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| The Dayak of today: Clean, prosperous, on par with other advanced ethnic groups across the globe. Illustration: Documentation by Masri Sareb. |
The Dayak Research Center (DRC) - BANTEN: At the Dayak Research Center DRC), the Dayak people are not just a subject of academic interest; they represent a living, breathing testament to the complexity of human history, culture, and identity.
As the primary object of study at this institution, the Dayak people are explored from multiple angles—cultural, linguistic, historical, and anthropological.
The center dedicates itself to unraveling the layers of the Dayak experience, digging into the heart of their rich heritage and uncovering the intricacies of their way of life.
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The research is not just about cataloging data but understanding the profound connections between the Dayak people and their environment, their traditions, and their evolving identity in the face of modern challenges.
The Dayak are not a single, monolithic group, but a complex collection
Understanding the Dayak people requires an appreciation of their vast diversity. Scholars agree that the Dayak are not a single, monolithic group, but a complex collection of seven major ethnic groups, each with its own distinct identity, culture, and language.
These ethnic groups, referred to as stammenras—a term borrowed from ethnological classification—represent the broad categories under which the Dayak people are categorized.
Within these major groups, there are more than 400 subgroups, each with its own traditions, dialects, and social customs. This rich diversity within the Dayak community reflects centuries of adaptation and evolution, shaped by the geographical landscapes they inhabit, the people they interact with, and their internal social dynamics.
To truly comprehend the Dayak people, one must delve into this complexity, recognizing that every subgroup adds a unique piece to the puzzle of who the Dayak are as a whole. Understanding this intricate web of groups and subgroups is crucial for anyone looking to fully appreciate the Dayak's cultural depth and historical significance.
Asking "Who are the Dayak people?" may seem like a simple question at first, but it opens up a vast and complex world, one that is not easily understood. It’s like stepping into a dense, uncharted forest where every turn leads to new questions, and the path forward is uncertain.
The answer to this question is not one that can be found quickly. In fact, to answer it properly, one must venture into the unknown—a terra incognita—a place that is still largely unexplored and full of mystery.
The history of the Dayak people is not something we can grasp all at once. It’s a journey without an obvious destination, a search that may never fully be completed. The best we can do is draw closer to an answer, though it will likely remain elusive, never fully attained.
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The concept of terra incognita—an unknown or unexplored land—was first introduced in the 2nd century by the Greek geographer Ptolemy. He used it to describe areas on the map that had yet to be charted, regions about which little was known.
When we speak of the history of the Dayak people, this term fits perfectly. Much of their story remains hidden from view, with many pieces of their history still lying scattered and unexamined. Our knowledge of the Dayak people, their culture, and their origins is incomplete. We can only piece together fragments of the past, slowly building a picture that is still far from whole. To truly uncover who the Dayak are requires a long and patient process, one that has been ongoing for centuries but is far from finished.
The Dayak people’s story is like a puzzle that has yet to be fully assembled. Time has passed, centuries have come and gone, but there is still no comprehensive book that tells their complete history.
There are articles, research papers, and monographs that shed light on specific aspects of their lives, but nothing that ties it all together in a single narrative. For all the progress we’ve made, we still have more questions than answers. The pieces of their story are scattered across various fields of research, and the task of putting them together is monumental.
To uncover the history of the Dayak people is no small feat. It requires years of meticulous research, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to finding and organizing every shred of evidence available. Each study builds on the last, contributing to a broader understanding of their lives, but still, the larger narrative is missing. The history of the Dayak people cannot be told in a single book or article. It’s something that must be pieced together, one bit at a time, over years of dedicated research.
Who are the Dayak people?
The question "Who are the Dayak people?" is not a simple one, nor is the journey to find an answer a straightforward path. In the early stages of research, many scholars hesitated to even approach the question.
The challenges seemed overwhelming—the gap between what was known and what remained unknown was enormous. There was a vast divide between the known historical data and the many aspects of Dayak life that had yet to be explored. This is what is known as the hermeneutic cycle in research—the process of understanding that stretches from what is known to what is not, and the never-ending effort to close that gap. To truly understand the Dayak people means delving into an unknown realm of knowledge—a place where the rules of what we know are stretched, challenged, and expanded.
Despite these challenges, many scholars have attempted to define who the Dayak people are. Throughout history, figures such as Riwut (1952), Ukur (1971), Lontaan (1975), Coomans (1987), Djuweng and Krenak (1993), and Masri (2010) have all made important contributions to this effort. They all agree that the Dayak are a collective group, the indigenous inhabitants of Borneo, who have lived on the island for centuries. They are characterized by their unique cultural practices, their languages, and their way of life, which remain largely untouched by outside influences. For these scholars, the Dayak represent the "authentic" Bornean people—the true descendants of the island’s first inhabitants.
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The term "Dayak," however, was not widely used until the colonial era. It wasn’t until the Dutch colonialists came to Borneo in the 18th century that the term "Dayak" was introduced to describe the indigenous people of the island. In 1757, Dutch writer and explorer J.A. Hogendorp referred to the indigenous people of Borneo as "Dayak" in his monograph about Banjarmasin. He used the term to distinguish the inland, indigenous populations from the coastal migrants. The word "Dayak" itself came to symbolize the original inhabitants of Borneo, the people who had lived on the island long before foreign influences arrived. It was a label used to separate the indigenous from the immigrant.
As research progressed in the 20th century, scholars began to classify the various ethnic groups of Borneo more systematically. They identified at least seven major ethnic groups, which were further subdivided into over 450 subgroups.
These classifications were based on common language, customs, geographic location, physical characteristics, and material culture. The diversity within the Dayak population is staggering. Each subgroup has its own unique traditions, language, and customs. What started as a single, unified identity began to splinter into a patchwork of different groups, each with their own distinct identities, even as they shared a broader Dayak heritage.
The geographical spread of the Dayak people is vast. Today, the Dayak can be found not only in Indonesia but also in Malaysia and Brunei. The population is estimated to be around 7 million, with nearly 4 million in Indonesia, 2.9 million in Malaysia, and about 100,000 in Brunei. This widespread distribution across three countries only adds to the complexity of their identity. The Dayak people have lived on Borneo for thousands of years, and yet they continue to face new challenges as they navigate the changing landscape of modernity. Despite their widespread presence, the Dayak remain united by a shared history and culture, one that binds them to the island of Borneo and to each other.
The origins of the Dayak people are still the subject of much debate. Some scholars argue that the Dayak are descendants of proto-Malay groups who migrated to Borneo from the Malay Peninsula around 4,000 years ago. However, this theory is far from universally accepted. Many researchers, including myself, believe that the Dayak people are not migrants from other regions—they are native to Borneo.
Evidence gathered from archaeological sites, such as those in Krayan, strongly supports this view. The discovery of ancient artifacts, along with local myths that suggest a long history of habitation on the island, points to the Dayak being indigenous to Borneo. Their presence on the island predates any external migrations. In this sense, the Dayak are truly autochthonous—native to the land they inhabit.
For instance, the archaeological research conducted in the Krayan region has uncovered significant prehistorical artifacts that suggest the Dayak people have lived in Borneo for millennia. Additionally, the myths told by the Dayak people, such as the story of the Great Flood, are strikingly similar to flood myths found in other cultures around the world, including the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. These shared stories suggest that the Dayak people have deep, ancient roots in Borneo, with a history that stretches back to the very dawn of human civilization.
The evidence
The evidence, both archaeological and mythological, strengthens the case for the Dayak’s autochthonous status. They did not come from somewhere else—they have always been here, in Borneo. This idea is reinforced by the discovery of ancient salt sources in the Krayan highlands, which have been in use for thousands of years. These salt sources, known as zoute bronnen, serve as tangible evidence of the Dayak’s long-standing connection to the land.
While the origins and full history of the Dayak people remain complex and still subject to ongoing research, there is little doubt that they are the indigenous inhabitants of Borneo. Their cultural identity is deeply intertwined with the history of the island itself. The Dayak people are not migrants or settlers from distant lands. They are the original children of Borneo, whose history, myths, and traditions have shaped the island for thousands of years. Their story is far from complete, but it is one that will continue to unfold as future generations of scholars, researchers, and Dayak people themselves continue to explore their roots and preserve their cultural heritage.
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The Dayak people are the true sons and daughters of Borneo, and their legacy will remain an integral part of the island’s history for generations to come. Their journey is one of survival, resilience, and cultural preservation, and their story is one that will continue to captivate and inspire those who seek to understand it.
-- Masri Sareb Putra
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