The Brao-Kavet and their Sacred Mountains, Cambodia

Brao-Kavet are an indigenous ethnic group in northeastern Cambodia and southern Laos. Although in recent decades most have been forced to resettle in the lowlands, many maintain close livelihood and spiritual links with forested mountainous areas. The paper discusses the shifting Brao-Kavet understandings and performances associated with sacred spaces and, in particular, the Haling-Halang, a pair of high mountains. The Brao-Kavet do not hunt for wildlife on these mountains, and dare not cut down trees. Brao-Kavet identity politics are closely linked to religious practices associated with these mountains. The performative nature of Brao-Kavet sacred mountains has considerable political potential for facilitating indigenous supported biodiversity conservation, and for supporting the recognition of Brao-Kavet indigenous rights over land and other resources in Virachey National Park, where the mountains are located.

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