Pulau Sodo

The history of Kampong Maridan has two different versions of the story. In the first version, Maridan comes from the name of a prominent figure, namely Jabat, with evidence in the form of a grave. Jabat is a figure from the Paser Tribe who is believed to have opened Kampong Maridan during the Dutch colonial era. Initially, Kampong Maridan was the ancestral territory of the Balik Tribe, but now the Balik Tribe no longer resides in Kampong Maridan. In the second version, it is explained that the name Maridan is taken from a large branch that is upside down in a river. Maridan comes from a combination of the word 'Mori' which means haunted and is understood to be not disturbed; and the word 'Dan' which means branch. Over time, the combination of the words Moridan changed to Maridan due to the mixing of languages and dialects. The Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan have a protected site or area, which is called Pulau Sodo.

Sodo is taken from the name of a fishing and shrimp trapping tool made of bamboo. In the past, the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan caught fish using Sodo, and the tool was placed on Pulau Sodo, until finally this area was named Sodo. The area of Pulau Sodo is a stretch of Mangrove Forest that is utilized by the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan or other tribes to catch fish, clams, and snails.

The initiative to protect this area has existed and is deeply rooted in the minds of the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan. However, the traditional leaders mostly do not understand the regulations regarding the protection of protected areas or their ancestral territories. Therefore, there are external parties that assist in the recognition and protection of the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan, such as AMAN (Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago), PEREMPUAN AMAN, and BRWA (Agency for the Registration of Indigenous Territories) in 2020 to conduct mapping of ancestral territories and gather social data of the indigenous community.

The area of Pulau Sodo can be utilized by all the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan are also allowed to utilize it. There are no prohibitions on utilizing the resources available in the area of Pulau Sodo—anyone can take them as long as it is not excessive and with the permission of the tuo kampong (traditional head). These rules are passed down orally and through generations. Here are the rules that apply in the area of Pulau Sodo:

1. Destruction of the mangrove forest is not allowed.

2. Cutting down trees in the area of Pulau Sodo is not allowed.

3. Taking natural resources around Pulau Sodo excessively is not allowed;

4. It cannot be managed by people outside the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan.

5. The mangrove forest can be utilized by the Maridan indigenous community and other tribes with the permission of the traditional leader.

This rule is managed and supervised by an indigenous institution called Penggugu Adat Kampong Maridan, which consists of:

1. Tuo Kampong, who plays a role in running traditional governance, leading deliberations (bapekat), regulating the life system of the indigenous community related to land, fields, and forests, and deciding traditional sanctions.

2. Saronoian, who assists Tuo Kampung in managing the village and invites local indigenous people to attend the bapekat and cooperate.

3. Mulung, who is responsible for reading mantras and conducting traditional healing through rituals.

4. Penggading, who prepares all ritual equipment and ensures that traditional rituals run smoothly.

In addition, the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan have a division of space according to their customs, namely:

1. Alas, is a protected land area to take advantage of its garden reserves. There are various land covers in this area, namely brackish, teak, and pine. Alas is divided into several categories, namely:

• Alas Tuo: Alas that has never been cultivated for fields. Alas Tuo is a place to search for rattan, a hunting ground, a source of traditional medicinal materials, and to gather materials for building houses. Alas Tuo is interpreted as a forest that is still dense.
• Alas Bengkal: A semi-old Alas that contains fruit trees and meranti wood. Alas Bengkal will be used again later.
• Alas Mori: A forest that is preserved and never managed by the indigenous community because it is considered haunted.
• Alas Bakau: Mangrove Forest.

2. Lati Burok, is a shrub area that was once a rice field left for 3-4 years.

3. Umo, is a garden/field area for planting mountain rice and vegetables.

4. Kebon, is an area of land used for planting rubber and palm.

5. Gentung, is an area of land that functions as a spring source with collective rights subjects.

6. Kampung, is a settlement area in the Kampong Maridan region.

The Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan protect Pulau Sodo because this area has a history related to the management of territory based on local knowledge. Thus, it is hoped that the practice of local knowledge regarding Sodo can continue to be preserved for generations. The traditional management practice of catching fish using bamboo has proven to not damage the coastal ecosystem. The management and protection of Kenoyong contribute to the preservation of the mangrove coastal ecosystem. In addition, it also contributes to the protection of the biodiversity of flora and fauna within it such as:

• Various Types of Flora:
• 1. Song/Brus Mangrove (Male Mangrove)
• 2. Bawe Mangrove (Female Mangrove)
• 3. Niri/Boi Mangrove
• 4. Tengere/Tengar Mangrove
• 5. Landing Mangrove
• 6. Setigi Mangrove
• 7. Api-Api Mangrove
• 8. Landro/Berus Song Mangrove
• 9. Landro/Berus Bawe Mangrove
• 10. Nipah
• 11. Jeruju
• 12. Perepah/Perepat
• 13. Perangat
• 14. Perepah/Perepat Stone
• Various Types of Fauna:
• 1. Tontong Stork (protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 2. Hawksbill Turtle (Protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 3. Saltwater Dolphin (Protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 4. Mangrove Crab
• 5. White Shrimp
• 6. Kipar Fish
• 7. Baronang Fish
• 8. Belanak Fish
• 9. Red Snapper Fish
• 10. White Snapper Fish
• 11. Sumpit Fish
• 12. Barracuda Fish
• 13. Tompel Fish
• 14. Ketamba Fish
• 15. Trekulu Fish
• 16. Stingray Fish
• 17. Mayung Fish
• 18. Osi Mangrove
• 19. Osi Stone
• 20. Osi Song
• 21. Osi Bawe
• 22. Brungun
• 23. Cempude
• 24. Punpun
• 25. Tengkoang
• 26. Mangrove Clam
• 27. Iron Clam

The Indigenous People in Penajam Paser Utara Regency only have a legal basis for recognition and protection at the provincial level. Until now, there has been no legal subject regulating the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, especially the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan. The Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan are one of the indigenous communities affected by the eviction due to the development of the Nusantara Capital located in Sepaku District.