ABSTRACT
One of the most important strategies employed by indigenous people when dealing with change is assigning cultural markers to the concept of space. This process creates a symbolic demarcation between what can be accessed by ‘outsiders’ and what remains to be the privilege of insiders. Such cultural mechanism is highly effective for some indigenous people (masyarakat adat). In addition to helping the community fulfill the obligation to continue the legacy of their ancestors, the mechanism also serves as a means for managing tensions brought about by change that may weaken the customary foundation of the indigenous community. In reality, this process that the community undertakes may be challenged by various interests, including those coming from the in-group, especially from the young generation that has been initiated to these changes. To understand this issue, I will discuss the narrative of space as one of the most important strategies related to the identity awareness and the spatial construction of Sundanese indigenous communities.
