The recent
national-level World’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration strengthened bonds and fostered unity, writes Kristy Inus
DECKED in traditional regalia, more than 700 representatives of indigenous communities from all over the country put on a colourful display in Tenom, Sabah recently.
They had assembled for the four-day national-level World’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration — discussing issues and strengthening their bonds.
Held at the Murut Cultural Centre from August 7 to 10, it also saw participants exchanging traditional recipes, playing traditional games, dancing and singing.
Sumen Gasam from Kampung Kebuaw, Mukah, of neighbouring Sarawak, said he hoped to bring knowledge about how to combine customary laws with modern life, especially when dealing with their rights as indigenous people.
He has been participating in events held by Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (or Joas, its Malay acronym) back in his State and Peninsular. The 54-year-old farmer wants to assist the Melanau in his village to handle Native Customary Rights (NCR) land claims.
He shares: “We in Sarawak, Sabah and indigenous groups from the Peninsular have many plights in common and the information shared is useful.
“I feel lucky to be part of this gathering. My village has faced several challenges on land rights. The Iban and Dayak communities may know more about this but for the Melanau it is still very new.
“My people have not been utilising the customary laws that much when dealing with NCR claims as we usually go through court but now we know there are alternative ways to get our rights,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marusin Peliten from Kampung Alutok, Ulu Tomani in Tenom gained a different experience in playing host to the visitors.
The 53-year-old said everyone in his village chipped in to help since Wednesday, from the elderly to the young in preparing food and organising traditional sports.
“We have traditional food from forest resources and we organised sports such as peeling coconuts, peeling betel nuts, and blow pipe competitions, all for recreation and to foster good relations.
“But most of the visitors outside Sabah are amazed at our building structures in the Cultural Centre.
“I told them this facility incorporates Murut ethnic motifs but is meant for all communities to use and share as it is being managed by the Sabah Cultural Board. The visitors were fascinated by the efforts played by cultural bodies here and the government in preserving local culture,” he said.
Marusin said that as part of the experience, the participants also stayed at those houses.
Sabah Murut Organisation vice president Senator Datuk Dr Lucas Umbul, who officiated the event, highlighted the importance in uplifting customary institutions which defend the rights of the indigenous people.
“Many of them may not know how to go about it (claiming their rights) unless they are guided, and the government also wants to help and include these groups in future developments. For example they could come together and give ideas for programmes that can be included in the annual budget.
“In the end, such gatherings bring about an aspiration on how to better their communities, especially those in remote areas,” said Lucas.
The event to mark International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebrated every Aug 9 has been organised by Joas since 2008 in which each region of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular takes turns to host.