Preserving Cambodian Indigenous History: UH Mānoa Awarded $126K Grant

The Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is excited to announce that Professor Miriam Stark, CSEAS Director, along with Associate Professor Courtney Work from National Chengchi University, has been awarded a three-year, $126,265 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Their project, “Of Water, Crocodiles, and Kings: Co-producing Kuy History in the Prey Lang Forest, Cambodia,” focuses on documenting the cultural heritage of Cambodia’s Kuy communities.

This project, beginning in January 2025, will train local Kuy community members to document culturally significant sites in their region, combining oral traditions, archaeological fieldwork, and Indigenous knowledge to preserve sacred places. The research aims to decolonize knowledge production by centering Kuy perspectives throughout the process.

The initiative will contribute to the preservation of Kuy history, while also offering new insights for K–12 education and local museum exhibits. By fostering collaboration between the Kuy community and academic researchers, this project highlights the University of Hawaiʻi’s commitment to supporting Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage globally.

For more details, please visit the full article on UH News: Preserving Cambodian Indigenous history focus of $126K federal grant.