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.

There is no Heart of Borneo without its people

http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/indonesia/news/?204628/There-is-no-Heart-of-Borneo-without-its-people

Posted on 08 May 2012  

 

“For us, we are rich and prosperous people. We are not lacking. We plant for rice, we harvest fruits, we take fish from the river, we build our home from forest wood, our medicine comes from forest herbs. We live from the forest. If the forest is gone, so are we.” 
Anye Apui, Customary Chief of Hulu Bahau in Malinau, East Kalimantan

The Heart of Borneo Forum in Jakarta, April 18-20, was aimed at bringing together key stakeholders – including governments, the private sector and civil society – to discuss progress and possibilities in the transition to a green economy in the Heart of Borneo.

The Indigenous communities, with their traditions, knowledge and local wisdom, have been supportive of the Heart of Borneo Initiative, initiating trans-boundary grassroots support and action for the sustainable development of the Highlands. These communities are rich in experience that can contribute significantly to how the community can become involved in the sustainable development of this trans-boundary initiative.

Community involvement in the Forum highlighted the important role civil society can play in moving the green economy from a concept and set of plans to reality.

“We are the heartbeat of the Heart of Borneo. We are the ones you are talking about. Those plans you’re making will affect our life, because we live there,” John Tarawe from Bario, Sarawak-Malaysia, said when he spoke at a session titled Delivering a Sustainable Future for the Heart of Borneo.

Community leaders from the Forum of the Indigenous People of the Highlands of Borneo (FORMADAT), from both the Malaysia and Indonesia sides, joined the stage with representatives from the governments of Borneo. They outlined their vision for a sustainable future for Borneo.

“We, the Indigenous People of the Highlands in the Heart of Borneo 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 Heart of Borneo.”

During the event, WWF along with the community leaders launched the Human Heart of Borneo, a publication that speaks for the indigenous Borneo people, celebrating their culture and their role in conserving the forests of Borneo. The publication hopes to enable those outside the area to learn, feel and become attached to it – with that, support for the preservation of Borneo culture and nature can be built.

Environment conservation vital to sustain life – Ose

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/13/environment-conservation-vital-to-sustain-life-%E2%80%93-ose/

by Antonia Chiam. Posted on November 13, 2011, Sunday

KUCHING: Local communities have been reminded to always ensure an equilibrium between development and conservation prevails so that human activities do not destroy the environment that creates livelihood for them.

Deputy State Secretary Datu Ose Murang stressed that they should make sure that whatever they consumed or used did not infringe on the environment.

“I urge all communities to take note of environmental sustainability when planning for development,” he said at a promotional campaign for Adan Rice yesterday.

He added that while development is essential, conservation must be taken into consideration.

“Without a sustainable environment, there will be no satisfaction with our own lives. When we sustain the environment, we sustain our unique cultures too,” he said, citing fresh air that attracts city folk to visit the highlands.

On Adan Rice, Ose said all products from the heart of Borneo should be promoted and their traditional production methods protected.

“Local communities must ensure the catchment areas and water supply are well managed and well maintained in order to conserve our own production of rice in the highlands.”

The campaign was part of efforts by World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF) and communities in the highlands of Sarawak and Sabah to promote the livelihoods of the local communities through sustainable small-scale agriculture.

This is done by developing specific and unique products from the highlands, such as Adan rice.

Adan rice is a local rice variety from the highlands of Borneo and is cultivated according to traditional methods by the Lun Bawang in Ba kelalan and Long Semadoh, the Kelabits in Bario, and the Lun Dayeh in Long Pasia, Sabah.

Its cultivation pays special attention on how it can affect the surrounding environment.

According to Ba’kelalan penghulu and Persatuan Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi (Formadat) Sarawak and Sabah George Sigar Sultan, Adan rice had the finest grain and taste due to the elevation and the clear, unpolluted waters that irrigate the paddy fields in the highlands. There are three varieties: Adan Merah, Adan Putih and Adan Hitam.

“Harvesting is done at the end of December right until February. The seeds are planted once a year, and the rice takes 6 months to mature. With this promotional campaign, we hope that the general public will be more aware about this unique local rice, which is fresh, natural, and free from pesticides.”

Adan rice can be purchased at the booths during this two-day event which is supported by Bernas Corporation and Lun Bawang Association Sarawak.

‘Heart of Borneo’ communities linked by traditional music

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/07/16/%E2%80%98heart-of-borneo%E2%80%99-communities-linked-by-traditional-music/

Posted on July 16, 2011, Saturday


FOR LOVE OF MUSIC: Elyas (centre) shows Ipoi (right) how to play the keng.

KUCHING: When Elyas Yesaya from East Kalimantan started knocking on a ‘tubong’ to create a series of harmonies, the handful of music enthusiasts and historians at the Sarawak Museum broke into cheers as the bamboo instrument, not more than two feet long, is proof that the communities living in the ‘Heart of Borneo’ share common roots.

Geographically located in the middle of Borneo, the name ‘Heart of Borneo’ was given due to the several ecological wonders of the place among them, the huge network of rivers which brought and sustained lives in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

Even though separated by borders, the cultures and traditions of the communities living on the highlands have created a bond shared for generations.

In 2003, the late Datuk Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, former state assemblyman for Ba’ Kelalan, mooted the idea to form a forum to bring both countries under one roof as a stronghold to sustain cultures and traditions without borders.

It took a year to realise the dream, when the Borneo Highlands Community and Culture Forum (Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo, Formadat) was formed in October 2004 among the communities of Sarawak, Sabah and East Kalimantan.

For the Sarawak side, it was formed from the Lun Dayeh, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and Sa’ban from Bario, Ba Kelalan and Long Semadoh while East Kalimantan was made up of the Krayan Induk and Krayan Selatan communities.

Sabah completed the forum with her communities living in Long Pasia, Long Mio and Ulu Padas.

“This musical instrument is unique as it sounds quite similar to the gongs of the Orang Ulu in Sarawak,” said Elyas who handcrafted the musical instruments with skills he picked up at a young age.

Among the bamboo musical instruments Elyas handed to the Sarawak Museum director Ipoi Dantan were the agung bulu, kelinang, sanang, keng, telingut and ruding.

“These instruments are made from several types of bamboo,” said Elyas who explained that some of the musical instruments are actually everyday items in their community such as the keng which is used to pluck fruits.

“The handle of the keng is cut short and a hole is drilled into the sides to produce a louder sound,” said Elyas who can speak the Lun Bawang dialect.

Each instrument, Elyas explained, can be played either in a solo routine or in a group, especially during a full moon.

The telingut is usually accompanied by the sape in a dance which can be rather seductive.

Elyas hoped more NGOs or private companies from both countries would give their support to Formadat and create awareness of the forum.

“This is to ensure that the relationship among the communities live on for future generations with continuation of their cultures and traditions,” he enthused.

Among the initiatives taken by Formadat was the setting up of a cultural fused school in East Kalimantan where workshops for traditional music were slotted in as co-curricular subjects, said Elyas.

Also making their presentation yesterday were representatives from the Brunei Museum who discovered beads in Sungai Manis on March 2002.

Sustaining Borneo Highland’s cultural heritage through music

http://tribune.my/prime/804-sustaining-borneo-highlands-cultural-heritage-through-music.html

Sustaining Borneo Highland’s cultural heritage through music

Sunday, 11 July 2010 09:00

Grace Balan

The annual Rainforest World Music Festival held at the Sarawak Cultural Village is now in full swing with festival goers flocking to the Sarawak Cultural Village. Many are here to enjoy not only the music and workshops but also to visit the various exhibition booths scattered around the village.

One of the booths features Central Borneo’s indigenous cultural traditions with the participation of FORMADAT (Forum Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Borneo or Forum of the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands of Borneo) a grass-root, cross-border, organisation representing the Indigenous Peoples of the Highlands, in the Heart of Borneo (HoB).

FORMADAT is a trans-boundary community forum established by the main ethnic groups in the area – the Lun Dayeh/Lun Bawang, Sa’ban and Kelabit. They number around 25,000 people of whom 75 percent are on the Indonesian side of the border. The highlands of Borneo, which comprise the sub districts of Krayan Selatan and Krayan in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Bario, Ba’Kelalan and Long Semado in Sarawak, and Long Pasia in Sabah, constitute one geographic, environmental and cultural land inhabited by people who share a common origin.

The FORMADAT exhibition booth presents an opportunity to promote local products using the ‘Green and Fair Products’ branding, a new initiative supported by WWFIndonesia and WWF-Malaysia to grant fair recognition to local products and support sustainable livelihoods.

According to Cristina Eghenter, WWF - Indonesia’s Social Development Advisor, a range of high quality highland products, such as Adan rice, mountain salt, wild cinnamon, indigenous handicrafts and musical instruments are on display and sold at the festival.

“Cultural performances and poster exhibitions in and around the booth captures the beautiful landscape and culture of the land of FORMADAT as well as promote eco-tourism destinations in the highlands,” she said.

“Music and lyrics have the capacity to bind people together with a shared understanding or vision.

In many ways, this is exactly what FORMADAT represents. It hopes to raise awareness of its existence within the community and its vision and commitment to protect and sustainably develop the common cultural heritage of the land that lies within both Malaysia and Indonesia in the Heart of Borneo.” John Terawe, FORMADAT’s Malaysian Coordinator, said that another objective of FORMADAT is the preservation and conservation of the ethnic culture and identity of the groups it represents.

“The idea of coming to the Rainforest World Music Festival is to publicise and promote our beliefs and to create awareness of the ‘Heart of Borneo’.” The Heart of Borneo (HoB) is the only remaining place in South East Asia that still holds huge tracts of continuous pristine forest. It straddles the transboundary highlands of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia that reaches out through the foothills into the adjacent lowlands.

Meanwhile, FORMADAT legal advisor Gerawat Gala said that it is a network amongst all the ethnic communities who are coming together. They share a common interest being the communities who are living in the Heart of Borneo (HoB). “These communities, the Dayak, Kelabit, Saban, Lun Dayeh and those from the Kalimantan side all share similar heritage and culture. It is important for them to ensure they share the heritage of the highlands through preservation and conservation. FORMADAT brings these communities together for the common good as we are of the same stock, same origin with a common aim of promoting Borneo highlands.” “This is the first time we’ve had a booth at the festival. It is to get a feel for all the participants who came from different areas such as Ba’ Kelalan, Long Semadoh, Bario and Kalimantan. They have all looked forward to being here. Hopefully, we can continue to participate in the festival on a bigger scale perhaps in a year or two on the musical stage because we have a rich musical heritage,” he said.