Permissions

“The state (of Republic of Indonesia) acknowledges and respects societies belonging to traditional laws with its traditional rights as long as they exist, and according to the development of the society and the principle of Unified State of Republic of Indonesia, regulated by constitution.”  – Constitution of 1945, Chapter 18B, Article 2.

There are many reasons that it is not a very good idea to kayak and camp in Misool without prior communications with the locals. Modern Misoolians are kindly and not violent by nature, but still they have dignity to consider.

To be able to camp or even have a picnic on the Islands on South East Misool requires permissions from the traditional clans who own the beaches. Their traditional collective property rights are accommodated by the Indonesian state law. So, they are legally binding. In other places such as the North Raja Ampat, the traditional clans are mostly already attuned to the tourism industry and the tourism department, so it is relatively easy for them to give permission. But Misool is not yet like that, as many clans are in fisheries, and pearl farming, so tourists who didn’t communicate with them beforehand often have problems. For example, it is not very seldom that the live aboard boats received visits from local people asking for outrageous retributions. Before Millekul became more immersed with the citizens and clans of Misool we also had incidents where our guides were threatened by unhappy locals who felt like we were trespassing. But we learned fast.

The Millekul team is very lucky to have emphatic personnel that can blend very fondly to the local people. Along the chain of Islands that we are always kayaking at, we have taken it upon ourselves to get to know the owner clans, established communication and cooperation. Every time the kayaking season opens, before any guests come, we visit each of them in their villages, stay and dine with them, making sure to ask permission before we start landing on any of their places. We visit them when they have new births or funerals. Some of our guides learned to fish and cook from them. Another of our guides gathered fruits in the jungle together with them. We also train and employ their clan’s younger members as our assistants, trainee guides, and boat support team. After we have established these relationships, we realize that good manners and good communication meant much more to these people than financial retributions.

So, when you want to explore Misool by sea kayak, the most efficient option is to join our very accommodating trips as we have done our social homework!