paradise. …
