wayfinders circle governance report english - Flipbook - Page 28
b) Dayak Iban Sungai Utik |
INDONESIA
Found in the tropical rainforest of Indonesia, the Indigenous Dayak Iban Sungai Utik community occupies
9,504 hectares. The Dayak Iban Sungai Utik is one of the seven Menua (villages) which comprise the united
Ketemenggungan Iban Jalai Lintang in Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan. The management of the
Menua is according to land use and based on territorial allocation and function.
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TROPICAL FORESTS
The Dayak Iban Sungai Utik community has an autonomous institution called the Rumah Panjae led by a
Tuai Rumahayak Iban. The majority of the community still practices their customary systems, including the
Rumah Panjang, or traditional long house, which is 216-meters long and accommodates more than 300
people. The Rumah Panjai is the heart of the social, economic, cultural, and political structure; and is the
reflection of unity in the community’s daily life. With more than 28 rooms, called the billik, it is the expression of household unity and a system of decision-making. The long house terrace serves as a community
center where traditional celebrations are held or deliberations for joint decision-making take place; and is a
space where women weave or make handicrafts or where rice, coconut, cassava or leaves may be dried. The
elder in the long house is called Tuai Rumah, who also plays the role of a chief. The Tuai Rumah holds the
"Kayu Burung" which regulates the processes of cultivation, house building, “Gawai” or harvest ceremony,
and “Penti Pemali” or customary law.
The institutional Rumah Panjae has the authority to regulate its territory and community-based on customary law. If the Tuai Rumah is absent or unable to attend, a Sapit (representative of Tuai Rumah) assumes its
role and function, but is not authorized to make customary decisions. The decision-making process of the
Dayak Iban Sungai Utik is carried out through musyawarah adat (deliberations) led by Tuai Rumah and
invited traditional leaders. Decisions are made by considering the ancestral customs, norms and rules.
Ishwara (decision-making) is carefully and collectively done through the community assembly, and the
Rumah chief cannot make decisions alone for the community. Issues relating to the territory and social
affairs are resolved through the institutional Rumah Panjae (and Tuai Rumah). If these cannot be resolved,
these will be discussed and decided at the Pateh level. If the problem still cannot be resolved at this level, it
is brought to the Tumenggung level. A Tumenggung who regulates customary justice facilitates the resolution
of conflicts or problems between Menua (villages).
The community resists threats through collective decision-making and land monitoring. Their Indigenous
Forest Guard groups are assigned to do territorial patrols through the forest and along the boundaries,
looking for any trespassers, robbers, illegal miners or illegal loggers. Regular monitoring is done at least every
three days.
Sungai
Utik
ANNEXES
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TROPICAL FORESTS
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