The indigenous peoples of the Heart of Borneo are commonly known as Dayak. They are the majority tribes in Borneo. Despite of their massive inhabitants, they are politically and geographically separated from each other as they are divided into three major regions in the Island of Borneo which consist of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Hence, a proposal needed to be made in examining what’s needed to be done to develop and improve Dayak’s economic capacity, social welfare and political rights based on their shared passion to progress further.
Kotkin J. (author of “Tribes: How Race, Religion and Family Determine Success in the New Global Economy”) stated that the formula of being a dominant and progressive tribe/ethnic is by being the ‘Global Tribe’ as reference to the achievement of Jews, British, Japanese, Chinese and Indians’ community. He describes that a global tribe as a group of people who have a strong sense of common origin and shared value with two critical characteristics of global dispersion and belief in scientific progress. He considers for tribes to be successful they should not lose their ethnic identity with the invention of new science and technology but uses their strong historical identities and values to cope with the change.
The Dayak ought to preserve and strengthen their strong ethnic identity with a sense of mutual dependence and emphasis on family structure. The Dayak should unite in the spirit of solidarity based on their unique shared historical, cultural and ethnic identity. They should abandon their political and geographical differences as the unification will enable them to plan and discuss on what’s needed to be done together for the common interest of the Dayak’s community. Once the Dayaks are bonded, they would have the willingness and be more sincere in assisting fellow Dayaks. The talented, intelligent and successful Dayaks’ entrepreneurs are encouraged to share their knowledge and wisdom of what they are competent and talented of, in support of the younger and less-experience Dayaks. In addition, the united and bonded Dayaks who shared identical historical, cultural and ethnic background are expected to be more sincere and generous in assisting and supporting each other in facing the global economic and political order.
The second argument is to ensure the Dayak united within a global network based on tribal trust in order to allow the group to function collectively. A network median needs to be created and utilized in order to have a supportive global-unified Dayak. The globalization and unification of Dayak is vital in assuring the progress of the Dayak from all over the regions. The global network will enable the Dayak’s community to function collectively despite of the geographical, historical and political boundaries. Thus, the networked Dayak with reliable network median will have the opportunity to support each other in coping and adjusting to changes of global economic and political order.
Lastly, the Dayak is expected to have strong passion for technology and belief in scientific progress. They should be passionate in acquiring knowledge in technical-scientific education and be open-minded of the opportunity to retrieve information from all possible sources that will foster rapid cultural and scientific development among the Dayak’s community. The Dayak’s youth should be encouraged to have strong passion of the technology and prepared to engross themselves in manipulating their scientific-advances for their personal welfare and at the same time contributing to the progress of the Dayak’s community. Hence, the parents of those talented and intelligent children should take up the role in encouraging and supporting them to become skilled in science and technology.
In conclusion, global unity in the spirit of solidarity among the Dayak is the only possible solution to the development and enhancement of Dayak’s economic, political and social status. Hence, Dayak’s leaders should play a vital role in uniting the Dayaks in the spirit of solidarity as essence and formula to Dayak’s well being.
Indie Borneo 