In 1993, Native Planet’s Jean-Philippe Soule lived among the Mentawai on the island of Siberut for six months. Ten years later, he returned to assess the problems and needs of the clans and offer assistance in meeting those challenges. For two months, Jean-Philippe contacted other concerned organizations, reputable guides, additional traditional clans and Mentawai university students in Indonesia. With their help, he designed a global strategy to aid Mentawai self-empowerment while helping them protect their families, culture and resources from exploitation and coercive assimilation.
THE GLOBAL STRATEGY
Designed to benefit the Mentawai, including guides and other supporting organizations, this plan addresses the needs of the Mentawai culture to:
- Choose and implement sustainable economic alternatives that preserve culture and environment
- Make the world aware of the beauty of the Mentawai culture
- Secure international support from NGOs, governments and the general public.
THE CULTURAL TOURISM STRATEGY
Successful, effective ecotourism, the heart of our Global Strategy, depends on the participation of Mentawai guides, families— and you! Native Planet’s cultural ecotourism plan:
- Describes the problems caused by tourism based on exploitation and parasitic relationships.
- Details a Managed Tourism Plan to boost the Mentawai economy.
- Protects the island’s natural resources as well as preserving Mentawai culture.
Contact us about strategy or other issues related to the
Mentawai.
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