Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies

This study examines the empowerment efforts of the Tana Toraja community in East Kutai to preserve their multicultural values. Using a qualitative case study approach, we examine the empowerment strategies used by this community as well as the challenges they faced in the process. The results show that the Tana Toraja community has adopted various strategies, including cultural education, organizing cultural festivals, and collaborating with external parties, to strengthen cultural identity and enhance social cohesion. However, limited resources, internal conflicts, and the impact of modernization pose significant challenges to these cultural preservation efforts. Discussion of the findings emphasizes the importance of community empowerment in the context of multiculturalism and the need for greater support from multiple parties. This research reconstructs Zimmerman's (1995) and Freire's (1970) theories of community empowerment by extending their application to efforts to combine strategies to survive cultural diversity in the context of globalization and modernization as a process in which individuals and groups gain power to control their lives and influence their communities. Empowerment in Tana Toraja shows that collective control over cultural preservation can strengthen identity and social cohesion. This research shows that by strengthening cultural identity through empowerment, communities can become agents that promote inclusivity and tolerance between different cultural groups. The implications of this research include contributions to the understanding of local cultural preservation and sustainable and inclusive community development.