International tourists flock to Bario highlands festival

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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.