The socio-cultural system and conventional beliefs of outsiders about the Mlabri ethnic group have been that they are “forest people” or “Yellow Leaf Ghosts”, indicating the identity of this nomadic group which humbly depends on forest natural resources for their subsistence. When development projects from both state and private sectors manipulated the traditional lifestyle of the nomadic group by utilizing state power to allocate community land at Huay Yuak Village, Tambon Mae Khaning, Wiang Sa District, Nan Province, the ethnic group was forced to settle down permanently at Tong Luang Community. Being restricted spatially and surrounded by external power groups has made it even more difficult for the group to access resources and forests. The group has been obliged to change their lifestyle from nomadic subsistence to being highland laborers for the Hmong. Furthermore, they have been made to be a part of the provincial tourism development plan by having to dress in their “Ta Yae”, which reduces them to a symbol of their traditional cultural lifestyle creating a sales pitch, instead of developing their lifestyle based on human dignity and a true identity. The development plan lacks a profound understanding of their cultural roots, value system and belief structure. The development plan portrays the ethnic identity of the Mlabri to the outside world as “socially marginalized people” under the management of various power groups.
Nevertheless, the ethnic group has not completely been submissive to external powers. The group tries to change patterns of relationships or use the opportunity to negotiate for access to resources. Sometimes, it indirectly resists the power-that-be by being complacent to caring for watershed areas by allowing forest fires to burn as a way of resisting access to resources in conservation areas of the state.