#SHOWBIZ: Sabahan filmmaker's new documentary tackles indigenous heritage, AI risks

Cristy Aniko M, a 29-year-old Sabahan KadazanDusun filmmaker, explores her indigenous heritage and the risks posed by AI in a new micro-documentary titled Siapa Mengajar Kita? ("Who Teaches Us?"). Growing up, Cristy felt she lacked knowledge about what it means to be a Sabahan and indigenous, with few schools teaching Kadazan language and culture.

While online research has made knowledge more accessible, Cristy warns that it often lacks proper documentation and can lead to misinformation and inaccuracies. She also notes that AI-generated content cannot replace the wisdom of indigenous elders. Cristy was awarded a film grant from the Freedom Film Network's Lost In Transmission initiative, which led her to Sekolah Adat Anak Negeri Sabah, a Sabah Native Customary School Living Lab.

The school, founded in 2019, aims to preserve indigenous languages and cultures and strengthen the identity of Orang Asal people through formal education. Cristy participated in the school's intensive three-day programme attended by students aged 16 to over 70, where intergenerational learning took place. She hopes her documentary will spark conversations and open up a shared space for those who feel unseen, emphasizing the importance of respecting and learning from one another to preserve indigenous knowledge.