MFU Researchers Present Community-Led Indigenous Language Revitalization Research at International Conference on Sustainability

Asst. Prof. Dr. Suwichan Phatthanaphiwal from the Research Unit for Indigenous and Ethno-Ecological Wisdom for Sustainable Development (RIEW-SD), Mae Fah Luang University, together with Asst. Prof. Panya Lekwilai from the Linguistics, Literature, and Language Education for Sustainability Research Unit (LLLES) and the Tak Border Child Assistance Foundation, presented their research project, “From Cultural Calendars to Community Learning Infrastructure: Community Governance for Sustainable Indigenous Language Revitalization in Thailand’s Ethnic Border Communities,” at the International Conference “Reimagining Sustainability: The ASEAN Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Local Knowledge,” hosted by the Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, on 27–28 August 2026.

The research brings together perspectives from language, education, culture, and Indigenous knowledge to explore community-led approaches to sustainable Indigenous language revitalization. By connecting cultural calendars and local knowledge with learning activities, the project seeks to transform cultural knowledge into practical learning resources and community learning infrastructure for ethnic children and youth in Thailand’s border communities.

Importantly, the research moves beyond documenting Indigenous languages and cultures toward practical community application. It aims to strengthen intergenerational language and cultural transmission, support learning that is grounded in local contexts, and empower communities to play an active role in designing and sustaining their own learning systems.

The presentation highlights Mae Fah Luang University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research, local knowledge, and community engagement, demonstrating how research can be translated into practical approaches that respond to the educational and cultural needs of communities in the region.