WLF: ទឹក ដី ព្រៃឈើ — ជាឫសគល់នៃអត្តសញ្ញាណ ជីវិត និងអនាគតរបស់យើង។
Water, Land, Forest — The roots of our identity, our life, and our future.
Water, Land, Forest is a space for Indigenous in Cambodia to express our unique traditions, spiritual connections, and living cultures — including Indigenous art, music, traditional food, clothing, music, games, jarwine gatherings, cultural rituals, storytelling, and village traditions. The festival featured film screenings of Indigenous stories from around the world, exhibition of photo-stories from Pulitzer journalists and a new art collaboration of pictures in dialogue between 3 artists from 3 different countries (Tong Len, Bunong from Cambodia, Felipe Beltrame, working in the Amazon forest in Brazil, and fashion collaborations between Remade in Cambodia and Indigenous women weaving groups, and live demos of crafts, traditional dance and an unique new Lakhon opera performance by Indigenous actors in their own languages.
This was the first large Indigenous festival in Cambodia, bringing together the richness of their cultures and the deep connection they hold with water, land, and forests. Through this festival, an audience of 3000-3500 people experienced unique traditions, powerful spiritual connections, and living cultures — including Indigenous art, music, traditional food, clothing and fabrics, musical instruments, games, jar wine gatherings (non-hierarchical sharing circles instead of panel discussions, facilitated by IP elders as knowledge holders), cultural rituals, storytelling, and village traditions. The festival also featured forest sound and music installations, traditional singing, Indigenous fashion showcases, and live demonstrations of weaving, painting, and traditional craftsmanship.
Co-organized by me, Munny Rochom (young Jarai Indigenous leader) and Di Kilsby (gender consultant) in collaboration with Cambodia Indigenous People Organization, Cambodia Indigenous Women Association, Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association, Cambodia International Film Festival, Bophana Center, Royal University of Phnom Penh, with the kind support of the Pulitzer Journalism Center.
Photo credits: Tong Len, Ly Yong, Sev Vorn, Narith Jarai, Kim Phea, Nan Menghor and Sev Thort. Follow the festival page here.
