Dayak’s fight: Survival, Identity, Sovereignty, and Future
Dayak’s fight: Survival, Identity, Sovereignty, and Future. Crrdit photo: Rmsp, 2024.
🌍 DAYAK TODAY | PONTIANAK : In the heart of Borneo, where ancient rainforests have long defined the way of life for the indigenous Dayak people, an existential struggle is unfolding.
The forces of modernization have arrived at their doorstep, bringing with them economic opportunities but also existential threats.
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For the Dayak, the choice is stark: adapt or risk losing the very fabric of their cultural identity.
A Land at Risk
The sweeping expansion of palm oil plantations, aggressive mining operations, and state-driven transmigration policies have transformed vast swaths of the island’s once-pristine landscape. The consequences have been severe.
According to a 2019 Ikatan Cendekiawan Dayak Nasional - ICDN (National Association of Dayak Intellectuals) report, the Dayak population —estimated at 8 million — is witnessing an alarming displacement.
In West Kalimantan alone, deforestation has surged at an unprecedented rate, threatening not only the ecosystem but the very foundation of Dayak existence.
"We are being pushed to the margins," says Holten Sion Bahat, a leading Dayak researcher. "Our forests are shrinking, and with them, our identity."
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For centuries, the Dayak lived in harmony with their environment, practicing sustainable agriculture and upholding customary laws that governed land use. But today, land traditionally held by indigenous communities is increasingly falling into the hands of commercial interests.
As trees are felled and rivers are polluted, the impact extends beyond the loss of land—it is an erosion of a way of life that has endured for generations.
The Economic Paradox
Modernization, while disruptive, has not been without its benefits.
The construction of roads, schools, and marketplaces has created new economic opportunities, and many Dayak have sought to integrate into the cash economy.
Yet, the transition has been anything but seamless. While some have reaped financial rewards from cash crops and employment in corporate plantations, many others find themselves in a precarious position —trapped between the past and an uncertain future.
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Efforts to enhance financial literacy, led by institutions such as Credit Union Keling Kumang (CUKK), are equipping indigenous communities with the tools to navigate this complex shift. Yet, the larger question remains: What does progress mean for the Dayak?
Should they embrace the new economic order at the expense of their traditional ways, or is there a middle ground?
Munaldus, a CUKK co-founder, has been researching a fundamental question: Do the Dayak still wish to live in longhouses? If so, should these historical dwellings be rebuilt—not as relics, but as living spaces?
"The longhouse is more than just architecture; it’s a social contract," Munaldus argues. "Rebuilding it means reviving our communal spirit."
Knowledge as Resistance
On 4 - 5 August 2024, intellectuals from both academia and indigenous communities convened at the newly inaugurated Institut Teknologi Keling Kumang. Their mission was clear: to transform the Dayak’s tacit knowledge into explicit, well-documented history. This groundbreaking event, aptly named Bertemunya Intelektual Kampus dan Intelektual Kampung (The Gathering of Academic and Indigenous Intellectuals), served as a platform where scholars and local wisdom-keepers engaged in deep discussions about traditional medicine, customary laws, and cultural arts.
"If we don’t document our own history, someone else will—and they may not tell it right," says researcher Masri Sareb Putra.
The urgency behind this initiative is evident. For too long, the Dayak’s history has been narrated by outsiders, often with skewed perspectives that fail to capture the depth and resilience of the people.
One particularly compelling discussion centered around the role of oral traditions.
For generations, Dayak elders have passed down wisdom through storytelling, chants, and rituals. But as younger generations gravitate toward modern education and urban lifestyles, these traditions risk being lost.
Scholars argue that integrating indigenous knowledge into formal education systems could be a critical step in ensuring cultural survival.
The Future of Dayak Sovereignty
The battle for cultural preservation is ultimately a battle for sovereignty. The Dayak’s struggle is not merely about holding on to traditions—it is about reclaiming agency over their land, their economy, and their future. In a rapidly globalizing world, how can they ensure that they remain masters of their own destiny?
Several grassroots initiatives offer a glimpse of what that future might look like. Sustainable agroforestry projects, ecotourism ventures, and legal battles to reclaim indigenous land rights are all part of a broader movement to assert Dayak self-determination. Yet, challenges remain.
Government policies continue to favor large-scale development projects over indigenous land claims, and corporate interests wield considerable influence in policy-making.
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"We are not against progress," says Putra. "We just want to ensure that, in the rush for economic growth, the Dayak are not left behind. This is our land. And our story is still being written."
The coming years will be decisive.
The Dayak stand at a critical juncture, balancing the demands of modernization with the imperative to safeguard their heritage. Whether through political advocacy, economic innovation, or cultural revitalization, one thing is clear: the fight is far from over.
The Dayak’s dream is not just about preserving the past—it is about shaping a future where they continue to thrive on their own terms.
-- Rangkaya Bada