Stewards of the Land and Sea: Sustaining What Sustains Us explores the deep and evolving relationships between people, place, and practice through the lived experiences of Orang Laut SG and Wan’s Ubin Journal. This conversation highlights how both groups are reclaiming narratives of belonging and care, centering traditional knowledge, daily practices, and community memory as powerful forms of environmental stewardship. From the tides and stories of the Orang Laut to the quiet rituals and documentation of the Ubin Orang Pulau, we reflect on what it means to live in reciprocity with land and sea, and how these relationships are vital to sustaining not just ecosystems, but culture, identity, and resilience.
Wan, Founder, Wan's Ubin Journal
Wan is a descendant of the Ubin Orang Pulau through his maternal side. He founded Wan's Ubin Journal in 2018, a blog-turned-social platform which advocates for the conservation and celebration of the Ubin Orang Pulau community, culture and heritage. He is currently spearheading the Ambin Ubin kampung house restoration project, where a new sociocultural hub would be constructed in the heart of Pulau Ubin's Malay kampung. Wan recently completed his bachelors' degree in social work with a minor in sociology at the Singapore University of Social Sciences
Firdaus, Founder, Orang Laut SG
Firdaus is the founder of Orang Laut SG, a descendant-led ground-up initiative that aims to reclaim the narratives of the Southern Islanders and support community members impacted by relocation. Firdaus is also a speaker on TedxYouth@Singapore, and contributed to the Singapore's Writers Festival. His works in poetry and documentation work have been featured on the Esplanade stage, and published on 'Brown is Redacted'. He was recognised by Honeycombers as one of Singapore's Local Legends and Prestige magazine’s 40 under 40. He was featured in prominent media outlets: BBC, CNA, The Straits Times, Our Grandfather Story, Prestige Singapore, and is a Fellow under the Philip Yeo Initiative Innovation programme.
Stewards of the Land & Sea: Sustaining what sustains us
Date: Thursday, 21 Aug 2025
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Strangers Lounge, #02-38D, 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace
Entry Fee: Min. $5 donated to Wan's Ubin Journal & Orang Laut SG​
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