Late Dato Sri Tra Zehnder & Gawai Dayak in Sarawak.

GAWAI DAYAK BEFORE 1965??

Up till 1962, the British colonial government refused to recognise Dayak Day.Gawai Dayak was formally gazetted on 25 September 1964 as a public holiday in place of Sarawak Day. It was first celebrated on 1 June 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. Today, it is an integral part of Dayak social life. It is a thanksgiving day marking good harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or activities ahead.

What is GAWAI DAYAK?

Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated in Sarawak on 1 June every year. It is both a religious and social occasion. The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the native ethnic groups of Sarawak (and neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan): the Iban, also known as Sea Dayak and the Bidayuh people, also known as Land Dayak.
Thus, Gawai Dayak literally means "Dayak Festival". Dayak would visit their friends and relatives on this day. Such visit is more commonly known as "ngabang" in the Iban language

LATE DATO SRI TRA ZEHNDER & GAWAI DAYAK RECOGNITION IN SARAWAK
Dato Seri Tra Zehnder was the  person behind the recognition of GAWAI DAYAK in Sarawak .

She had wanted June 1 of every year to be set aside to be called Dayak Day in recognition of the Dayaks’ existence in the state.

She made an  untiring efforts to get Gawai recognised as an official celebration, 

ABOUT Late DATO SERI TRA ZEHNDER

Late Dato Seri Tra Zehnder .  

Dato Seri Tra Zehnder  was born Philomena Tra in Miri on Oct 25, 1926 to Inting Jemat and Sara Unang, both Ibans from the old Simanggang division. 

Tra boasts the envious record of being the first lady member of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), known as Council Negeri back then. She served from 1960 till 1963.
She was also the first woman Temenggong in the state following her appointment as Iban Temenggong of the First Division from July 1988 till February 1996.

Tra was also the first woman to head the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak, from March 1996 to 2002.

In May 1957, she founded the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (SIDS) and served as honorary secretary till 1960 before being appointed president from 1964-1966.
In 1962, she represented the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) at the Cobbold Commission meeting.

GAWAI DAYAK AFTER 1965??

 After the  first celebrated on 1 June 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community.The 1st KUMANG GAWAI CONTEST was in 1966 when DATIN SENORITA LINANG.was the 1st Crowned as KUMANG (The mother Goddess of Ibans)

LEFT: Taking picture with 1st KUMANG GAWAI at SERAKUP INDU DAYAK DINNER at MEGA HOTEL MIRI (Aug 2011)..RIGHT:The crowning moment of 1st Kumang Gawai in Sarawak after the recognition of GAWAI DAYAK in 1960s . Datin Senorita Linang. She was crowned for three consecutive years that is in 1966, 1967 and 1969.

News about  her lost-Late Dato Sri Tra Zehnder
thestar.com(July 24,2011)
theborneopost.com(July 22,2011)