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Guides understanding Dayak history. |
FOREWORD
Dr. (H.C.) Cornelis, M.H.
I express my sincere gratitude to Almighty God for His guidance and grace, through which this significant scholarly work has been realized. The History of Dayak represents an important contribution to the fields of Dayak studies, Bornean historiography, and indigenous scholarship more broadly. Rather than functioning merely as a historical chronicle, this book offers a systematic and comprehensive examination of the Dayak people, tracing their presence from prehistoric Borneo to their contemporary social, cultural, and political realities.
The volume opens with a conceptual Prologue, Where Does Dayak History Begin?, which establishes the epistemological and methodological foundations of the work. The author positions Dayak history not as a peripheral narrative, but as an integral component of the broader human history of Borneo. Part I, Prehistory and the Early Formation of Bornean Indigenous Identity, presents empirically grounded chapters supported by archaeological and anthropological evidence. Discussions of early human settlement in Borneo and analyses of findings from the Niah Caves reinforce the argument that the Dayak constitute an indigenous population with deep historical continuity and legitimate cultural and territorial claims.
Subsequent chapters extend the analysis beyond prehistory by examining early external influences on Borneo. Through a critical discussion of Hindu Indian cultural and political contact, particularly in the chapters addressing Varuna-dvipa and the transformation of geographical nomenclature, the book situates Dayak history within wider regional and transregional civilizational dynamics. This approach enables readers to understand the Dayak not in isolation, but within long standing networks of cultural exchange.
Part II, When History Begins to Be Written and Preserved, focuses on the emergence of written sources and historical documentation. The analysis of the Yupa inscriptions, debates surrounding Dayak ethnogenesis, and various scholarly classifications demonstrates the importance of primary sources and methodological rigor in the construction of ethnic history. Of particular significance is the chapter addressing the standardized use of the term “Dayak,” which clarifies that this designation represents a collectively recognized identity rather than an externally imposed label.
Part III, History and Experience as Foundations of Dayak Self Reliance, Civility, and Literacy, examines how historical experience has shaped social values, cultural institutions, and patterns of mobility. Through discussions of migration, especially among the Iban and Lundayeh, and analyses of key cultural symbols such as the hornbill, crocodile, and longhouse, the author demonstrates how material culture and symbolic systems function as repositories of collective memory and social organization.
Part IV provides a critical reassessment of colonial history in Borneo by comparing Dutch and British administrative practices and their respective impacts on Dayak societies. The argument that the Dayak experienced colonial domination for a relatively shorter period is carefully contextualized, avoiding simplification while highlighting structural differences between Borneo and other regions of the archipelago. The discussion of the Japanese occupation and the emergence of Dayak political initiatives, including Dayak in Action and the Partai Persatuan Daya, documents the development of political consciousness and organized indigenous agency in West Borneo.
In Part V, Breaking the Chains of Structural Poverty and Reclaiming Civilized Progress, the author analyzes postcolonial transformations within Dayak society. The chapters address the reconfiguration of Dayak identity, the role of literacy and cultural heritage, and the ethical foundations of community based economic institutions, particularly the Credit Union movement. The emphasis on honesty and belarasa highlights indigenous moral frameworks as active resources for sustainable economic and social development, with demonstrable intergenerational effects.
The book culminates in Part VI, The Path Toward Dayak Sovereignty, which synthesizes historical, cultural, and political analyses. The discussion of identity politics, control over natural resources, and the limitations of cartographic reduction underscores the central argument that the Dayak are a dynamic and self determining people. The insistence on the Dayak writing their own history represents a decisive shift from objectification toward intellectual and cultural sovereignty.
Overall, The History of Dayak is a rigorous and interdisciplinary work that successfully integrates history, anthropology, political studies, and economic analysis. It constitutes a valuable reference for scholars of indigenous studies, Southeast Asian history, and Bornean societies, while also serving as an important intellectual resource for Dayak communities themselves. By combining analytical depth with ethical engagement, this book contributes meaningfully to contemporary debates on indigeneity, historical agency, and cultural sovereignty.
It is my hope that this volume will strengthen Dayak scholarship, encourage further interdisciplinary research, and foster wider recognition of Borneo’s indigenous knowledge systems. Readers from diverse backgrounds will find in this work a well documented, carefully argued, and intellectually significant account of a people whose history continues to shape the present and the future.
Pontianak, October 2025
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