Moken

The Moken are a nomadic people living on the Andaman Sea coast of southern Thailand, primarily in the Surin Islands archipelago. They are also known as the "Sea Nomads" due to their expertise in gathering seafood and their unique seafaring lifestyle. The Moken have traditionally been hunter-gatherers, relying on the ocean for their sustenance.

The Moken language is a member of the Bajo language family, which is also spoken by the Bajo people of Malaysia and Indonesia. The Moken people live in small nomadic communities, typically consisting of extended family groups. They are skilled boat-builders and navigators, and their traditional boats are designed for open ocean travel and are well-suited for their coastal lifestyle.

Prior to the 1970s, the Moken were a self-sufficient community, fishing and gathering their own food. However, their traditional way of life was disrupted by the introduction of modern fishing gear and the displacement of their fishing grounds. Many Moken people have moved onto the mainland, where they work in tourism and other service industries.

The Moken are an important part of the region's cultural heritage, and efforts are being made to preserve their language, traditions, and way of life. In recent years, researchers have also studied the unique adaptation strategies of the Moken people, which have hampered them from succumbing to chronic diseases such as diabetes. Their expertise on community-based adaptation to climate change has been recognized and documented.