RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - In a move to decentralize cultural preservation, Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has called on indigenous groups and local communities to tap into national funding instruments to safeguard their ancestral heritage.

During a meeting with East Seram Regent, Fachri Husni Alkatiri, in Jakarta on Friday, April 17, 2026, the Minister emphasized that the Dana IndonesiaRaya scheme is specifically designed to be inclusive and accessible for grassroots cultural initiatives.

"The Dana IndonesiaRaya scheme can be utilized to support initiatives originating from the community or indigenous groups," said Minister Fadli Zon, as quoted by Antara.

The discussion focused heavily on the unique cultural landscape of East Seram, Maluku Province, a region comprising the vast Seram Island and dozens of smaller islets inhabited by approximately 150,000 people.

Regent Fachri highlighted that the backbone of their cultural identity lies in the Rumah Adat (traditional houses), which are typically timber-framed structures with distinct architectural styles unique to each traditional village. However, the Regent pointed out that maintaining these structures and other historic landmarks, such as the aging Geser Fort, requires significant resources that often exceed local budgets.

Addressing these regional challenges, Regent Fachri formally requested that the revitalization of traditional houses and the preservation of historic forts be integrated into the central government’s priority programs.

"We are encouraging the revitalization of these traditional houses and the handling of these historic forts to become part of the central government’s support, specifically through the Ministry of Culture," Fachri noted.

The Ministry responded by reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional heritage through structured and sustainable programs aimed at protecting local wisdom and historical values. ***