REFRAMING CUSTOMARY INSTITUTIONS AS SOCIO-CULTURAL CAPITAL IN FAMILY EDUCATION: EVIDENCE FROM AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN INDONESIA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33650/pjp.v13i2.14718
Authors

(1) * Ewi Darman Ndraha   (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta)  
        Indonesia
(2)  Serafin Wisni Septiarti   (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta)  
        Indonesia
(3)  Fauzi Kurniawan   (Universitas Negeri Medan, North Sumatera)  
        Indonesia
(4)  Ratna Natalia Mendrofa   (Universitas Nias, North Sumatera)  
        Indonesia
(5)  Arsen Lawolo   (Universitas Nias, North Sumatera)  
        Indonesia
(6)  Viqri Rolanda   (Universitas Negeri Medan, North Sumatera)  
        Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


Customary institutions remain an important part of social life in many indigenous communities, yet studies examining their role as socio-cultural capital in strengthening family education are still limited. This study aims to analyze the role of customary institutions in reinforcing family education. The research employed a qualitative case study approach using in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Informants consisted of customary leaders, married couples, and community members selected purposively. The findings reveal that customary institutions contribute significantly to family strengthening through various traditional mechanisms, including Falöwa as a medium for reinforcing kinship relations, Famotu Ono Nihalö as premarital guidance for women, Fanika Era-Era Mböwö as moral education for men, and Amatunowa as a customary forum for family conflict resolution. These practices transmit values of responsibility, respect, solidarity, cooperation, and social harmony across generations. This study concludes that customary institutions function not only as cultural heritage but also as socio-cultural capital that enhances family resilience and maintains social cohesion within indigenous communities.


Keywords

Customary Institutions; Family Education; Socio-cultural Capital.



Full Text: PDF



References


Alfiah, L., Rasyid, M. A., Baihaqi, Z. R., & Anam, R. K. (2026). Studi peran keluarga sebagai institusi pendidikan pertama dalam perspektif filsafat pendidikan islam. PESHUM : Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial dan Humaniora 5, (2),1-8

Anwar, R. K., Khadijah, U. L. S., & Rizal, E. (2023). Harmony in diversity: Social capital and social cohesion in the Gintingan tradition of the Subang community. Jurnal Antropologi: Isu-Isu Sosial Budaya, 25(2), 302-311.

Anastasya, A., Fau, E. S., & Ritonga, I. D. A. (2012). Nilai-nilai Pendidikan Non Formal pada tradisi Owasa/Faulu di Kabupaten Nias Selatan, Pulau Nias. Jurnal Education For All, 1(1), 23–26. http://journal.unimed.ac.id/index.php/jefa

Christens, B.D. (2019). Community Power and Empowerment. Oxford University Press

Arisjulyanto, D. (2024). The role of customary law in maintaining social harmony in Indonesian village communities. Journal of Social and Education Research, 2(1), 14–20. https://journal.larpainstitute.com/index.php/jser

Bella, Fitriyah, N., & Anggraeiny, R. (2019). Peran lembaga adat dalam pelestarian kebudayaan di Kampung Muara Mujan Kecamatan Tering Kabupaten Kutai Barat. eJournal Administrasi Negara, 7(1), 8538–8551. http://ejournal.an.fisip-unmul.ac.id

Fakhyadi, D., Samsudin, M. A., Dasrianto, V., Danil, M., & Wahyudi, A. A. (2025). Reconstructing gender relations for family resilience in Minangkabau: Integrating Islamic law and customary law. Al-Ahkam, 35(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2025.35.1.22906

Fitria, I., Zainuddin, M., Julianto, Aliana, C. R., & Barlian, N. I. (2024). Family resilience in a psychological perspective in Indonesia. El-Usrah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga, 7(1), 154-168. https://doi.org/10.22373/ujhk.v7i1.23107

Gaurifa, A. K. (2025). Perbandingan sistem perkawinan adat Nias di Desa Amandraya Kecamatan Amandraya Kabupaten Nias Selatan dengan Desa Hiliganöwö Kecamatan Teluk Dalam Kabupaten Nias Selatan. Jurnal Panah Keadilan, 4(2), 71-80. https://jurnal.uniraya.ac.id/index.php/PanahKeadilan

Hasanovich, S. A. (2025). The impact of globalization and modernization processes on family traditions. Modern American Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(09), 120–124. https://usajournals.org

Herawati, N., Jafari, M. B., & Sanders, K. (2024). The influence of globalization on family traditions and values. Journal of Psychosociological Research in Family and Culture, 2(2), 4–10. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jprfc.2.2.2

Hura, N., & Firdaus, M. (2022). Makna simbolik tradisi fanika era-era mbowo dalam acara adat pernikahan etnik Nias di Pulau Nias. KomunikasiMu, 1(1), 1–11.

Hatu, D. R. R., & Hatu, R. I. R. (2021). Modal sosial masyarakat komunitas adat terpencil Gorontalo. Jurnal Ilmiah Publika, 9(1), 1-10.

Hale, J., Irish, A., Carolan, M., Clark, J. K., Inwood, S., Jablonski, B. B. R., & Johnson, T. (2023). A systematic review of cultural capital in U.S. community development research. Journal of Rural Studies, 103, Article 103113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103113

Hidrawati, Rianse, U., Iswandi, R. M., Arafah, N., Hamzah, A., & Harviyaddin. (2023). The role of traditional institutions in supporting food security of small island communities. Jurnal Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis (JEPA), 7(2), 878–887.

Iskandar, Z. F., Khadijah, U. L. S., & Kusnandar. (2023). Peran lembaga adat dalam preservasi intangible heritage peradaban nusantara kuno di Kampung Adat Cireundeu. JUKIM: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin, 2(2), 48–56. https://doi.org/10.56127/jukim.v2i02.579

Koopman, J. (2023). Subawe, traditional knowledge, and faith-based organisations promoting social capital and disaster preparedness: A Lombok, Indonesia case study. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 94, 103837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103837

Laia, M. M., Ndruru, M., Halawa, N., & Bawamenewi, A. (2024). Analisis makna ungkapan famotu ono nihalö (nasihat kepada pengantin perempuan) pada pesta pernikahan adat Nias. Jurnal Kata: Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pembelajarannya, 12(2), 228–236. http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/Kata

Lestari, S. P. I., Rahadian, S., & Badar, A. (2024). Tradisi Pe’eppuk sebagai bentuk modal sosial masyarakat Desa Lohayong Flores Timur. Maharsi: Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah dan Sosiologi, 6(1), 26-33. https://doi.org/10.33503/maharsi.v6i1.3948

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. SAGE Publications.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Major, M., Beyene, F., Imana, G., Tadesse, D., & Makahamadze, T. (2024). The role of customary institutions and the challenges they are facing in transforming violent conflicts: The case of the Konso and Ale ethnic groups in southern Ethiopia. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), Article 2294553. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2294553

Manuputty, F., Murwani, P., Darakay, J., & Al Hamid, R. (2022). Modernisasi dan perubahan struktur keluarga pada masyarakat adat (Studi pada masyarakat Negeri Noloth, Saparua Maluku Tengah). Jurnal Noken Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial, 7(2), 278–289.

Manuputty, F., Afdhal, & Makaruku, N. D. (2024). Membangun keluarga harmonis: Kombinasi nilai adat dan agama di Negeri Hukurila, Maluku. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Humaniora, 13(1), 93–102. https://doi.org/10.23887/jish.v13i1.73080

Mappakalu, A. M., & Rudi. (2021). Peran lembaga adat dalam mempertahankan budaya di Desa Tompo Bulu Kecamatan Bulupoddo Kabupaten Sinjai. Jurnal Ilmiah Administrasita’, 12(2), 94-105.

Mubarrok, A. (2015). Bagaimana peranan lembaga adat mempertahankan modal sosial masyarakat? (Studi kasus di Kabupaten Sarolangun). Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi, 12(2), 311–330.

Mulleta, A. D. (2025). Inter-institutional positioning in the context of conflict resolution: The case of state court and Gadaa Court in the Oromia region, Ethiopia. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101468

Mauliddin, M., & Ismail. (2024). The role of customary institutions in resolving Islamic family law and customary law conflicts: A sociological perspective. GIC Proceeding, 2(1), 51–57.

Ninh, N. V., & Tam, T. V. (2026). The role of social capital in enhancing community participation for sustainable agricultural tourism. Sustainable Futures, 11, Article 101612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101612

Neupert-Wentz, C. (2024). Traditional authorities, norm collisions, and communal conflict. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 69(2–3). https://doi.org/10.1177/00220027241237438

Purwanto, G. H., Yasir, M., & Rahmania, C. S. (2025). The urgency of establishing village customary institutions as legal protection for local culture: An empirical study in Bojonegoro Regency. Journal of Judicial Review, 27(1), 77-102. https://doi.org/10.37253/jjr.v27i1.10341

Putri, L. D., Prayitno, G., Hidayat, A. R. T., & Siankwilimba, E. (2025). Trust, norms, and networks: Social capital's role in community-based tourism in Tambakrejo Village, Indonesia. Journal of Regional and Rural Studies, 3(1), 68-80. https://doi.org/10.21776/rrs.v3i1.49

Rozikin, O., Mukhlas, O. S., Rosadi, A., Fauzia, I., Muharir, Ahyani, H., & Adnan, N. I. M. (2025). Contextualizing Maqāṣid al-Shariah in indigenous legal practices: A comparative study of family resilience in Kasepuhan Ciptagelar and Kampung Naga. Nurani: Jurnal Kajian Syari'ah dan Masyarakat, 25(2), 344–362. https://doi.org/10.19109/nurani.v25i2.27760

Singh, A. K., & Pandit, S. (2024). A review of family structure and its changing dimensions in modern society: A sociological perspective. International Journal of Research and Technology, 12(4), 83-90.

Suanti, D. (2019). Pelaksanaan tugas dan fungsi lembaga adat dalam melestarikan kebudayaan adat Dayak Lundayeh di Kecamatan Krayan Barat Kabupaten Nunukan Provinsi Kalimantan Utara. eJournal Ilmu Pemerintahan, 7(4), 1619-1628. https://ejournal.ip.fisip-unmul.ac.id

Sonia, T., & Sarwoprasodjo, S. (2020). Peran lembaga adat dalam pelestarian budaya masyarakat adat Kampung Naga, Desa Neglasari, Kecamatan Salawu, Tasikmalaya. Jurnal Sains Komunikasi dan Pengembangan Masyarakat [JSKPM], 4(1), 113-124. https://doi.org/10.29244/jskpm.4.1.113-124

Silooy, H. G., Tjoa, M., & Iskar. (2024). Modal sosial dalam pengelolaan hutan adat Negeri Hutumuri Kecamatan Leitimur Selatan Kota Ambon. Tropical Small Island Agriculture Management (TSIAM), 4(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.30598/tsiam.2024.4.1.1

Sundarianingsih, P., Ashar, K., & Saputra, A. (2018). Social capital existence in Bali's microfinance: Evidence from Village Credit Institution (LPD). Journal of Innovation in Business and Economics, 2(1), 19–28. http://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/jibe

Said, W., Hukmiah, Nur, S., Wahyuni, S., & Akbar, R. (2024). Marriage traditions and family resilience in Bugis Bone society: A study of Islamic law and Islamic education. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam, 8(3), 1332-1351. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v8i3.23227

Silawati, Aslati, Agustar, A., & Novendri S., M. (2025). Interkoneksi peran lembaga dalam mengatasi stunting dan kemiskinan di Siak: Analisis ketahanan keluarga dalam Islam. Al-Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan dan Kemasyarakatan, 19(2), 947-961. https://doi.org/10.35931/aq.v19i2.4812

Siregar, A., Sumantri, P., & Nababan, S. A. (2025). Peran lembaga adat dan tokoh masyarakat dalam mengatur dan mempertahankan praktik pernikahan antar suku Mandailing di Pijorkoling. Puteri Hijau: Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah, 10(2), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.24114/ph.v10i2.66472

Suarja, S., Aliah, H., Zainuri, M. I., Kadir, A., Nurhayati, A., & Laabed, E. (2025). Early childhood parenting based on Islamic value and local culture in strengthening family resilience and role. Jurnal Konseling dan Pendidikan, 13(3), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.29210/1158900

Suaib. (2023). Pembangunan dan pemberdayaan masyarakat (U. Nain, Ed.). Penerbit Adab.

Sultonov, A. H. (2025). The impact of globalization and modernization processes on family traditions. Modern American Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(9), 119-124.

Unesco. (2024). Basic texts of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2024 ed.). Living Heritage Entity, Culture Sector, UNESCO.

Usman, M., Abdullah, Kafrawi, & Jafar, M. (2024). The role of customary law in family resilience and divorce prevention: Phenomenological studies in Indonesia. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(2), 823-840. https://dx.doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i2.9685

Waruwu, W. K., Harefa, N. A. J., Waruwu, L., & Halawa, N. (2024). Analisis pengaruh budaya Böwö (mahar) terhadap generasi Nias. Jurnal Kata: Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pembelajarannya, 12(2), 218-227. http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/Kata

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications

Zainuddin, M., Mansari, & Filzah, N. (2022). Divorce problems and community social capital in realizing family resilience in Aceh. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam, 6(2), 731-753. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v6i2.15080

Zalukhu, F., Zega, I., Bawamenewi, A., & Riana. (2025). Analisis nilai-nilai budaya pada pesta pernikahan di Nias. Jurnal Kata: Bahasa, Sastra, dan Pembelajarannya, 13(1), 46–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.23960/Kata


Dimensions, PlumX, and Google Scholar Metrics

10.33650/pjp.v13i2.14718


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Ewi Darman Ndraha, Serafin Wisni Septiarti, Fauzi Kurniawan, Ratna Natalia Mendrofa, Arsen Lawolo, Viqri Rolanda


This work is licensed under a CC BY-SA

Published by Institute for Publication, Research, and Community Service of Nurul Jadid University, Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia.