MELANAU PEOPLE

The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak, Malaysia, but also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak, and speak a Northwest Malayo-Polynesian language (see Melanau languag.The Melanau were in the 19th Century, settled in scattered communities along the main tributaries of the Rajang River in Central Sarawak. Melanau or problematic Kajang  speaking tribes such as the Sekapan, the Rajang, the Tanjung and the Kanowits gradually moved and assimilated into Dayak migrations settling in the Rajang. The Punan  (or Punan Bah) today are closely linked to the last riverine dwelling Melanau communities previously inhabiting the middle and upper Rejang tributaries. The Kajang language is kept relatively alive by the isolated Sekapan communities Kapit division of Sarawak.

The Melanau are considered among the earliest settlers in Sarawak. The name Melanau was not used by the Melanau to refer to themselves until recently. They call themselves a-likou meaning 'people of the river'. Legend has it that the name Melanau was given by one of the Sultans of Brunei to the inhabitants of the coastal swamp flats and riverbanks of central Sarawak.

Eda Green, writing in 1909, referred to "...the Milanaus, whose girls are as fair as any Europeans and the belles of Borneo.

IBAN PEOPLE

                      

It was the biggest ethnic group in Sarawak. they comprising  approximately 34% of Sarawak population.The Ibans are a branch of people of the Borneo . In Malaysia, most Ibans are located in Sarawak, a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. In ancient times the Ibans were a strong and successful warring tribe in Borneo.The word Iban, in Kayan dialect “livan” means “wanderer” or iban’s own version means “person” .They are formerly known as Sea Dayak because they use boats and stay along the rivers. Pre-brooke Ibans identified themselves with the river system where they stayed such as Batang Ai Iban , Skrang Iban , Saribas  Iban and Batang Rajang Iban. In the term ” Sea Dayak ” was coined by the Iban originated from Kumpang Valley which includes the northern of Kapuas and Ketungau , West Borneo ( Kalimantan, Indonesia ) as early as 1540s. They entered Sarawak by way of the low-iying water-shed between Kapuas and Batang Lupar /down to such places as Lingga and Sebuyau today . Besides , Iban population one end and up to Lawas district at the other end Sarawak.The Iban culture, typically known for their gruesome tradition of head-hunting, are a race who can offer us a great deal of information into the complex societies of southeast Asia and who are fascinating to learn about.

Ulu People

           

Orang Ulu is an ethnic group in Sarawak. The various Orang Ulu ethnics together make up roughly 6% of Sarawak's population. The phrase Orang Ulu means upriver people and is a term used to collectively describe the numerous tribes that live upriver in Sarawak's vast interior. Such groups include the major Kenyah and Kayan people, and the smaller neighbouring groups of the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit, and Penan. Nowadays, the definition also includes the down-river tribes of the Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh, "mean upriver" or "far upstream", Berawan, Saban as well as the plateau-dwelling Kelabits. Orang Ulu is a term coined officially by the government to identify several ethnics and sub-ethnics who live mostly at the upriver and uphill areas of Sarawak. Most of them live in the district of Baram, Miri, Belaga, Limbang, and Lawas.

A vast majority of the Orang Ulu tribe are Christians but traditional religions are still practised in some areas.