Curtin, eBario, association ink MoU

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/09/07/curtin-ebario-association-ink-mou/

Posted on September 7, 2013, Saturday

MIRI: Curtin Sarawak is extending its expertise in the development of student learning activities, training, research and collaborative projects with eBario Sendirian Berhad and Rurum Kelabit Sarawak.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the project was signed recently between eBario chief executive officer Councillor John Tarawe, Laila Raja for Rurum Kelabit and outgoing Curtin Sarawak pro vice-chancellor Professor Ian Kerr.

Present to witness the signing were incoming pro vice-chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski, Curtin Sarawak Research Institute (CSRI) director Professor Aaron Goh, CSRI senior research fellow Dr Lisa Marie King and Supang Terawe of Rurum Kelabit Sarawak.

Mienczakowski said the MoU marked an important milestone for Curtin Sarawak and demonstrated its commitment to engage with local communities in its pursuit of academic excellence.

King, who was instrumental in establishing the cooperative relationship between the different parties, echoed Mienczakowki’s sentiments.

“As a member of CSRI, I am keen to apply my knowledge and expertise to enhance the well-being of communities in Sarawak. Our close engagement with eBario and Rurum Kelabit Sarawak will lead to significant activities and joint projects that can have a positive impact, both on the university’s learning experiences and the communities,” she said.

eBario Sdn Bhd is an award-winning initiative that runs projects and activities such as the eBario Telecentre, eBario Innovation Village, Radio Bario, eBario Knowledge Fair, Bario Slow Food Festival and eBorneo Research.

Bario Food Festival at the Tribal Stove a huge success

http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/03/bario-food-festival-at-the-tribal-stove-a-huge-success/

Posted on May 3, 2013, Friday

FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE: Sabrina trying out the ‘sape’ with members of ‘Anak Adi’.

KUCHING: The Bario Food Festival held recently at the Tribal Stove, the only Kelabit restaurant in Kuching was a success.

Hundreds of people donated generously by purchasing coupons in exchange for a traditionally cooked meal.

Long lines formed during lunch and dinner hours and the response to the food was certainly encouraging.

Organised by the Women’s wing of Rurum Kelabit Sarawak, members of the community presented a smorgasbord of delicious organic food from the Kelabit Highlands which included dishes such as ‘busak keluduh’ and ‘ubud tubu buen’ which is ginger flower and wild ginger pith salad and ‘launau’ which is local asparagus grown in the highlands.

For many of the guests, this was a first-time experience in savouring Kelabit cuisine.

Among them were Adeline Ong, from Singapore who came with her husband, Eugene Chin and a host of friends.

“I think the food is just incredible.

“This is my first time savouring food from the Kelabit highlands and I just can’t get over how fresh and organic everything is. The whole environment felt so authentic with traditional music and dancing in the background,” she enthused.

Also enjoying the unique culinary and cultural experience was Sabrina Bujang who came with Jiman, a guest from Kuala Lumpur.

“The event was really fun and unique. I enjoyed the food tremendously and we stayed on for quite a while to enjoy the performances and meeting people from all over. I think we overstayed and we had so much fun that unfortunately my friend missed his flight. He has no regrets though as we all had a great time.”

Apart from food, the event also showcased the wonderful dance and music from the Kelabit highlands, featuring cultural dances by ‘Anak Adi’, a griup of young members of the community accompanied by the amazing sounds of live sape’ music played by accomplished musicians such as Julian Cottet from Paris who gave a wonderful rendition of contemporary ‘sape’ music and Desmond Junek who gave an equally awesome rendition of traditional Orang Ulu music.

The food fair was organised to raise awareness of the Bario and Kelabit Food and Cultural Festival or Pesta Nukenan, which is a yearly event, held in Bario, organised by the Women’s Group (Kaum Ibu).

Now in its eighth year, the event will be held from July 25 – 27.

Rurum Kelabit Sarawak president Datuk Isaac Lugun was on hand to greet the guests.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/05/03/bario-food-festival-at-the-tribal-stove-a-huge-success/#ixzz2Xo6XEFtc

FORMADAT’s Trans-boundary Annual Meeting in Bario plants a future for a Sustainable Homeland in the Heart of Borneo

 http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/borneo_forests/news/?206207/FORMADATs-Trans-boundary-Annual-Meeting-in-Bario-plants-a-future-for-a-Sustainable-Homeland-in-the-Heart-of-Borneo

Posted on 18 September 2012

 On the July 25th 2012 in Bario, Miri, YBhg Pemanca Philip Lakai, Paramount Chief of the Kelabit officiated the 7th FORMADAT Trans-boundary Annual Meeting. 

 

FORMADAT is an Alliance of the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands of Borneo. The alliance is a trans-boundary, grass-roots initiative started by the indigenous peoples in the Highlands in the Heart of Borneo (HoB), which include the Lun Dayeh/ Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit. 

 

This year, the meeting was organised in conjunction with Bario’s annual Slow Food Festival, where FORMADAT celebrated with their local members its vision and heritage for their homeland. 

 

Mr. Lewi Gala Paru, Head of Indonesia FORMADAT outlined the vision for a sustainable future for Borneo. “We, the Indigenous People of the Highlands in the HoB, who share a common heritage and a common land as the Lun Dayeh, Kelabit, Lun Bawang, and Sa’ban people, come together in the Alliance of the Indigenous People of the Highlands of Borneo (FORMADAT) to: increase awareness and understanding about the highland communities, build local capacity and encourage sustainable development in the HoB”.

 

The highlands of Borneo comprise the Malaysian sub districts of Bario, Ba’kelalan and Long Semadoh in Sarawak, Long Pasia in Sabah, and the Indonesian sub districts of Krayan and Krayan Selatan in East Kalimantan. This area constitutes one geographical, environmental and cultural land in The Heart of Borneo, which is one of the few remaining places in South East Asia that still holds huge tracts of tropical rainforest. 

 

Penghulu George Sigar, Head of Malaysia FORMADAT, said: “We established FORMADAT in October 2004 as an indigenous organization to facilitate and share information, as well as to discuss common issues and strategies with regard to the future of the highlands. Our missions are to create awareness and understanding about the highland communities, maintain our cultural traditions, build local capacity and encourage sustainable development in the Highlands in the HoB, by protecting our natural resources and traditional knowledge. Our organization has been registered in Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia, and Kalimantan in Indonesia. WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia has been our partner in helping us on conservation, livelihood and capacity building. We look forward to welcome more partnerships with the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia and other organization to support our initiatives towards achieving our sustainable conservation goals in the HoB”.

In conjunction with WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia in Bario, FORMADAT planted trees as part of the conservation activities. This year’s tree planting program was leaded by Y.B Dato Henry Sum Agong, Lawas Parliamentarian, and YBhg Datu Ose Murang, Deputy State Secretary of Sarawak.

 

Launched last year by YB Senator Dato Sri Idris Jala, the tree planting program has planted more than 3,000 local species trees such as Meranti, Agatis and many more.

 

Cr. John Tarawe, FORMADAT Coordinator in the Kelabit highland stated: “We, the FORMADAT, are actively promoting awareness on conservation and global warming. In some of our small ways, we promote tree planting and we hope the rest of the world will also do the same. And if everybody do the same, we believe that we’ll have a friendlier planet. We hope to promote ‘one visitor, one tree’ to all the areas in the Heart of Borneo. We love our homeland and want to sustain it”.

 

Dr Henry Chan, WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Conservation for Sarawak Programme said: “The tree planting activity symbolises a continuation of life. As the seedling mature and bear fruit, I hope FORMADAT will also be able to help the members achieve a sustainable future”.

Highlanders gather at trans-boundary meeting

http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/28/highlanders-gather-at-trans-boundary-meeting/

Posted on July 28, 2012, Saturday

FOR YOU: George Sigar (left) presents a Formadat publication to Pemanca Philip while Pak Lewi looks on.

KUCHING: Kelabit paramount chief Pemanca Philip Lakai officiated at the seventh Formadat Trans-boundary Annual Meeting in Bario recently.

‘Formadat’ stands for ‘Alliance of the Indigenous People of the Highlands of Borneo’.

“It is a trans-boundary, grassroots initiative started by indigenous people in the highlands in the Heart of Borneo – the Lun Dayeh/Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit,” said a press release issued.

This year the meeting was organised in conjunction with Bario’s annual Slow Food Festival where Formadat celebrated with members its vision and heritage for their homeland.

Head of Indonesia Formadat, Pak Lewi Gala outlined a vision for the sustainable future of Borneo.

He said: “We Lun Dayeh, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and Sa’ban, the indigenous people of the highlands in the Heart of Borneo, share a common heritage and common land.

“We come together in Formadat to increase awareness and understanding of the highland communities, build local capacity, and encourage sustainable development in the Heart of Borneo.”

The highlands of Borneo comprise the Malaysian sub districts of Bario, Ba’ Kelalan and Long Semadoh in Sarawak, Long Pasia in Sabah, and the Indonesian sub-districts of Krayan and Krayan Selatan in East Kalimantan.

This area constitutes a geographical, environmental and cultural land in the Heart of Borneo, one of the few remaining places in Southeast Asia that still holds huge tracts of tropical rainforests.

According to the head of Malaysia Formadat, Penghulu George Sigar from Ba’ Kelalan, they established Formadat in October 2004 as an indigenous organisation to facilitate and share information, as well as discuss common issues and strategies regarding the future of the highlands.

“Our mission is to create awareness and understanding of the highland communities, maintain our cultural traditions, build local capacity, and encourage sustainable development in the highlands in the Heart of Borneo by protecting our natural resources and traditional knowledge.

“Our organisation has been registered in Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan. WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia have been our partners in helping us on conservation, livelihood and capacity building,” he said.

He said they looked forward to welcome more partnerships with the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia, and other organisations to support their initiative for achieving sustainable conservation in the Heart of Borneo.

Reconsider appeal for extra rural flights — Abang Johari

http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/06/24/reconsider-appeal-for-extra-rural-flights-abang-johari/

Posted on June 24, 2012, Sunday

MIRI: MASwings Rural Air Service (RAS) should reconsider the appeal for additional flights to rural areas, especially during festive seasons.

Tourism  Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg said sufficient flights were vital to complement government efforts to promote tourism in rural areas like Bario highlands, Ba Kelalan and Mulu.

“The state-level ministry will collaborate with the Tourism Ministry at the federal level to discuss and look into this matter,” he said when officiating at a food sales to raise funds for Bario Nukenen Festival 2012 at Miri Civic Centre yesterday.

At the moment, MASwings’ 19-seater Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft has only one daily flight to Bario.
“We hope flight regularity can be added, especially during the festive season or other big events such as cultural festivals. We were made to understand that a flight that carries 19 or less passengers at one time is insufficient,” he said.

Abang Johari said his ministry was also planning to hold discussions with Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) and MASwings to come up with connecting flights to the three main attractions in the northern region: Bario, Ba Kelalan and Mulu National Park.

“We can come up with highland packages and through these, tourists will not only get to visit Brunei, but experience the beauty and hospitality of the three places,” he added.

According to him, Mulu is well known for its unique caves and limestone while Bario had breathtaking mountain views, and Ba Kelalan famous for its hotsprings in Merarap.

Touching on the upcoming Bario Nukenen Festival 2012, Abang Johari praised the effort of Rurum Kelabit Sarawak (RKS) for its commitment in organising the annual festival for the seventh year.

He urged Kelabit residents in Bario to continue producing a variety of products from the highlands, and be more creative to add value to the tourism sector.

“Bario folks are lucky as they have beautiful culture and breathtaking environment. Most importantly, Bario folks must make efforts to highlight and promote their uniqueness to the outside world,” he said.

At the function, Abang Johari announced a RM15,000 sponsorship for Bario Nukenen Festival 2012 while RM5,000 came from the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB).

The fundraising sales yesterday targetted to raise RM40,000 from the festival to be held from July 26 to 28.

Also present at yesterday’s event were Tourism Assistant Minister Datuk Talip Zulpilip; Semariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau; Miri  mayor Lawrence Lai; Political Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Green  Technology and Water, Datuk Sebastian Ting; Miri Resident Antonio Kahti Galis; RKS president Gerawat Gala and organising chairlady for the fundraising food sales, Councillor Kijan Toynbee.

Bario-Ba’ Kelalan road project to complete by next year

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/25/bario-ba%E2%80%99-kelalan-road-project-to-complete-by-next-year/

by Ghaz Ghazali ghazghazali@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 25, 2011, Monday

‘LET THE FEST BEGIN’: Idris Jala hits the ‘tubung’ – a traditional wooden instrument – to mark the launch of the annual Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival in Bario. Seen in the background (right) is Assistant Minister of Tourism, Datuk Talib Zulpilip.

BARIO: The construction of road connectivity between Bario and Ba’ Kelalan will run aggressively towards completion by the middle of next year, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

He added that many key projects to facilitate the rural development of Bario and Ba’ Kelalan had already been approved by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Currently, the road from Ba’ Kelalan to Lawas is being built by our soldiers (Royal Malaysian Army) under the programme ‘Jiwa Murni’. Hopefully, it should be ready by the middle of next year, with the road construction from Bario to Ba’ Kelalan will go on from there,” he told reporters during the ‘Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival’ here, which ended last Saturday.

The annual four-day fair was launched by Idris Jala, with Assistant Minister of Tourism, Datuk Talib Zulpilip and MASwings Sdn Bhd’s (MASwings) managing director Datuk Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang were also present as guests of honour.

On investments for the road project, Idris Jala stated that the approved Bario-Ba’ Kelalan road project was valued at a total of RM40 million.

“Apart from the road, we have also received approval for the 24-hour electricity project for all of Bario. While I cannot state any offhand figures on the project value, I believe that the costs will be determined by the mode; either by solar or hydropower generation.

“What I can say is that some of it (project works) have begun this year, while most of it will go into full swing next year.”

Meanwhile, Idris Jala – also the chief of the goverment tranformation programme’s working vehicle, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) – expressed his pleasure to see that the annual Nukenen Food and Cultural Festival had already garnered substantial interests amongst governmental agencies, foreign associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as tourists since its inception six years ago.

“I’m a Bario native. To see this festival being held independently by its own people really makes me proud. I understand that it had also generated interest amongst government bodies such as the Tourism Ministry as well as Fama (Federal Agriculture and Marketing Authority), especially on local produce such as the famous Bario rice and highland spring salt,” he enthused, adding that approved allocation for the Bario rice project had amounted to RM27 million.

Idris Jala was optimistic that with much basic infrastructure being implemented to date, Bario would emerge as a promising destination for many industries, amongst which would prominently include agriculture and eco-tourism.

“For instance, this food festival here – done by the community for the community – is one of many initiatives to fully commercialise the native products of Bario.

“Now with the air linkage provided by MASwings, which I regard as the ‘lifeline’ of Bario as well as the ICT infrastructure provided by Maxis Bhd, Bario can be linked to the world.

“Adding this to more infrastructure projects under the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) over the next few years, a lot more villages here will get good clean water supply as well as good accessibility by way of new roads,” he added.

Under GTP, allocation towards providing for the rural basic infrastructure programme throughout the country, including Sarawak, had been so far valued at about RM3 billion.

All set for Pesta Nukenen

http://tribune.my/home/581-all-set-for-pesta-nukenen.html

All set for Pesta Nukenen

Friday, 02 July 2010 11:46

KUCHING: Day 2 of Pesta Nukenen started with a soft mist rising off the farms and festival site at Bario.

As the light cleared, preparations continued on the site with more materials being brought in from the farms and forests of the northern Kelabit Highlands - mainly from nearby secondary amug forest and kerangas paya forest.

Many of the stalls were being decorated with traditionally woven and folded palm leaves, split giant bamboo and tree bark. As far as possible, plastics were avoided in stall preparation and food presentation.

Utensils, cups, plates and pots are being made from bamboos and local rattans, including the beautiful uwe rabun - a long, smooth ground growing rattan common in the Pa Umor Valley of Singai Debpur.

The first craft items also began to appear. These included a variety of baskets, made by residents in the Highlands, working with traditions passed down over generations.

Members of the local Penan community - twice previous winners of the Pesta Nukenen Festival Stall Award - have arrived with backpacks and bracelets woven from uwe rabun and other thicker rattans, some stained with wood smoke to give two-tone patterns. Other examples of the traditional arts include traditional Kelabit Highland designs including the kalang basket, made by women for planting the seedlings of beras adan, and the bakang or Highland Backpack - a tapering lightweight rattan backpack made and used by men for hunting trips and long distance journeys, found also in the Maligan Highlands and Kerayan valleys.

Day 2 also saw many more foods appearing, including kassam / bua lam fermented wild meat and rice, senape the Highland snack bar [steamed sticky rice wrapped in da’un isip palm leaves], kikid luang rice porridge with fish and ginger, and bamboo steamed rice. Judging started for the Pesta Nukenen Food & Stall Awards, with the winners being announced on Saturday evening.

Refreshments came in the form of cinnamon coffee from Pa Mada, fresh Bario Pineapple juice and cinnamon tea.

A highlight in the middle of the day was the arrival of Pesta Nukenen’s Heart of Borneo FORMADAT guests. It had been hoped that they would arrive on Wednesday, but rain held them up and they camped overnight at Long Bekang, a former longhouse heritage site near the border. The new guests were welcomed at the Kedai Kopi with refreshments, before being registered as guests by the Imigresen office Bario.

“ It is a great honour to receive guests from the Kerayen villages from across the border in the transnational Heart of Borneo area. It was always one of our dreams to link up in this way and promote Heart of Borneo. It connects the remarkable cultural and forest heritage of the communities, with Ba Kelalan and Bario as Gateways in Sarawak.

Community owned sustainable development is a key part of the Heart of Borneo agreement and we hope to promote Bario and the Kelabit Highlands as the “Green” Heart of Borneo, with commitments to the protection of the beautiful valleys, farms and forests for community-based development, celebrating government support for rural entrepreneurship, renewable energy systems, rural ICT access, local cultural knowledge and the beautiful forests of the Sungai Debpur and Sungai Kelapang catchment areas - overlooked by the hills of Pulong Tau National Park.” After the reception for Heart of Borneo Guests, marked by the striking of new tubung bamboo gongs, everyone swung into action to welcome more festival and community guests at the airport: member of Parliament for Lawas, Henry Sum, State assemblyman for Ba’Kelalan, Nelson Balang Rining and Director of Immigration, Datuk Robert Lian Saging, flying in with MAS Wings Rural Air Service. The Highland offices for Polis and Imigresen provided an escort to the Festival site, where the Festival Guests were greeted by JKKK Bario, Festival goers and visitors with a cultural performance and a selection of Kelabit Highland foods.

As Thursday came to an end, still clear-skied, the Festival Site quietened, watched over by representatives of the local community RELA.

As the light went down, activities moved indoors, with tables being laid for this evening’s Community Dinner for today’s Festival Guests from the coast, Kerayan visitors, press and international visitors.

Friday - Day 3 - sees the Grand Opening and full celebration of the community, Heart of Borneo and Highland Foods at the Festival Site with PN 2010’s VIP Guest of Honour, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam. A key focus of the day will be PN 2010 Guest of Honour’s Tour of the village food stalls and celebration of Kelabit Highland food and forest heritage, and the unveiling of a new War Memorial in Bario. In Honour of Dr George Chan ‘s Hong Nam’s visit there will be a Community Dinner at Bario Asal longhouse.

Further Pesta Nukenen festivities continue at the Festival Site on Saturday, with a Blow Pipe Competition, judging and singing.

Saturday’s activities are rounded off by the Festival Feast or irau, generously sponsored by Rurum Kelabit Sarawak The Ministry of Tourism & Heritage, bringing together all the guests for PN 2010 for a final get together, with cultural performances, awards and presentations.

Day 5 is a day of Thanksgiving and Friendship on Sunday 4th July - a time for visitors to rest before leaving or embarking on more adventures in the Highland villages and forests - or, we hope, heading down to spend time in Miri and Kuching for the Rainforest World Music Festival.

International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival

http://tribune.my/prime/548-international-tourists-flock-to-bario-highlands-festival.html

International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival

Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:39

Grace Balan-Law

KUCHING: The Pesta Nukenen Bario 2010, a celebration of food, farming and forest heritage of the Kelabit highlands, got off to a good start yesterday (June 30) in Bario.

While the official opening of the festival will be held tomorrow by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, preparations for the festival was well underway yesterday.

Site preparations continued at the Balai Community Centre in Bario where stalls have been constructed and village teams have set up and traded with displays of native highland foods. According to the Patron of Pesta Nukenen Bario, Lord Jason Gathorne, “Hardy, a policy of using natural materials is encouraged at the festival. An example is the Bued Main Beruh longhouse display of rare foods not seen in recent years, including the bua kiran - from the jackfruit family.” Rehearsals of traditional dances were also held at the festival site, with demonstrations of rice winnowing and pounding in conjunction with the festival theme of Beras Adan - the native rice of the highlands which had been awarded a Slow Food Presidium in 2003. It is a recognition by the foundation which funds projects to defend the world’s heritage of agricultural biodiversity.

“Our first international guests arrived today (yesterday) with visitors from France, Japan and the UK who have made the long journey here to experience this unique festival,” said Lord Jason via email from Bario.

He added,” There is great excitement in the air as the first guests from the Heart of Borneo Formadat Kerayane areas have started arriving.” Formadat stands for Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo which groups the people from Bario, Ba Kelalan, Long Pasia in Sabah and Kerayan in Kalimantan.

Penan Pesta Nukenen guests have also arrived in Bario bringing with them their crafts from Long Main, Long Lawai, Long Benalaih, Long Sabai, Long Latei, Long Kevok, Long Nen and Long Mada.

Samples of traditional cultural arts and crafts have also started arriving with a range of Highland tubung (wooden bells) and traditional baskets going to be on display.

The e-Nukenen Heart of Borneo workshop begins today.

The theme for July 1 is ‘Bario & the Kelabit Highlands: The Green Heart of Borneo’. The e-Nukenen workshop will celebrate community- based development in the HoB, bringing together cultural homelands, local foods, ICTs and renewable energy technologies.

The workshop features government themes including sustainable community owned eco-tourism, rural entrepreneurship, embedded power generation and the K-economy.

The ‘e’ in e-Nukenen stands for innovation based upon local knowledge, environment and energy. The workshop is sponsored by Alde Valley Food Adventures.

Bario to host five days indigenous food festival

http://sarawakupdate.com/home/local-news/bario-to-host-five-days-indigenous-food-festival/

Bario to host five days indigenous food festival

By Hazel Lee

Visitors to the Bario will be given a taste of indigenous food at a five day festival from June 30 – July 4.

It is the first overseas joint venture with The Alde Valley Food Adventures and the first community based indigenous food festival in East Malaysia.

Organising spokesperson, Counsillor John Tarawe today said the festival not only showcased the indigenous food of the community but also their cultural performances, handicrafts, sports and heritage.

The festival is organised by the local community in Bario with support from the Miri Resident’s Office, Sarawak Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism and Herritage.

Held for the fifth time in the highlands, the festival is aims to attract more tourists to the Bario.

John said they were expecting at least 21 stalls with the proceeds to be channelled to the Kelabit-Bario community fund and e-Bario project community.

He said the main objective of the festival was to liberate the knowledge and activities of highlanders as economic potential, through skills and forest protection by serving as a beacon to the highland areas.

“Pesta Nukenen Bario celebrates the remarkable farming, forest and cultural heritage of the Kelabit Highlands with a growing programme of events and activities,” he said.

Activities to take place include a village harvest homecoming for a family experience, highland food tasting at the Balai community hall and longhouses, forest talks and highland food fare and community feast.

Besides food, other activities such as blowpipe, jumping and tests of strength will take place under the Highlands games activity

For information on accommodation and tour guide services, refer to the Bario Food Festival flyer and visit e-Bario online website at www.ebario.com or contact John Tarawe at 019-438-1777 or 085-791056.