Abstract:
The study consisted of the following objectives: 1) to investigate the local wisdom of Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province; 2) to explore the local wisdom management model of Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province; and 3) to present the local wisdom management model of Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province. The study used a qualitative research method, with data collected through in-depth interviews with 22 key informants, including local scholars, elderly with knowledge and capability on local wisdom, experts, community leaders, and chairmen of various groups from the Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province. The obtained data were analyzed and synthesized in order to acquire the local wisdom management model model of Ban Rai Sila Thong community.
From the study, the following results are found:
1) Local wisdom in Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province can be divided into two categories: (1) local wisdom on industry and handicraft, for example basketry (e.g., fish trap, basket, bamboo basket), stone mortar drilling, and pillow sewing; and (2) local wisdom on religion and tradition, for example making flower cone (suay kab), prolonging the life span, and making banana leave vessel (satuang).
2) Local wisdom management of Ban Rai Sila Thong community, Pichai Subdistrict, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province is the transfer from ancestors or family members. This transmission is predicated on people who want to learn approaching those who know. The transfer of local wisdom necessarily requires learners using their skills in the learning process because most of it is not written down or recorded; this is due to the fact that those who transfer the local wisdom are elderly who have not received education and thus cannot read or write; thereby, demonstration and practice are required in order to increase direct experience. As a result, knowledge is not preserved in a formalized form such as documents, books, or other types of information; rather, it is stored utilizing the memory and skill of people who know only.
3) The local wisdom management of Ban Rai Sila Thong community can be divided into five aspects as follows: (1) Determining knowledge, which is the co-decision of artisans based on local wisdom who gather together to define the texture that is the community identity in order to preserve the ancestors' local wisdom via the use of local materials; (2) Seeking knowledge, which is one-on-one teaching via explanation and practice to develop skills for greater knowledge and understanding; (3) Exchanging knowledge through seminars in order to develop work and ones local wisdom, which can be integrated with the existing local wisdom to produce new products; (4) Storing knowledge from those who know by photographing or video recording it and storing it in documents that link to other learning sources such as museums, websites, and social media. This is how knowledge is stored in written form for anyone who is interested to study it, ensuring that local wisdom does not perish with any individual over time; and (5) Transferring knowledge, which does not only include from one to individual to another individual but also on manifesting step by step since the task involves high skills. Those who know the local wisdom are expected to pass it on to family members, which is a generational transfer, and the local wisdom must be arranged in order to be used as a practice manual.