Murni Sianturi

Murni Sianturi is an educator and researcher interested in interdisciplinary studies, including education, Indigeneity, and culture in West Papua. Theories of Indigenizing, decolonizing, tribal critical race, and culturally responsive frameworks inspire her theoretical perspectives to promote justice, inclusiveness, and equity for Indigenous peoples, other minority ethnic groups, and vulnerable students through education.

She is currently a PhD Scientia Candidate in Social Sciences at The University of New South Wales, working on a study regarding the use of technology in family-school partnerships between Indigenous West Papuan parents and schools. As an Indigenous person, growing up in an environment where education seems difficult to reach by the marginalized, she has a passion for helping children and others get equal rights in education. Prior to working on her current project, she taught children in a remote island for a year and collaborated with the local community to improve their children’s education. During her master’s study, she also helped dozens of Indonesian immigrants in Taiwan get educational opportunities equivalent to high school through high school equivalency education programs, in collaboration between the Indonesian Student Association and the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office – Taiwan.

Opportunities to work with diverse local communities, government, and non-profit organizations have opened up ideas on how essential is to build genuine partnerships with the Indigenous community. While teaching at the Musamus University of West Papua, with the World Wildlife Fund, the Global Environmental Conservation Organization, and Culture and Education Office, Merauke, they designed a local curriculum about the uniqueness of Merauke, its environment, and cultures for elementary to high schools. In collaboration with Gadjah Mada University, the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ilalang Papua NGO, they developed the community through social capital to bring justice to society. With Amam Orphanage and the Hand of Hope Foundation, they trained teacher candidates on teaching techniques of literacy to teach disadvantaged Indigenous students.

She welcomes Indigenous and decolonial academics, teachers, and activists in West Papua, Indonesia, Australia, and beyond, to build authentic and meaningful collaborations and conversations towards a better understanding of along with promoting Indigenous education.