Articles

Nyepi Day and Tri Hita Karana: Local Wisdom as a Culturally Embedded Framework for Global Environmental Awareness

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This study examines Nyepi Day in Bali as an expression of local wisdom rooted in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana and explores its relevance as a framework for global environmental awareness. In the context of escalating environmental challenges, mainstream sustainability approaches often prioritize policy and technological solutions while overlooking the role of cultural and ethical practices. Employing a qualitative case study design, this research draws on participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis with 30 respondents to investigate the interrelated dimensions of ritual practice, cultural expression, and ecological impact. The findings indicate that Nyepi represents a form of collective ecological restraint, marked by a complete cessation of human activities for 24 hours that leads to reduced energy consumption, lower emissions, and minimal environmental disturbance. This practice reflects the integration of parahyangan (human–divine), pawongan (human–human), and palemahan (human–nature) relationships within Tri Hita Karana, demonstrating a holistic model of sustainability grounded in cultural values. Furthermore, the Ogoh-ogoh festival preceding Nyepi reinforces social cohesion and cultural continuity while symbolically preparing the community for environmental and spiritual purification. This study argues that Nyepi offers an alternative model of sustainability that goes beyond awareness-based initiatives such as Earth Day by emphasizing collective behavioral transformation. The research contributes to sustainability scholarship by highlighting the potential of local wisdom as a practical and culturally embedded framework for advancing global environmental consciousness.

Analysis of the Cultural Values of Robo-Robo as Local Wisdom toward Students’ Social Interaction in Public Elementary Schools in Jongkat District

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This study examines the implementation of the Robo-Robo cultural tradition as local wisdom and its influence on students’ social interaction in public elementary schools in Jongkat District, Mempawah Regency. The study uses a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation involving principals, teachers, students, community leaders, and religious leaders. The research was conducted in three schools selected purposively, namely SDN 09 Wajok Hulu, SDN 08 Wajok Hilir, and SDN 03 Jongkat. Data analysis used an interactive model consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, with validity tested through source and technique triangulation. The results show that the implementation of Robo-Robo varies across schools. SDN 09 integrates the tradition through Jepin dance performances, SDN 03 applies it through collective viewing of Robo-Robo history, and SDN 08 uses storytelling methods by teachers. Students’ social interaction also varies. SDN 09 shows active and collaborative interaction, SDN 03 shows moderate interaction, and SDN 08 still shows partial individualistic tendencies. The study finds that Robo-Robo cultural values such as cooperation, togetherness, respect, and communication contribute to shaping students’ social interaction. However, the impact depends on how the school integrates both understanding and direct practice. Schools that combine experiential and cognitive approaches show stronger social outcomes. The study concludes that Robo-Robo functions as an effective medium for social education when implemented consistently in school activities. The findings contribute to the development of culture-based education in strengthening students’ social character.

Gastronomy of Traditional Chinese, Dayak, and Malay (Tidayu) Cuisine: Enhancing Culinary Experience and Profitability of Star-Rated Hotels in Pontianak City

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This study examines how the gastronomic values embedded in traditional Chinese, Dayak, and Malay (Tidayu) cuisine can be leveraged to enhance culinary experiences and improve hotel profitability in Pontianak City. Adopting a qualitative exploratory design, the study draws on in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis involving hotel managers, chefs, and guests in star-rated hotels. The findings suggest that gastronomic practices are not merely functional but constitute symbolic systems that encode cultural values such as harmony, social cohesion, spirituality, and ecological consciousness. When strategically curated within hotel services, these values reconfigure culinary offerings into immersive, meaning-laden experiences that extend beyond consumption. This process enhances customer perceived value by integrating functional, emotional, and symbolic dimensions. The study argues that the commodification of culturally grounded gastronomy can serve as a strategic mechanism for differentiation and sustained competitive advantage. It contributes to the literature by bridging cultural theory and hospitality management, demonstrating how local food heritage can be operationalized as a value-creation strategy that aligns experiential consumption with long-term profitability and cultural sustainability.

Integrating Ethnopedagogical Approaches in English Vocabulary Learning: A Qualitative Study from Toraja, Indonesia

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learning and identifies the challenges teachers face in implementing these culturally responsive approaches in the Toraja context, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative research design with thematic analysis following the Miles and Huberman interactive model, data were collected through in-depth interviews with English teachers regarding the integration of ethnopedagogical approaches in vocabulary instruction. Findings reveal that ethnopedology significantly enhances student motivation across eight dimensions: increased learning attractiveness and information retention, enhanced overall motivation, greater active participation, increased confidence, improved long-term vocabulary retention, stronger sense of ownership and cultural pride, increased perseverance, and fostered independent learning habits. Teachers face ten substantial implementation challenges, including limited competence in integrating local wisdom, insufficient contextual materials, absence of evaluation standards, time constraints, difficulty balancing cultural content and linguistic targets, and assessment difficulties. Despite these challenges, teachers employ ten effective strategies including the use of authentic cultural objects, storytelling, discovery learning, cultural portfolios, and collaboration with community experts. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on culturally responsive language teaching by providing empirical evidence from an under-researched Indonesian context, offering practical implications for teachers, curriculum developers, and policymakers.

The Effect of Problem-Based Learning Model-Local Wisdom with ELIKOSIS Media on Elementary School Students’ Ecoliteracy Skills and Science Learning Outcomes

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This study aims to examine: (1) the effect of the Problem-Based Learning model with ELIKOSIS media on the IPAS ecoliteracy skills of elementary school students, (2) the effect of the Problem-Based Learning model with ELIKOSIS media on the IPAS learning outcomes of elementary school students. The background of this study is based on the importance of strengthening eco-literacy from elementary education and the need for contextual learning that integrates the local wisdom of the Edelweiss mountains with play activities that are appropriate for the characteristics of elementary school students. This study is a quasi-experimental study with a posttest-only control design. The research sample consisted of two classes, namely the experimental class that received the Problem-Based Learning-Local Wisdom model treatment with ELIKOSIS media and the control class that used direct learning. Data collection was carried out through an ecoliteracy test, an IPAS learning outcome test, and an observation sheet on the implementation of the Problem-Based Learning-Local Wisdom model with ELIKOSIS media. Data analysis in this study used inferential statistics, specifically the t-test technique, with the SPSS version 27 application. The results of the study showed that: (1) there was a significant effect of the Problem-Based Learning model with ELIKOSIS media on the IPAS ecoliteracy skills of elementary school students, (2) there was a significant effect of Problem-Based Learning with ELIKOSIS media on the IPAS learning outcomes of elementary school students.

The Effect of Community Empowerment on the Sustainability of Ecotourism Based Tourism through Moderation of Local Wisdom Variables in Bongkasa Village, Abiansemal District

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This research aims to understand the role of local wisdom in mediating the relationship between community empowerment and sustainable tourism development. The study was conducted in Bongkasa Tourism Village, using a sample of 100 participants selected through stratified random sampling. The research employed the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach with a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) equation model. The findings of this study indicate that local wisdom has a positive influence on sustainable tourism development. Community empowerment also has a positive influence on sustainable tourism development. Furthermore, the local wisdom of the community mediates the relationship between community empowerment and sustainable tourism development. The results of this research can serve as a reference for understanding and making decisions regarding the enhancement of the uniqueness of tourism villages in Bali and Indonesia as a whole.