Ecological Value in The Folklore of The Marantale Village Community, A Study of Literary Ecology

Abstract

This study examines the ecological values contained in the Kasina folklore of the people of Marantale Village, Siniu District, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, by examining both the representation in the folklore narrative and the ecological practices of the community that are still ongoing today. This research is motivated by the limited study of ecocriticism on the oral traditions of small communities in Central Sulawesi, even though folklore has the potential to be a medium for inheriting environmental knowledge and local wisdom for the sustainability of people's lives. The purpose of this research is to identify, classify, and interpret the ecological values represented in Kasina folklore through a literary ecological approach. The research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive-interpretive design. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with a key informant, field observations, and documentation studies. Data analysis was carried out using content analysis with the interactive models of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, while data interpretation referred to Garrard's six ecocritical themes, namely habitat, wildlife, the apocalypse, pollution, animals, and land. The results of the study show that Kasina folklore represents ecological values in the form of respect for nature, environmental conservation, responsible use of natural resources, awareness of disasters, and harmonious relationships between humans and nature, most of which are still practiced in the lives of local communities. The findings of this study confirm that Kasina folklore serves as an oral mechanism for preserving ecological knowledge and environmental ethics between generations.