Tourism, Commodification of Dayak Culture and Politics of identity in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Title:Identitas Dayak :Komofifikasi dan Politik Kebudayaan

Author: Dr. Yekti Maunati Publisher: LKIS

 Place of Publication: Yogyakarta 

Year of Publication: 2004

 406 pages

MISS INDONESIA (LEFT) & MISS MALAYSIA (RIGHT)..WEARING CONTEMPORARY
DAYAK's TRADITIONAL COSTUME FROM BORNEO DURING MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT 2007.

The book about the differences in cultural and political identities of Dayak community in East Kalimantan .

Summary of the contents of the book; 
This book contains a brief review of the literature-the literature on Borneo. Where is the policy of western writers tend to describe people of Borneo as a diverse society, with a focus on  indigenous-exotic customs, such as long houses, the habit of hunting and herd etc.  

In chapter 2, is an ethnographic report on the community and History of LONG MEKAR, where the author described the village  landscape , linkages with the town and surrounding villages, demographics characteristics, as well as economic activities. Unlike Transmigration Villages that funded by the government, LONG MEKAR  was originally founded by the Dayak themselves. Their settlements are based on kinship relations. Just like many villages in Indonesia, the Dayak people at LONG MEKAR economically at marginal position and therefore  they living in a mobile that make  easier for them to do a jobs which not permanent job and  instead of seasonal job such  as a salesman and marginalised cultivators. In this chapter also examines the tattoos and ear lobe hole deliberately extended, generational changes, mutual help, social organization and kinship, mobility, the symbolism of the Dayak community, and melting relations of men and women. 

DAYAK TATTOO

Chapter 3, the peeling problem of land disputes and internal conflicts, development projects undertaken by the new order government's , particularly in managing the  forests, has made a Dayak identity becomes problematic, because they took their forest and the land of the Dayak people meant to destroy the identification they were originally with the self and its territory. Dayak customary law and land ownership are ignored by the  new order  government's , and although land titling system has been effective, non-Dayak people do not respect it, and often manipulate because of  loose or open interpretations over land boundaries. in LONG MEKAR, land disputes that involving both outsiders and local people has increased from year to year and greatly affect the processes of the local Dayak community identity.

Chapter 4, discussing  the economic aspects and cultural aspects of tourism industry. Tourism is not the central issue, but explored more as a way to understand how the Dayak identity encourages the commodification of culture which in turn leads to the formation of back and redefining what is meant  "Dayak" Dayak society's role in a politics and the country was reviewed .


Chapter 5 because it is not a possible to discuss all issues of political participation of  Dayak community. hence in this chapter is limited only to aspects that are considered to have a significant impact on identity formation. The first inter-state relations and the formation of Dayak identity. politics both local and Dayak identity. view of Indonesia as a country, modern nation that has long been a central political aspirations for this country. remember this was the relocation of indigenous people have long been the platform for this country. Contrary to this project, the promotion of ethnic tourism in East Kalimantan encourage people to maintain, preserve and develop their tradition-the old tradition for the sake of tourism. In this case, local politics, after the fall of the new order, ethnic conflicts and religious the more widespread.

Chapter 6, presents a brief review and conclusion that brings together elements of different and contradictory that together make up the experience and definition of contemporary Dayak identity.