For the Sake of Preserving Ancestral Heritage

Kompas/Dionisius Reynaldo Triwibowo

Visitors to a Toyoi betang house descend the stairs of the traditional Dayak longhouse in Tumbang Melahoi village, Gunung Mas regency, Central Kalimantan, Thursday (16/5). The occupants of the house welcomed the German environment minister, who visited the longhouse to witness the life of the Dayak tribespeople.

For the Dayak tribespeople, the traditional rumah betang house with its dozens of rooms and high beams that stretch hundreds of meters are more than just simple homes. The building that houses dozens of families is the heart of the life of locals. Inside, all Dayak cultural activities are done together, including weaving, carving, sculpting, dancing and holding traditional ceremonies.

Within the life of the community, the nurturing of culture, traditional values and family togetherness and the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and skills occur naturally. However, in line with encroaching modernity, the existence of rumah betang is being threatened. Many families are becoming more interested in living in villages or towns.