Indigenous Groups of Sarawak
Iban (Sea Dayak)
The Iban forms the majority among the ethnic groups of Sarawak. In the old days, they were the much-feared headhunters and sea pirates that in times of peace were hunters, farmers and gatherers. The practice of headhunter was for the indigenous tribes a means for the survival of the fittest. The bloody headhunting raids staged by the Ibans forced many minor tribes such as the Seru and the Bliun to extinction, while other tribes like the Saribas and Ukits were decimated.
The most popular traditional dance of the Iban is the Ngajat, traditionally performed by Iban warriors upon their return from successful raids. It is now performed to tourists at the Village. The music of the Iban are usually percussion based. In other words, their musical ensemble comprises mostly of different types ofgongs, especially a set of suspended gongs called agung.
Melanau
Melanau is one of the tribes in Sarawak. They are one of the major ethnic groups in the state and number close to 100,000. Many are Muslims and a small number are Christians. The Muslim Melanaus tend to identify themselves as Malays, thereby giving the impression that there are fewer Melanaus than the actual.
Traditionally, the Melanau lived along the tributaries of the Rajang River. Over time they moved to settle along the Rajang. They can be subdivided into six subgroups according to where they live, namely Mukah, Dalat, Oya, Matu-Daro-Rejang, Ba'ie (for Bintulu), Balingian and Miri. They are fishermen as well as padi and sago farmers. They traditionally lived in tall stilted longhouse, called the Melanau Tallhouse, but today the majority like in kampong houses similar to the Malays.
Traditionally, the Melanau lived along the tributaries of the Rajang River. Over time they moved to settle along the Rajang. They can be subdivided into six subgroups according to where they live, namely Mukah, Dalat, Oya, Matu-Daro-Rejang, Ba'ie (for Bintulu), Balingian and Miri. They are fishermen as well as padi and sago farmers. They traditionally lived in tall stilted longhouse, called the Melanau Tallhouse, but today the majority like in kampong houses similar to the Malays.
Bidayuh (Land Dayak)
Bidayuh is a collective name for a group of ethnic tribes in Sarawak. The name "Bidayuh" means "people of the land". They are also known as the Land Dayaks, a term first used during the time of James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak.
Bidayuhs are one of the main tribal groups in Sarawak. They come from the areas around Kuching and Samarahan. In fact, the majority of Bidayuhs live within a 40 km radius from Kuching. They are the second most numerous group of Dayak tribe after the Iban. Bidayuhs were traditionally animist, but a majority has now converted to Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism. Since the establishment of Malaysia, a number of Bidayuhs have also converted to Islam.
Orang Ulu
Bidayuhs are one of the main tribal groups in Sarawak. They come from the areas around Kuching and Samarahan. In fact, the majority of Bidayuhs live within a 40 km radius from Kuching. They are the second most numerous group of Dayak tribe after the Iban. Bidayuhs were traditionally animist, but a majority has now converted to Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism. Since the establishment of Malaysia, a number of Bidayuhs have also converted to Islam.
Orang Ulu
Orang Ulu is a tribe in Sarawak. In fact it is an umbrella term that groups about 27 disparate minor tribes of Sarawak. The name Orang Ulu, which means "remote people" is not a racial group. Among the component tribes are as listed below:
· Kayan
· Kelabit
· Kenyah
· Klemantan
· Lun Bawang
· Penan
· Punan
· Ukit
The Orang Ulu live in the interiors of Sarawak. They make up 5.5 % of the state's population. The Kelabit and the Lun Bawang live in the highlands such as at the Kelabit Highlands near Kalimantan. Apart from the Penan, most of the Orang Ulu tribes are no longer nomadic, having made homes, usually on stilts and beside rivers. The columns are made of hardwood such as berlian. A flight of ladder made of notched logs lead to a common platform. From here, doors lead to individual units, one per nuclear family comprising the parents and children.
Bukitan
Bukitan is a small tribe found in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak. The tribe has very much been diluted through intermarriage with other tribes.
Bukitan people are said to have originated in Kalimantan, moving first to Lubok Antu, then to Saribas and finally to Sungai Merit in Bintulu. Their relocation were forced by defeat in warfare against the belligerent Ibans. Today traces of Bukitan presence in Saribas can be seen from the remains of their burial ground.
Lun Dayeh
Bukitan people are said to have originated in Kalimantan, moving first to Lubok Antu, then to Saribas and finally to Sungai Merit in Bintulu. Their relocation were forced by defeat in warfare against the belligerent Ibans. Today traces of Bukitan presence in Saribas can be seen from the remains of their burial ground.
Lun Dayeh
Lun Dayeh is a tribe in Sarawak. In fact they are the same people as the Lun Bawang, except that they inhabit the upriver areas whereas the Lun Bawang the interior. In Sabah they are regarded as related to, or a subtribe of, the Kadazan-Dusun group.
Berawan
Berawan is a tribe in Sarawak. The Loagan Bunut National Park has a community of this tribe numbering around 1000 people.
The Berawan people have had a conflict with the Sarawak State Government over land dispute. As they live close to the Gunung Mulu National Park, they were upset when a Japanese hotel chain constructed a luxurious hotel near their settlement. A conflict erupted when the resort made plans to construct a 200-acre golf course on what the Berawan tribe claim to be their ancestral land. The state government took the side of the hotel. According to the Berawan, it is because family members of the Sarawak chief minister have significant stakes in the hotel.
The Berawan people have had a conflict with the Sarawak State Government over land dispute. As they live close to the Gunung Mulu National Park, they were upset when a Japanese hotel chain constructed a luxurious hotel near their settlement. A conflict erupted when the resort made plans to construct a 200-acre golf course on what the Berawan tribe claim to be their ancestral land. The state government took the side of the hotel. According to the Berawan, it is because family members of the Sarawak chief minister have significant stakes in the hotel.
Sebob / Chebob
Sebob is one of the least known tribes in Sarawak. Also spelled Chebob, the Sebob tribe is said to dwell along the Batang Tinjar river, which flows within the Loagan Bunut National Park. The nearest town is Beluru. The long houses of the Sebob tribe in Tinjar are called Long Luyang, Long Batan, Long Selapun, Long Pejawai and Long Subeng. The longhouses are named after the streams which flow near them. Long Luyang is the largest, with 100 family units occupying it.
The information above was taken from http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/sarawak.htm.
The information above was taken from http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/sarawak.htm.
