Phadan community
Baan Phadan is a community of the Karen people, established around 1850, making it nearly 300 years old. Initially, the villagers migrated from Ban Mae Riang Phatthana, which is now in the Sam Ngao District of Lampang Province. Later, some members moved to live in Ban Huai Mae Sa Ngae, staying for about 2-3 years, before relocating to Ban Huai Mae Om Huek. After another 5-6 years, they finally settled in the area near the Phadan Stream in Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province, where the community is located today. Initially, only five households settled in this area, and over time, more families followed, gradually expanding the village into the community it is now.
At the same time, the elders of the community have passed down legends and stories to their descendants. They recount that the original name of Baan Phadan was “Phor Hui Tha,” derived from the vast forests and diverse tree species in the area. In the Karen language, “Phor” means flower, “Hui” refers to trees or tree roots, and “Tha” means stream or creek. In the past, there was a fragrant tree species on the mountain, which led the villagers to name the settlement after this fragrant tree. Later, a group of townspeople began calling the village “Baan Phadan,” as it is believed that about 700 years ago, the village served as a military outpost under Queen Chamthewi, which is how it came to be called “Baan Phadan,” a name that has endured to this day.
The highlights of Ban Phadarn community include:
1. Beautiful Nature
- Surrounded by lush forests and mountains, ideal for hiking and eco-tourism.
- There are natural water sources and streams where visitors can relax or engage in water activities.
2. Cultural Preservation
- The locals place great importance on preserving Lanna culture and traditional wisdom, such as weaving, basketry, and cooking local dishes.
3. Community-Based Activities
- Visitors can participate in activities such as rice farming, learning traditional weaving techniques, or making crafts from natural materials.
The potential of the Pha Dan community, as identified during a meeting to analyze its strengths, lies in the body of knowledge regarding the culture of the Karen people in the Ban Doi Yao area. This knowledge is still preserved and passed down within the village or community. Additionally, the community benefits from strong leadership, including local leaders, village sages, and spiritual guides.
Although some traditional Karen cultural practices have disappeared, been abandoned, or transformed, the community still possesses the potential to take steps to preserve and conserve these cultural elements to prevent their loss, as outlined below:
1. Adaptation refers to the integration of traditional knowledge with new knowledge to align with a changing society. Examples include:
- Transforming the traditional ordination ceremony into a tree ordination ritual to promote awareness of forest and nature conservation.
- Preserving forests and conserving water resources by constructing more check dams.
- Combining traditional textile patterns with modern designs to create innovative and contemporary fabric styles.
2. Innovation involves creating new ideas or tools that are connected to traditional knowledge. Examples include:
- Inventing tools or waist looms that make weaving more convenient and efficient.
- Developing community problem-solving projects based on the traditional values of care and mutual support among villagers, such as establishing community cooperatives or forming women’s groups.
3. Conservation refers to preserving values and traditions, such as:
- Maintaining cultural practices, like traditional ceremonies and wearing Karen attire on important occasions.
- Using the Karen language within families to keep the linguistic heritage alive.
- Encouraging handicrafts as a supplementary occupation for community members.
- Promoting self-worth and fostering behaviors that build positive relationships within the community and with the environment.
4. Revitalization refers to bringing back valuable knowledge and practices that have been lost, abandoned, or transformed. This includes:
- Restoring cultural traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs.
- Reviving respect for sacred entities and practices once central to the community.
- Encouraging the community to reintegrate these traditions into daily life and communal activities.
At the same time, Ban Pha Dan community is rich in cultural resources or intangible cultural heritage, which is considered a significant potential of the community. This can be developed through knowledge management processes to enhance the community’s capabilities as follows:
1. Preserving traditional knowledge to sustain the cultural heritage of the Karen ethnic group reflects their unique identity and distinctiveness. This includes establishing guidelines for developing wisdom classrooms to pass on Karen identity within community networks. This could take the form of learning centers or museums and could be expanded to Karen networks on a national level.
2. Preserving traditional knowledge to foster understanding of cultural wisdom within the community and locality, especially for navigating life amidst change, includes focusing on backstrap weaving. This involves developing curricula based on local knowledge and creating a modernized body of knowledge on backstrap weaving. Such knowledge can be integrated into both formal and informal education systems and shared with the general public, enabling them to learn and potentially use the skill for livelihood opportunities.
3. Cultural and culinary tourism is a vital tool for creating new travel experiences and strengthening grassroots economies. Rural village tourism, characterized by unique lifestyles and creative expressions of local wisdom, offers enjoyment, knowledge of local traditions, and deeper understanding of local cultures. This approach emphasizes responsibility and awareness in preserving cultural heritage and environmental values. By incorporating ingredients sourced from local areas into culinary creations, it ensures direct income distribution to communities.
The primary goal is to leverage tourism as a means to generate and distribute income while reducing inequality among citizens. This aligns with the government’s policy to use “cultural and culinary tourism as a driver for economic growth.” By 2025, the government aims to position food as the centerpiece of tourism, elevating Thailand’s food industry across the entire value chain.
To achieve this, targeted communities will be developed into model villages specializing in Thai gastronomy tourism (Gastronomy Village Tourism) with the following attributes:
1. Uniqueness of Local Cuisine
The distinctive characteristics of local food that reflect the cultural identity and traditions of the community.
2. Abundance of Local Ingredients
The richness and variety of ingredients available within the locality that contribute to the authenticity and quality of the cuisine.
3. Community Readiness and Participation
The preparedness and active involvement of local people in supporting and promoting tourism and culinary heritage.
4. Diverse Tourist Activities
A range of engaging and varied activities for tourists, such as cooking classes, food tastings, and cultural experiences.
5. Community’s Desire for Tourism Development Support
The community’s need for support in enhancing tourism infrastructure and services to attract more visitors.
6. Natural Resources and Local Environment
The natural resources and environmental assets of the area that contribute to the sustainability and appeal of local tourism and gastronomy.
7. Other Factors
Additional aspects, such as cultural festivals or unique local experiences, that further enhance the tourism experience.
Challenges
- Lack of Knowledge and Transmission of Traditional Skills
Younger generations lack knowledge and skills in traditional weaving, basket making, and carving, leading to a gap in the transmission of these crafts.
- Preference for Mass-Produced Fabrics
People in the community prefer to wear clothing made from new fabrics (machine-produced) which are cheaper, as opposed to traditional handwoven fabrics (using the traditional backstrap loom technique).
