Indigenous People

There are many type of indigenous people in the world. For example in Malaysia, there is a tribe which many call them "orang Kenyah" in Sarawak. They are indigenous people in Sarawak and also near Indonesian Borneo, group also with the Kayan under the general name Bahau. In the late 20th century, the Kenyah people were reported only 23,000. Until now, there some of Kenyah people still live near river headwaters.They are closed association with the Kayans, with whose culture they have much in common but through the languages is a bit different with the Kenyahs. Traditionally the Kenyahs economy is based on their cultivation of dry rice in jungle clearings. The forest is cut and burned, and the rice is planted among the ashes. The Kenyahs also have many villages where each villages have their own leader. The village often consists of only one communal house up to 400 yards long, built on piles, with a row of family rooms at the back and a wide covered veranda that serves as a general working space and village street. Originally, they were headhunters in the past. Since the British invasion, the Kenyahs change their way of hunting for heads because many of the Kenyahs became Christian. However, most of their traditional custom still remain and carried on generation by generation. For example, the Kenyahs warrior dance still remain especially in Sarawak. However, generation by generation most of the Kenyahs traditional custom is bit by bit forgotten because of the modern style now. That is why many Kenyahs separate into smaller groups but then they are still visible and can be found mostly in Sarawak.