Introduction.
The villagers of Ban Me Lai are ‘Khun Muang’, the ethnic group who were the early inhabitants, farmers and hunter gatherers, of the Chiang Mai valley.
They were displaced by ‘foreigners’ moving in from the south, and so moved up into the hills surrounding the valley floor. Through marriage, they absorbed the original inhabitants of mountain area – Kamu (Cambodian) and Lua (Shan) ethnic minorities, and over time established the 4 clusters of houses in a close group along the steep sides of the Mae Lai stream.
They are:
Ban Pang Mano - 15 homes; 42 people.
Ban Sun - 6 homes; 20 people.
Ban Pang Saen Phap - 4 homes; 8 people.
Ban Ma-O -15 homes; 32 people.
There are now some 40 homes, and some 90 inhabitants of Ban Mae Lai as the group is collectively known.
Mae Lai, means ‘mother Lai’ – and refers to the name of the mother of Khun Phiyalai – the first headman.
There village, one of many in the foothills of the mountain range that runs from the northeast to the southeast, separating the Chiang Mai valley from that of Lampang, to the south.
The village nestles in a valley on the banks for the Mae Lai stream at 1’000 m.a.s.l., some 50 kms., from the city centre, only one hour away by road, but a world apart in terms of lifestyle and modernity.
The villagers have traditionally made a living from farming Chaa Mieng (fermented tea), but it is no longer popular and with the young folk leaving the village to find employment in the cities, tradition, culture and the community itself face challenges to their survival.
The villagers generally use the land around their households to grow: coffee, eggplant, banana, pomelo and papaya. Some households have dug ponds in which they raise catfish.
Milestones and points of interest.
Governance - The intermediary between villagers and government is a democratically elected ‘headman’ who draws a small stipend from the government. His term is for 5 years, but he is often re-elected if he is seen to be a good man.
The headman is supported by an elected committee of 3-4 villagers.
There have been 7 headman in the Mae Lai village since the system began in the late 1890’s, each serving approximately 20 years before retiring.
Electricity – Prior to 1981 lighting was provided by oil lamps. In 1981 the government introduced small scale hydroelectric power, (for a short while) which was itself replaced by main grid power in 2000 – bringing connectivity: radios, TV, refrigerators and the ‘easy life’ as the elders describe it.
The introduction of Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre in 2006 brings with it an ADSL line and the internet.
Roads – Prior to 1960 the only access was by dirt trail – a day or more was required to transport goods to the market in Chiang Mai, by pack pony and/or oxen.
Note* The pack pony trails of northern Thailand formed an extensive network that connected Burma, Laos and all areas of the north together.
In 1960 the first dirt road was built, and between 1996 and 2000 it was concreted providing access (within 1 hour) to the city.
Education – Prior to 1921 all rural education in Thailand was provided by monks.
1958 – The first school was built to teach all local children basic education for four years
1990 – Education is extended to six years
1993 – The school was shut down and converted to a parent-managed daycare
1995 – The daycare centre was shut down, and children sent to Huai Kaew for day care
1995 until 2006 – school building remains not utilized
2007 – Funds from ‘Pang Soong Nature Trail’ trail fee revenues are allocated to covering school children’s daily transport costs.
Note* Due primarily to the fact that Buddhist monks are forbidden to interact with women, the women from the village who are older than 40 have no formal education.
The men of the same age had 4 years of education.
There was a span of 4 years, when both men and women had 4 years education, and it is this group that are directly ‘engaged’ in the development of the Pang Soong Nature Trails Project.
Note* The formal education level of the villagers who are now the decision makers –is something that should be taken into account when considering their current capacity for understanding the full scope of their problems in a global context, and of the potential solutions to those problems, many of which are only now possible because of the world’s concerns about climate change and poverty.
Of the next generation, where most of the children are under 14 years old, they leave home for the school at Huay Kaew at 0600 hrs and return at 1800 hrs.
Whilst the elders value the education that the youngsters are getting they bemoan the fact that because of the time spent away, and the importance placed on mainstream education the youngsters are not acquiring ‘local knowledge’, and nobody is replacing elders in the role of ‘traditional medicine practitioner’- amongst others.
Note* The current headman has expressed concern about the affect that spending so much time outside of the village is having on the children. He sees an increase in rebellion against traditional values, and reports isolated cases of drug and alcohol abuse.
Note* It is hoped that through the VWB Initiative we can help address these problems – and provide the students with a valid reason to acquire both a modern and a traditional skills education.
Religion – The village is Buddhist, and each adult person contributes app. Baht 30.- per month to a fund that pays for the food for the single monk that presides over village ceremonies.
Land – Each family owns app. 10 rai of land for farming. The land does not have full title deed and is handed down through the family. Assuming the land is used for planting Chaa Mieng, the family can expect to earn around Baht 5’000 per year from their land.
Recently the government introduced coffee farming to the area, s coffee can be shade grown – and therefore grown without cutting down the forest. A 10 rai plot of land can produce up to 2000 kilos of coffee beans – which when dried are sold for app. Baht 70-90 per kilo.
Occupation – The villagers are primarily tea farmers, who supplement their income by harvesting forest product, and providing casual labour for government projects in the area – road construction etc.
Note* With the advent of the Pang Soong Nature Trails project it is anticipated that villagers will be able to earn a living from ecotourism – as community forest guides. The village itself will also derive communal revenue from the collection of trail entrance fees.
