Suaka Wiata

The Lindu Indigenous Community has a specially managed and protected area due to its spiritual values, history, and benefits for the welfare of the surrounding community. This area has been preserved for generations by the Lindu Indigenous Community, and it is known as Suaka Wiata. Suaka Wiata is an area that is sacred to the Lindu Indigenous Community—believed that anyone who enters this place will experience some oddity. This area is also believed to be protected by spiritual beings.

In addition, the Lindu Indigenous Community has divisions of other customary spaces, namely:

• Posoua (settlement area of the community)
• Lida (community rice field area)
• Bondea (active garden area with perennial plant cover)
• Tongo (lake area)
• Talinti (swamp area)
• Rano (pond area)
• Lambara (livestock grazing area)
• Ngurah (former cultivated land area)
• Pampa (active community garden area with cover crops)
• Pangale (young forest area)
• Wanangkiki (jungle forest area)

The system of customary land ownership in the Lindu area is divided into two, namely:

1. Individual ownership based on a principle believed by the Lindu Indigenous Community that the land is customary land that has been inherited or given by ancestors to a specific person or family to be preserved and managed, such as Suaka Lambara.
2. Communal ownership is ownership that is collectively held by the community and utilized and regulated in its use and supervision collectively, including rules and distribution of results if managed together, such as Lindu Lake, Po Ngata Totua Ngkolu, Suaka Todea, Suaka Wiata.

However, the management regulations have not yet been organized within customary institutions as they are still managed by customary institutions in each village. The following is the structure of the customary institution (Totua Nuada):

• Jogugu acts as Tutua Ngata or the decision maker
• Galara acts as the decision maker
• Pabisara acts as the lawyer
• Kapita acts as the mediator of the decision
• Suro acts as the envoy, messenger, and communication link for the community involved in the matter

There are also traditional rituals performed by the Lindu Indigenous Community related to the management of protected areas, namely: Vunca Customary Ritual or a ceremonial thanksgiving for the harvest. Additionally, there are management rules called Ombo, which are the results of decisions made by the customary institution together with the local community. Furthermore, there are also rituals performed by the Lindu Indigenous Community, such as: Popatoua/Mopatou (annual thanksgiving for children reaching one year of age). Currently, these regulations do not have a written form and are only orally passed down through generations.

The management practices carried out by the Lindu Indigenous Community in this area contribute significantly in various aspects. The community protects the Suaka Wiata area because it contains historical relics and is related to the spiritual values believed by the Lindu Indigenous Community. It is hoped that this area is protected so that these historical objects do not get lost/taken by irresponsible parties—this contributes to the preservation of the culture of the Lindu Indigenous Community.

The management practices of this area also contribute to the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity because it still contains valuable flora and fauna such as: Anoa, Babirusa, Sulawesi Black Monkey, Cuscus, Tangkasi, Deer, Alo Bird, Cockatoo, and Maleo Bird. Additionally, there are Fig Trees, Pitcher Plants, Wanga Trees, and Leda Trees.

The management practices of this area also contribute to social and cultural aspects. Interactions with other indigenous communities are increasing. Currently, there is the Lindu Lake Festival held annually. This festival is initiated by the Sigi Regency Government in collaboration with external parties as an ecological restoration movement. This is also done because the Lindu area is located within the conservation area of Lore Lindu National Park.

Decision of the Sigi Regent Number 189-595 of 2017 regarding the recognition of the protection of customary law communities and the customary territory of To Lindu in Sigi Regency