ABSTRACT
The Moken and Moklen are two closely related – yet culturally and linguistically distinct – groups of Austronesian people, who live along the rivers, beaches, and islands on the West Coast of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The Moklen (Mkl) people live exclusively in peninsular Thailand, while their close relatives, the Moken (Mkn) live predominantly throughout the Mergui Archipelago in Burma, renamed Myanmar in 1989. Although both the Moken and Moklen are traditionally hunter-gatherers, the Moken, who are sea nomads, depend more on foraging than the Moklen. Most Moklen men have jobs (in road clearing, tin mining, and the rubber industry). Consequently, the Moklen only gather sea and forest products to supplement their diets. In addition, some Moklen have become agriculturalists.
