Iban Cultural Heritage Symposium and Expo on June 24

KUCHING: A two-day Iban Cultural Heritage Symposium and Expo 2024 will be held beginning June 24 to discuss the importance of cultural heritage preservation and the significance of safeguarding cultural assets.

Organised by the Dayak Cultural Foundation (DCF), the event which comes tunder the chairmanship of Prof Dr Nelson Ilan Mersat from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), will take place at the Dayak Cultural Foundation Building along Ong Tiang Swee Road here.

Deputy Premier and DCF chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said about 200 participants comprising politicians, heads of government departments and those from non- governmental organisations state-wide, are expected to participate.

“The theme for the event is ‘Reta Tengkira Lanting Bansa’ (Our Heritage, Our Identity). We want to provide a platform for dialogues and exchanges of ideas on contemporary cultural issues and challenges.

“We also aim to showcase the wealth and diversity of Iban cultural heritage and to encourage a sense of ownership and responsibility towards their heritage,” he said in a statement.

Through the event, Uggah hoped to facilitate collaboration and networking opportunities among scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners.

“We also want to raise awareness among policymakers and stakeholders about the need to protect, preserve and sustain cultural heritage,” he said.

Uggah added that there would be four components to the event namely paper presentation and panel discussion, demonstration, exhibition and the ‘Ngabas Ai’ special programme.

“For the paper presentation and panel discussion, there would be five papers presented by experts,” he said.

The first one, he said, would be on “Iban Cultural Heritage: Concept, Definition, Uses, Preservation and Promotion” by Dr Peter Mulok Kedit from Tun Jugah Foundation followed by one on the “Impact of Modernisation on Iban Cultural Heritage” by Prof Datuk Dr Spencer Empading Sanggin from Unimas.

“Then Prof Dr. Noria Tugang also from Unimas will present her paper on the ‘Role of Iban Women as Custodians of Iban Heritage’,” he said.

The fourth one, he said, is a paper entitled “Visual Technology and Transformative Journey of the Iban’s Pua Kumbu Motif Designs: A Chronological Exploration” by Dr Louis Ringah Kanyan, who is also from Unimas.

“Lastly, Hetty Kus Endang from Galeri Kain Pantang in Kalimantan Barat would talk about her experiences in sustaining and promoting Pua Kumbu production in Kalimantan,” he said.

Additionally, he said there will be two panel discussions on the Pua Kumbu and Iban heritage.

“The panelists are cultural experts and cultural enthusiasts. The first panel will touch on the use of native designs for modern usage. While, the other one will be centred on the theme ‘Reta Tengkira Lanting Bansa’,” he said.

On the demonstration aspect, Uggah said this would cast the spotlight on the art of weaving the Pua Kumbu (Ngebat, Nyungkit and Ngarap), the Beranyam (mat weaving) and the Iban tattooing art.

“For the exhibition, among the traditional clothing items to be displayed are the ‘Sungkit’, ‘Kebat’, ‘Pilih’, ‘Karap’, ‘Subak’, ‘Gagong’, ‘Ngepan Indu’ and ‘Ngepan Lelaki’ as well as war machetes,” he said.

On the special ‘Ngabas Ai’ programme, he said it will involve 19 top rice wine or ‘Tuak’ brewers representing 10 different regions such as Kota Samarahan, Kuching, Sri Aman, Betong, Saratok, Kanowit, Sibu, Julau, Kapit and Bintulu.

“They will showcase their respective Tuak production which will also be for sampling,” he said, adding that the exhibition and demonstration will be open to the public.