A spirited mandate
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.
In the Kuy dialect, Prey Lang means “our forest”. For the
community, this is home; they have been living here for at
least two decades. More than a spiritual place, the forest is also
“a nurturing mother”. This is how Hon, a 50-year-old farmer,
explains it: “We have a deep connection with the forest
because we look for its natural products.”
The Kuy people pay homage to the forest for providing
them with resources, blessing the community with farmlands,
food, medicine, rattan, vines, and other natural gifts that the
villagers can use and rely on. This is how the Kuy community
has been self-sufficient for the past two generations.“We have a deep connection with
the forest because we look for its
natural products”CULTURE