CHARACTER BUILDING DALAM PERSPEKTIF ORANG RIMBA (STUDI LOCAL WISDOM DI KETUMENGGUNGAN NGGRIP KEDUNDUNG MUDA SAROLANGUN JAMBI)

The existence of forestmen (Anak Dalam tribe) is in a dilemma of continuing to live in a forest with all of its limitations or melting away. It is uneasy for them to leave the noble values of the ancestors (nenek puyong) which have been internalized in their identity behind. Besale and bebalai, two rituals involving their bahelo that leads to their religiosity are getting more bias due to social changes within their community. The changes are triggered by forest-narrowing processes and outsider influences. It is the challenge of maintaining traditions in the global and modern worlds that stimulates the emergence of new self-characters of their own and the community. This qualitative research employed Socio-Antroplogy of Education and ethnographic approach, while a theory of social change was used to analyze data and facts drawn from Tumenggung Nggrip, the chief of Kedundung Muda tribe. Data were obtained from in-depth interview and life-related document study. Authentic data were gained from direct observation as the researcher stayed with the community for a certain period of time. The results show that living in a National Forest Conservation Bukit Duabelas of Jambi, the forestmen with their simple things manage to survive and pass noble values down to their descendants in a simple way with no complicated techniques – in the form of seloko, folklores and poets. The powerful social change current is faced with survival empowerment and well adaptation. All they want is an independence for their generation to understand and practice traditions; a generation that can read, write and calculate. The values of pantang larang (forbidden) the youth are taught can be easily practiced in daily life both inside and out of the forest. The newest values of character building process are Family Persistence model thatwill contribute to the National Defence. The values are the foundation of the children’s character builders and the nation’s cultural treasure that should be preserved