Dayak Literacy: A Cultural Strategy to Preserve the Dayak Population in Kalimantan
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The social media "Literacy Dayak" is concerned with the issues and future of the Dayak people. Photo credit: Masri Sareb.
The focus has shifted to the future of the Dayak people and how to ensure they don’t face a dramatic decline in population, while maintaining their dominant presence in Kalimantan.
With the Dayak population estimated at around 8 million (ICDN, 2019), it's become clear that developing a serious, long-term cultural strategy to preserve and even boost the Dayak population is crucial.
The Threat of Declining Population
One key issue raised in these discussions is the low birth rate among Dayak families. On average, each Dayak family has just two children, which is below the replacement level (more than two children per woman) needed to maintain the current population. This trend could lead to a population decline over the next few generations.
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To put it simply, if every family continues to have only two children, the next generation will be half the size of the current one. In the generation after that, it will be a quarter, and so on. This illustrates a sharp decline in population. If this continues unchecked, the Dayak people risk losing their place as a major ethnic group in Kalimantan.
Increasing Birth Rates to Sustain Population Growth
One proposed solution gaining traction in these conversations is to encourage families to have more children—specifically, four per family. This number is seen as sufficient to stabilize or even grow the population over time. With four children per family, the birth rate would exceed the death rate, ensuring that the population remains stable or increases.
To encourage this shift, some members of the "Literasi Dayak" community are suggesting the idea of creating incentives for larger families. For example, families with more than four children could receive scholarships or other educational support for their kids. This kind of initiative could be implemented through organizations like GCUKK (Gerakan Credit Union Keling Kumang), where families with a higher number of children are rewarded with educational opportunities for their children. Imagine a family with 10 kids, and two of them receiving scholarships—this kind of support could motivate families to have more children.
The Role of a Cultural Strategy in Addressing Population Challenges
However, maintaining and increasing the Dayak population isn't just about birth rates. It also involves deeply integrating cultural preservation into the equation.
A well-thought-out cultural strategy involves more than just encouraging bigger families; it focuses on strengthening Dayak identity—language, traditions, and customs. When people feel strongly connected to their heritage, they are more likely to invest in the future of their culture, which includes raising and nurturing the next generation.
Alongside that, the cultural strategy must also focus on education and training for younger Dayak generations, so they not only become the custodians of their culture but can also leverage modern knowledge and technology to strengthen their community's economy and well-being.
Moving Forward
To make this cultural strategy a reality, collaboration is key—both within the Dayak community and with the government and other organizations.
The government can play an important role by implementing policies that support higher birth rates, such as offering incentives for larger families and expanding programs for education and healthcare. Meanwhile, the Dayak community can continue to nurture and share cultural values that are relevant in the modern world, while holding on to the traditional principles that make them unique.
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These steps will help ensure that the Dayak people not only survive but thrive, maintaining their cultural identity in a rapidly changing world.
Real Actions: Moving Forward with Concrete Steps
The discussions in the "Literasi Dayak" WhatsApp group and on the "Literasi Dayak" Facebook page have sparked a crucial conversation about the future of the Dayak people and how to take action to ensure the survival and growth of their population. Now, it’s time to move beyond just talk and put ideas into practice.
To make this cultural strategy a reality, the first step is to organize and spread awareness across Dayak communities about the importance of larger families. It’s essential to engage local leaders, elders, and activists to promote the idea that having more children will strengthen the community. These leaders can also help address any concerns or barriers families might face when deciding to have more children.
Local organizations like GCUKK can begin setting up programs that offer tangible support for larger families, such as scholarships, healthcare, and other benefits for children in these families. The government must also step in, ensuring that policies align with these goals, by offering incentives for larger families and improving access to resources that can make parenting easier, such as affordable housing and childcare.
Equally important is the need to preserve and promote Dayak culture through education. Schools, cultural centers, and youth programs should be used as platforms to teach the younger generation about their heritage, while also preparing them for a modern, globalized world. This balance between tradition and progress is vital in motivating families to embrace both the future and their roots.
Finally, it's about building a strong, united community that believes in the power of their heritage to ensure a vibrant, sustainable future. The Dayak people have always been resilient, and now is the time to come together with real, actionable steps to secure a thriving tomorrow.
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By taking these steps seriously and acting now, the Dayak community can create the foundation for a lasting and prosperous future. The time to act is now, and the future of the Dayak people depends on the determination and unity of today’s generation.
-- Masri Sareb Putra