Folklore and Illustrated Children’s Books: A Simple Indigenous Knowledge Preservation Form to Foster Culture and Literacy

Abstrak

The preservation of indigenous knowledge in Indonesia is often carried out through the conservation of oral culture, particularly folklore, which serves as an essential aspect of community identity. This study aims to examine the efforts to preserve indigenous folklore and its role in fostering cultural awareness and literacy skills among elementary school children in Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. Employing a qualitative approach, this research reveals three key findings: (1) students primarily learn about indigenous folklore through oral storytelling, while children's literature containing local folklore remains limited; (2) the preservation of indigenous folklore involves interviews with traditional leaders and elders, followed by the adaptation of folklore into illustrated children's books through collaboration between local writers and professional illustrators; and (3) the introduction of folklore through illustrated books, particularly via read-aloud activities, enhances students' comprehension of folklore and deepens their cultural understanding of Parigi Moutong Regency. This study highlights the importance of integrating folklore into literacy programs to sustain indigenous knowledge and strengthen cultural identity among young learners.

Keywords: knowledge preservation; folklore; indigenous knowledge; illustrated children’s book.