Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world have faced tremendous social and economic discrimination. In Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), the indigenous Dayaks, the “People of Tradition,” are establishing organizations to better their circumstances. The East Kalimantan Dayak Association has representatives from 17 different sub-tribes, all of which speak different languages and have different cultural traditions. The Association lobbies the provincial government over land use human resource development issues.
The Great Council of the Hindu Kaharingan Religion works to preserve Dayak indigenous religion and, in this way, counter increasing conversions to Islam and Christianity. All Indonesian children must attend religion classes during their school day. The Council tries to place teachers from indigenous religions in the schools; otherwise, Dayak children will have no choice but to attend classes in Islam or Christianity.
Pampang is a Dayak Culture Village, just now being created as a site for international tourism. The village displays traditions that emphasize caste and aristocracy. Pampang is managed entirely by indigenous people with the profits returning to the community. Ironically, this village may produce enough contact with the market economy to challenge the very Dayak traditions it is meant to preserve.
Anne Schiller, Professor of Anthropology
