Vanishing Roots

Revisited

No.123 Issue 1/2017

Title

A Cambodian community protects its sacred forest

Text

Clothilde Le Coz/ The Ruom Collective

Photos

Antoine Raab/

The Ruom Collective One of the largest ethnic groups in Cambodia, the Kuy community lives in harmony with the forest. For them, life follows the organic rhythm of Nature, rooted in the essence of community life. “We call this place our home. This is where we feel protected,” they explain. A community strongly tied to their animist beliefs, the Kuy people says that the Neaktah – or ancestral spirits – have blessed their presence in the forest. The Neaktah watch over people and places, as long as they are paid respect through prayers and offerings. Saom Than, a 48-year-old farmer, explains that the Neaktah ensure safety for the people by warding off imminent threats. “They always provide for the people. We can find fruits when we are hungry, and we do not have to worry about wild animals,” he says.