Curtin Malaysia champions indigenous culture preservation through media education

Miri, Sarawak – 10 December 2025 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) is taking bold steps to safeguard Sarawak’s indigenous heritage by weaving cultural knowledge directly into its academic programmes, setting a precedent for how higher education can actively support endangered cultures.

As part of its Diploma in Media Studies, students undertaking the ‘Culture to Cultures’ course recently participated in an immersive guest lecture led by representatives of the Jatti Miriek community, the original settlers of the region from which Miri draws its name.

The session, conducted by Ilylia Iryani Ibrahim and Mohd. Irfan Mohd. Abdul Latip, brought to life the history, language, and cultural expressions of the Jatti Miriek people for 50 Media Studies students. Through storytelling, language demonstrations, and open dialogue, the students gained an intimate understanding of a community that has shaped Miri’s identity yet remains under-recognised outside the region.

Ilylia traced the community’s deep-rooted history, while Irfan guided the students through basic greetings, kinship terms, and animal names in the Jatti Miriek language. Both speakers also highlighted the urgent challenges their community faces in maintaining its language and traditions amid rapid modernisation.

The impact on the students was immediate and profound. For Abdul Waziff Ismail, a second-year student of Jatti Miriek descent, the session was a personal awakening. “This experience inspired me to appreciate my own heritage more deeply,” he said. “It reinforced my belief that digitalising culture and language through media is the way forward for preservation.”

Another student, Mohammad Aiman Amzar Mohammad Syamaizar, expressed surprise at how little-known the community remains. “It’s surprising that this community, which played such an important role in naming our city, is not well known to some, especially outside of Miri,” he said. “The shifting nature of language, culture, and identity makes preservation a collective responsibility.”

The guest speakers commended Curtin Malaysia for embedding indigenous cultural education within a media studies framework, an approach they believe can significantly strengthen cultural preservation efforts through storytelling, documentation, and digital media.

Course lecturer Peter Jamba emphasised that such collaborations are essential to Curtin Malaysia’s mission. “Curtin Malaysia is dedicated to educating students and raising awareness of Sarawak’s diverse indigenous cultures. Collaborating directly with these communities is an essential part of that mission,” he said.

The lecture forms part of a three-week module on indigenous peoples, culture, and rights. The Diploma in Media Studies equips students not only with practical skills in filmmaking and journalism, but also a strong grounding in cultural studies, ensuring future media practitioners understand their critical role in shaping and safeguarding society.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Ilylia discussing the history of the Jatti Miriek community with students.

Mohd Irfan teaching greetings in the Jatti Miriek language during an interactive session.