Maintaining the Relationship between Local Communities and Environment through Tfua Ton Ritual at North Central Timor towards Sustainable Ecological in Industry 4.0 Era

. This paper aims to explain how the local community in North Central Timor maintains and preserves local culture by maintaining relations with the surrounding natural environment through Tfua Ton towards sustainable ecological in the industry 4.0 era. This was done considering the geographical and climatic conditions in the North Central Timor district in general; it is a dry area due to low rainfall, especially in the dry season. This research method uses qualitative especially phenomenological approach and literature study. The results of this study found that the cultural preservation efforts carried out by the people of North Central Timor continue to carry out Tfua Ton in each dry season important for humans in the local community to protect their life and environment. The results of the research show that the cultural rituals of Tfua Ton have been proven to have been successfully preserved by the local community by maintaining the relationship between humans and God, nature, and also their ancestors to create an environmental balance where the local community lives in the industry 4.0 era. This cultural preservation has been carried out consistently by local communities in North Central Timor for centuries, now and in the future, in line with the industrial revolution 4.0.


Introduction
The environmental crisis has hit many countries in the world, including Indonesia today in industry revolution 4.0 era.Various ways and efforts continue to be made to overcome the global crisis at the local, national, and international levels.The technological approach contains a dilemma because on the one hand it solves problems but on the other hand presents new problems.One approach that can be conserved to maintain environmental sustainability can be done by protecting simple community practices that use simple techniques based on local wisdom in caring for nature.
This paper offers a perspective of human efforts that protect nature and ensure environmental sustainability by learning from the local wisdom of the community in North Central Timor Regency.
This study aims to find the values of local wisdom in the ritual Tfua Ton of the people of North Central Timor that can contribute to efforts to overcome the environmental crisis, preserve the environment and maintain ecological sustainability in the future for all living things.

Theoretical background
North Central Timor (TTU) is a district in the Timor archipelago, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).North Central Timor Regency (TTU) covers an area of 2,669.70 km2 or around 5.64% of the total land area of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.The geographic location of this area is at 9o02'48"-9o37'36" South Latitude and 124o04'02"-124o46'00" East Longitude.To the north, TTU is bordered by the Savu Sea and the Republic of Democratic Timor Leste, to the east by Belu Regency, to the west by Kupang Regency, and to the south-by-South Central Timor Regency.When compared to other regencies/cities on Timor Island, TTU Regency has the least population density, even the least compared to Kupang Regency [1].
The local community in TTU district still holds cultural values that have been maintained for hundreds of years.These cultural values are manifested in the form of cultural rituals, local wisdom, and local knowledge.Martoredjo (2021) reveals that local wisdom values can be real guidelines in preserving nature [2].According to Puersen, humans as part of society must have culture because culture is a means for humans to fulfill their various needs in life.Culture will continue to be created, from place to place, from individual to individual and from time to time.According to Nahak (2019), it illustrates that culture will always experience changes from time to time so that people who have that culture must still know, maintain and preserve the culture they have.so that any changes that occur do not eliminate the original character of the culture itself [3].
There are several parts of the culture that exist in society, including local wisdom.According to Lake, et.al. (2017) people's knowledge about humans and how good relations are between humans, it also involves understanding knowledge, understanding, and customs about humans, nature, and how relationships are between all of them where all that knowledge is understood, practiced, taught, and passed on from one generation to the next.Related to this, it is important in order in society or local communities to preserve culture [4].Based on what was conveyed by Triwardani (2014) explaining that preservation is an activity or implementation of activities to protect, maintain, maintain, maintain, utilize and develop and foster [5].
TTU Regency is one of the many regions in NTT that has a diverse culture.This is because one of the areas in Indonesia with various traditional rituals is in NTT which has a diversity of cultures and customs.This is because the region has many ethnicities.This has something to do with the TTU population which consists of several ethnic groups such as Dawan, Lake, Bana, Ato and Sanak [6].In the TTU area there are various kinds of traditional rituals which are believed to be a link between the local community and the spirits of their ancestors.
The North Central Timor region has a tropical savanna climate with low rainfall.On average throughout the year this area experiences 5 months of rainy season with seven months of dry season.Usually every year the rainy season lasts from December to March whereas, the dry season starts in April until late November.
Quoting Abdulsyani [7], culture is an important component in people's lives, especially in the social structure.In short, culture can be interpreted as a way of life.According to Koentajaringrat, culture comes from Sanskrit, namely buddhayah.Buddhayah is the plural form of buddhi which means mind or mind.He also means that culture is the totality of human ideas and works that must be familiarized with learning and also with the whole of the results of his thoughts and works.
Apart from that, Herskovits and Malinowski also explained that culture is something that is super organic.This is because culture is hereditary from generation to generation which keeps it alive and sustainable even though the individuals who are members of society alternate because of the cycle of life such as death and birth.One of the local cultures in TTU is Tfua Ton.This ritual is one of the ritual ceremonies of the TTU community.Some areas in the district still routinely hold this ritual every year.

Methodology
This research method uses the literature study method with a phenomenological analysis approach that is appropriate to the context of the local community in North Central Timor district.
This research uses a phenomenological approach, namely by studying human phenomena and their social behavior.In addition, through a phenomenological approach, it also shows a description of the object under study along with the context contained therein.At this stage, the overall picture of the phenomenon definition is finalized by the author.In addition, this study also uses an ontology approach which will be associated with the findings of this study.

Result and discussion
This research Elu (2019) explains that this ritual ceremony is carried out when the people of Timor are preparing agricultural land that has just been cleared or giving thanks for a new harvest [8].The Tfua Ton traditional ritual is one of the rituals held to ask for rain in an area that has long experienced drought due to a prolonged dry season.In addition, Tfua Ton is also a new year's ceremony for farmers.The new year referred to here is the start of the planting season [9].
The Tfua Ton event is a form of traditional ceremony that expresses the relationship between humans and God and the environment in which humans live.According to Badj [2021] the Tfua Ton ritual is one of the rituals of the Leosikun tribe in Saena Village, West Miomafo District.There are two purposes in this Tfua Ton ritual, the first purpose is to give thanks for the past year and ask for blessings in the new year done once and the purpose of the second is to ask for blessings from the ancestors and nature in order to get good garden results.
There is a very close relationship between the Tfua Ton ritual, the local people of North Central Timor and the environment.The environment is an important aspect of this research [10].It is known that from the references obtained it shows that there is a very close relationship between God, ancestors, the environment, the geographical conditions of the place where the local people live.The daily life of the local TTU community, some of whom work as farmers or work in the garden, have a strong correlation with the environment and nature.The Tfua Ton ritual proves that there is a pattern that has been established between humans and the environment.The TTU people really understand the situation and conditions in which they live.In addition, there are cultural patterns that have long been formed, which have lasted for centuries.The results of this relationship are embodied in the form of cultural results, namely the Tfua Ton ritual ceremony.
According to Warburton [11], regarding the ontology approach, the argument that arises regarding this matter is that the aspect of God which is seen as the creator of the universe and the source of life, is the first cause of the main element of everything in the universe.The ontology approach states that God's power is very strong in creating the universe and its contents, including humans and the environment.The TTU people have produced their own culture which is a process of their adaptation to the environment in which they live.One form is known as the Tfua Ton ritual.This ritual is a form of communication carried out by the local TTU community to God and their ancestors.Tfua Ton is routinely held every year in November.November is a transition period between the dry season and the rainy season.Given that rainfall in TTU is not that high, it experiences a longer dry season compared to the rainy season with less rainfall.
The Tfua Ton ritual is led by a traditional leader.In TTU there are several ethnic groups that still carry out and maintain this ritual.To prepare for this ritual, coordination from traditional elders and the local community is required.From the findings in this study it is known that the Tfua Ton ritual is a cultural product that is still maintained by the local TTU community.In fact, this ritual also functions as a unifier for people who are separated by the boundaries of the two countries.In the Tfua Ton ritual, the traditional elders who preside over the ceremony begin by reciting prayers to God and the ancestors.Usually Tfua Ton is held in the highlands, for example around hilly areas.The objects used in this ritual also come from nature and the environment where local people live.according to research conducted by Lake (2017) [12].
There are certain symbols of various objects used.Apart from natural objects, rituals usually use animals such as poultry.The type of poultry used is often chicken.A live chicken will be included in the Tfua Ton ritual.Various objects or animals which are the conditions for the implementation of the ritual, will later become intermediaries for the signs given by nature.The local TTU community believes that by holding the Tfua Ton ritual it will provide a solution to the problems they face related to meeting their basic needs through their livelihood, the majority of whom are plantation farmers.In this case, the signs are ascribed to the ancestors and God.The people of TTU in general are very aware that the importance of crops from field plantations and livestock contributes greatly to supporting their economic needs in everyday life.This also applies to other areas in East Nusa Tenggara as stated by Elu (2019) [13] stating that the results they obtain are then used for food and drinking needs during the dry season while the remaining crops are sold to meet their daily needs.
The Tfua Ton ritual is a medium for expressing gratitude to God and ancestors.In this case, the TTU community realizes that there is a power beyond their own.These strengths can be used as a guide in living their daily lives.This proves that there are cultural elements as revealed by Koentjaraningrat.Strong cultural elements in the context of carrying out the Tfua Ton ritual which is maintained by the local community.There are sacred values in the ritual.
Through the Tfua Ton ritual, the local TTU community has succeeded in demonstrating a harmonious relationship with the environment and nature.They also really realize that through the process that has been formed, there are great forces outside of themselves that maintain the balance of life in the environment around them.They have understood the embodiment of these great powers from generation to generation, from their ancestors to the present day.The local people of TTU can be said to have very good local knowledge because they respect and maintain their ancestral culture.From previous studies, it appears that in several areas of TTU, the local community still maintains Tfua Ton as a routine ritual that must be held every year [14].There is a form of appreciation that they give to God, ancestors and the natural environment.A good adaptation has been formed in all of these elements.The role of humans here is very large as guardians and those who care for the natural environment.Efforts to protect the environment and cultural results as a manifestation of adaptation that has continued for centuries have been maintained in such a way.[15]

Conclusion
The success of the TTU local community in preserving the Tfua Ton ritual culture has also been proven to have protected the environment and created culture for hundreds of years, inseparable from the habits that have arisen among the local community.These habits are a manifestation of the adaptation they do.The result is a local culture called Tfua Ton.There are sacred values in the Tfua Ton ritual, namely divine values, human values, social values, and of course cultural values.Through the Tfua Ton ritual, there is a very good form of interaction between the local TTU community and the environment through a relationship that is in the form of an appreciation of great gratitude to God and to the ancestors they respect.
In essence, the Tfua Ton ritual is a ceremony asking for rain to fall upon the universe.This is because the local people of TTU know very well the geographical environmental conditions where they have lived for generations.The ritual practice of Tfua ton remains relevant in the era of the industrial revolution 4.0 as a method that provides a balance to technological exploration that tends to emphasize exploration of the environment destructive.
The Tfua Ton rituals eventually became part of the systems and cycles of life that appeared in their daily lives in this era of industry revolution 4.0.In addition, the local community of TTU Local knowledge is also formed because of the adaptation of local communities to the environment [16].The relationship that is formed between the local TTU community and the environment in which they live cannot be separated from the knowledge of the local community about the environmental and geographical conditions that exist in TTU.Based on the results of previous research [16], specifically regarding the level of rainfall in that area, it shows that there is not much rainfall so that the TTU area has the potential to experience drought caused by a longer dry season.Rainfall that is not too big is a challenge for them when adapting to the natural environment.So, maintaining the relationship between local communities and environment through Tfua Ton Ritual at North Central Timor is very relevant towards sustainable ecological in industry 4.0 era.Limitation of this study only use literature review.Future research should be directed at field studies to collect the primary data from the field, especially targeting informants from the younger generation in the local community at North Central Timor.
, local wisdom is not only related to local