The population of indigenous communities are mostly in East Malaysia, which is in the Sabah and Sarawak. Basically, the indigenous group in Sarawak is mostly the Iban, Bidayuh, Malanau, Kenyah, Kelabit, Penan. However, the indigenous group in Sabah is consists of the Kadazan Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Rungu, Lotud, Brunei, Orang Sungai, Kadayan, Bisaya and many others sub-groups. Furthermore, this report is mainly focusing on the ethics group of Ibans and Bidayuhs.
Sarawak is located on the island of Borneo with Kuching is its capital. It is the largest State among 13 States in Malaysia. The State of Sarawak cover an area of 124,449.51 sq. km, it is about 37% of the Malaysia total land area. Sarawak is known as the Land of Hornbills. It was naturally blessed with vast areas of both lowland and highland rainforest. Sarawak’s forests are the State’s most important resource and asset, producing timber and a multitude of forest products. The rainforest is home to an incredible variety of more than 8,000 species of flora and over 20,000 fauna, the majority of which are insects. Sarawak is also rich in its’ cultural, history and heritage; natural and adventure.
Additionally, Sarawak is the state with the most districts in Malaysia, home to Batang Rajang, the country’s longest river, the world’s biggest flower the Rafflesia, and the Brooke Birdwing, the world’s largest butterfly. Sarawak also boasts the world’s most extensive cave system, the world’s oldest rainforest the size of Austria and evidence of the earliest known existence of man in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, Sarawak is presently divided into eleven divisions. Kuching is the capital of Sarawak. The rest are Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Limbang, Sarikei, Kapit, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu, Mukah and Betong. Kuching is the seat of government for modern Sarawak. It has a Chief Minister, which heads a Cabinet of Ministers.
Ibans
The Ibans comprise the largest percentage (almost 38%) of Sarawak's population. Formerly reputed to be the most fierce headhunters on the island of Borneo, the Ibans of today are a generous, hospitable and placid people. Because of their history as pirates and fishermen, Ibans were conventionally referred to as the "Sea Dayaks". The early Iban settlers who migrated from Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo south of Sarawak, via the Kapuas River. They crossed over the Kelingkang range and set up home in the river valleys of Batang Ai, the Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang River.
The Ibans dwell in longhouses, stilted structures with a large number of rooms housing a whole community of families. An Iban longhouse may still display head trophies or antu pala., the leader of the longhouses are called as ‘Tuai Rumah’ who is elected by the tribe members. Their longhouse is built of fibre woods which consist of a main hall in the middle (Ruai), multiple rooms (Bilik) and Veranda (Tanju) outside. The Ibans are renowned for their Pua Kumbu (traditional Iban weavings), Kuih Jala (Crispy and sweet dessert). Moreover, Ibans are famous with their unique dance which is the Ngajat Dancing. Furthermore, there are several types of Ngajat dances, for example Ngajat Induk, Ngajat Lesong, Ngajat Semain and Ngajat Berayah. In addition, Iban tattoos, which were originally symbols of bravery among Iban warriors, have become amongst the most distinctive in the world. The Ibans are also famous for a sweet rice wine called tuak, which is served during big celebrations and festive occasions. Ibans are also focus more on hunting, traditionally; they hunt with a blowpipes and spears.
The large majority of Ibans practise Christianity, they are celebrating Christmas, Good Friday, Easter as well as other Christian festivals. However, like most other ethnic groups in Sarawak, they still observe many of their traditional rituals and beliefs. The Ibans in Sarawak celebrates colourful festivals such as the Gawai Dayak (harvest festival), Gawai Kenyalang (hornbill, or the god of war festival), Gawai Burong (bird festival), Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).
Bidayuh
On the other hand, the Bidayuhs are also known for their warrior audacity. In a war, a Bidayuh man’s status is judged by the numbers of skulls hung on the ceiling just before entering their houses. The more skulls you have, the higher your warrior rank (known as Land Dayak). Bidayuhs are mainly Pagans or animist and they believe in ancestral worship and they also believe in the ancient spirits or nature. Due to that, they would have big celebrations like the Gawai (June 1st ) which is a celebration to please the padi spirit for good harvest. They would also hold small praise and worship sessions occasionally to the River and Jungle spirits to cure illness and ward of bad luck. However, at least 50% of the Bidayuh community have converted into Christianity since the arrival of missionaries into Sarawak but many of them also continue to observe both Christian and traditional caremonies.
Additionally, the long house which is made up of bamboo and woods is actually pretty decent. The internals are quite similar to other longhouses you can find in the cultural village with the exception of an open-top sprawling veranda made of bamboo floors which I thought was quite nice. The special of the longhouse is a demonstration of artistic bamboo and only special types of bamboo are suitable for this dying work of art. The finished bamboo products will certainly make excellent stationery holders or beautiful wall decorations. Another special of Bidayuh long house is the Bidayuh warriors would sleep inside the Baruk at night to keep a watch for invading enemies.
Being the people of colorful culture, the Bidayush have their own cultural dresscode (which, in the modern days, are only worn during festivities and celebrations). They have their own cultural dance and they play thier own culturul music which comprises of a set of Gongs. (Pic inset: A dance performance by a group of Bidayuh lass). The Bidayuh have four major festival they are Gawae Oran, Gawae Nuruk, Gawae Tubi Bauh and Gawae Sowah. Gawae oran is held by the roadside leading to the farm. An altar is built and offerings “sadis”are placed on it. The purpose of this festival is to seek permission from the spirits living in the area to be farmed and to placate the planters and their famalies. Second, Gawae Nuruk is padi seeds are bless and ‘leng podi’ are called upon to enter the seeds to ensure good growth and hence bountiful harvest. Gawae Nuruk is also to ask for assistance and blessing from leng Tope (God) and past ansestors. Third, Gawae Tubi Bauh is believed that if this gawae is not held, the people will fall sick after eating the newly harvested rice. It is held just when the padi grain turn golden. The purpose is to ask permission from ‘leng topa’ (God) to harvest the padi. Finally, the Gawae Sowah is held, when the gawae Tubi Bauh and harvesting is over. It is a mark of the end of the old cycle of the padi plating season. It also thanksgiving for a fine rice harvest , safety of the villagers, bountiful fruit seasons, availability of fish in the rivers and animals in the forest and good health of the villagers.
Some of the Bidayuh traditional activity. First is hunting with blowpipes and spears. Second is arts crafting. The Bidayuh is good in weaving baskets, mats,fishtrap and beading hat. However, the Bidayuh people are the best bamboo crafters among all the tribes where bamboo is the main tool and almost everything is made from bamboo.third is oral traditions. Bidonan is telling of folklores ,myths and legends. Sigumbang is songs of love and friendship. Forth is making glutinous rice which is serve during the festivals. Firth is processing tuak ,which called rice wine, is a popular drink during gawae. The last one is dancing. The Bidayah traditional dance is called Rajang Be’uh. The Bidayuh will dance after harvest seasom and also as a form of entertainment for guest of the longhouse. The movements of the dancer with outstretched hands imitate the movements of the eagles as they flap their wings in flight.
The Bidayuh are generally very softspoken people. While the men are proud and strong, the women are more gentle, less outspoken and would usually shy away from strangers and outsiders. The bidayuhs staple food is rice but in a lot of places, wild-sago became their staple food. The Bidayuh Selako community accounts for almost 95 percent of the population in Kampung Pueh. Their main occupation are either farming or fishing. The village was opened by their ancestors who came from Kalimantan in search for a new site to plant padi. At the same time, they were running away out of fear of the “head hunters”. Head hunting used to be a tradition among some communities in Sarawak at one point of time.
Nangkat is the bedroom for the single male aged 12 years and above. It is also the recuperating room for boys after undergoing the baturih. Baturih is a circumcision practice peculiar to the Bidayuh Selako which differentiates them from other Bidayuh communities. Another differentiating practice is the batenek or ears piercing among Bidayuh Selako females. Married couples are provided with a bedroom or kamar. The uatnai’ is a room used for cooking and bathing whose design is similar to a platform but smaller in size than the pante. The Bidayuh Selako community has a cognitive family system. This system gives equal rights to the male and female children pertaining to inheritance of customary properties. However, the male child has more say in matters pertaining to the allocation of customary properties among other family members.