Community Welfare Management System Based on Pakakeryor Karen Culture: A Case Study of Ban Mae Daet Noi, Mae Daet Sub-District, Kalayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

The research aimed to study (1) the context of Ban Mae Daed Noi community, Mae Daed Sub-district, Kanlayaniwattana District, Chiang Mai Province, (2) the development of community welfare based on Pakakeryor Karen Culture, and (3) the community welfare system that integrates cultural capital with contemporary management mechanisms. The research used qualitative research methodology, relying on participant observation and in-depth interviews with community leaders, religious leaders, spiritual leaders, local scholars, and community representatives, totaling 30 people.

The research results indicated that Ban Mae Daed Noi is a highland Karen community whose way of life combines subsistence and commercial production based on a relationship with nature. The community possesses human, social, physical, natural, and financial capital that foster self-reliance and sustainable strength. The development of community welfare can be divided into three periods: (1) the traditional era based on kinship, tradition, and belief; (2) the transition era, which combines modern mechanisms such as village funds and savings groups with traditional wisdom; and (3) the flourishing era, which developed a diverse welfare system covering health, economics, and society, with both community-generated and externally supported funds. Therefore, Ban Mae Daed Noi's community welfare system integrates Karen cultural capital with contemporary management approaches, under the participation of community members and support from external networks. This system serves as a mechanism for ensuring life assurance, enhancing economic and social stability, and sustainably preserving local cultural identity.