Supriyadi Sudirman

Supriyadi Sudirman, widely known as Sawai, is a community-based activist and visual storyteller from the Sawai Indigenous community in Halmahera, Indonesia. Deeply rooted in his ancestral territory, he has been actively involved in efforts to protect his community’s land from the impacts of illegal mining and environmental degradation.

Alongside his advocacy work, Sawai uses photography and video as tools to document daily life, environmental changes, and community resistance. He independently produces and shares visual stories through his own platforms, including YouTube, as a way to raise awareness and amplify local voices. Through visual storytelling, he seeks to safeguard collective memory and support community-led struggles to defend land, culture, and the future of his territory.

Supriyadi Sudirman, yang akrab disapa Sawai, adalah aktivis berbasis komunitas dan pencerita visual dari masyarakat adat Sawai di Halmahera, Indonesia. Berakar kuat pada wilayah adatnya, ia aktif terlibat dalam upaya melindungi tanah dan lingkungan komunitasnya dari ancaman pertambangan ilegal dan kerusakan lingkungan.

Selain kerja-kerja advokasi, Sawai menggunakan fotografi dan video sebagai medium untuk mendokumentasikan kehidupan sehari-hari, perubahan lingkungan, serta perjuangan masyarakatnya. Ia secara mandiri memproduksi dan membagikan karya visual melalui platform pribadinya, termasuk YouTube, sebagai upaya membangun kesadaran publik dan memperkuat suara komunitas. Melalui penceritaan visual, ia berupaya menjaga ingatan kolektif dan mendukung perjuangan masyarakat adat dalam mempertahankan wilayah, budaya, dan masa depan mereka.