Kuay People's Way of Life: Forest Culture on the Korat Plateau

The Kuay (or Kui) people are the indigenous ethnic group of Surin, Si Sa Ket, and Buriram provinces, with a distinct culture and language passed down for thousands of years — particularly their unique tradition of capturing and training wild elephants, a priceless cultural heritage. The Kuay people believe that elephants are sacred animals and kin to humans. Capturing a wild elephant involves ancestral rituals, using specially trained "Kuu elephants" to peacefully bring wild elephants into coexistence with humans. The Office of Arts and Culture has produced academic documents and documentary videos on Kuay lifestyles to preserve this invaluable knowledge for future generations.