Salt guardian spirit: Salt resource management in modernity: A case study of Kha Wao village, Phang Ngu sub-district Nong Han district, Udon Thani province

Abstract

            This research is qualitative research. Participatory observation processes, fogus group and in-depth interviews, from the research population, including formal and informal salt-making villagers, were used to conduct participatory observations. Community leaders and informal leaders.

            The results of the research showed that, The salt guardian spirts reflected the way local people think of allocating communal resources and is the product of a collective cultural construct within a local community, especially those small salt-production places with limited access to other kinds of resources. Salt is thus crucial for their dietary, economic and cultural security. Therefore, the salt guardian spirit is intensively reproduced through the process of sacredness of the territory through a series of tales to limit the group of producers. The form, duration, as well as the production technique and technology. As for those communities which have recently become salt manufacturing sites for less than 30 years, salt is produced as a commodity and a raw material for industrial enterprises. The traditional form of spirit is no longer used to regulate salt resource utilization. Instead, the nation state has claimed an ownership over natural resources through an enforcement of the Minerals Act and laws. Under these circumstances, a new cultural construct emerged and various kinds of guardian spirits. Nevertheless, these new spirits have sprung from individualistic beliefs, not specifically created to promote natural resource management for shared use. They are to help connect salt producers and the nation state.