The Kuy people are actively engaged in efforts to preserve Prey Lang forest in Cambodia.[2][3] Prey Lang’s name originated from the Kuy language and means “the forest (Prey) which belongs to all of us”.[4] Organisations including Amnesty International and Cultural Survival have documented how Kuy people have faced development aggression and been forcefully evicted from their homes due to economic land concessions.[5][2] [6]
The “spirit forest” is an integral part of Kuy culture, however spirit forests are increasingly impacted by mining interests as Cambodia develops.[7] Some Kuy people are artisans with unique basket and textile weaving skills.[8] Some Kuoy are rice farmers or raise silk worms and weave silk.[9]
Women have an esteemed position in Kui society ensuring community cohesion and spiritual beliefs, apart from their central role in subsistence food production. [10] The young generation of Kuy people speak Kuy language while writing in Khmer script. The Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association has members who are Kuy people who study and work in Phnom Penh.
References