Stories from the People: Narratives from the Bribri and Jakun Indigenous people of Costa Rica and Malaysia

Authors: García Segura, A., Oleh Ismail, B.M., Man, Z., Sylvester, O., Parker, J. and Ashencaen Crabtree, S.

Publisher: Catford Press

Place of Publication: London

Abstract:

By any conventional standard this is only a small book in size, yet between its pages it packs a whole condensed and miniaturised universe of rich cultural meaning, as selected and written by two Indigenous communities in Costa Rica and Malaysia. The stories chosen were felt to represent important aspects of the beliefs of the Bribri community of Bajo Coen, Talamanca in Costa Rica and the Jakun Orang Asli people of Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia. Each community decided independently on the elements of the story that they thought were typical and relevant in describing their values and the belief schemas shaping their lives, relationships, cultural and spiritual understandings. Therefore these stories are not symmetrical or directly comparable, because each community is distinctive and different, despite having much in common, as the people found out upon meeting each other.

The background to this collated ‘storybook’ refers to being the main outcome of an innovative research study, ‘“Being Developed?” Comparing the experiences of economic and social development among Indigenous groups in Malaysia and Costa Rica’. You can learn more about the research team on page 73 of this book.

Source: Manual