Makna Komunikasi Simbolik pada Ukiran Rumah Pemali Uim Kakoe'ra (Studi Kasus pada Kampung Bene-bene, Desa Babotin Maemina, Kecamatan Botin Leobele, Kabupaten Malaka)

This research is driven by the issue of the fading understanding amongtheyounger generation of the Kanu tribe in Bene-Bene Village, Malaka, regardingthephilosophical meanings of traditional carvings, despite their continued activeparticipation in ritual practices. This lack of understanding threatens the continuityof ancestral values amidst modernization. The purpose of this study is to analyze themeaning of symbolic communication in the noha (coconut), teke (gecko), and trianglecarvings at the Uim Kakoe’ra Pemali House as a medium for transmitting the local community's cultural identity. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with a case studyapproach. Data were collected through field observations, documentation, andin- depth interviews with seven informants, consisting of traditional leaders, carvers, andcommunity members. Data analysis was conducted using George Herbert Mead’sSymbolic Interactionism theory through three main pillars mind, self, and society. The results reveal that the coconut carving symbolizes fertilityandregeneration associated with the keu botof ritual. The gecko carving is interpretedas aspiritual guardian, a symbol of ancestral protection, and a reminder of honesty. Thetriangle motif represents the balance of the trinity relationship (God, humans, nature) and symbolizes the unity of the three main tribes. In conclusion, these carvings arevital cultural communication instruments for maintaining the identity of the Kanutribe. The research recommends strengthening oral education by traditional leadersfor the younger generation and suggests that future researchers examine other material elements in traditional houses to enrich the literature on cultural communication.