Happy Gawai Dayak 2012

SELAMAT HARI GAWAI DAYAK 

FROM THE BROKEN SHIELD

The administrators of The Broken Shield would like to express their ‘Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak to all the readers, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai, Lantang Senang, Betuah Belimpah, Bulih Pengaya Bulih Pengaraja’. The administrators will be away at their Kampung Samabang, Punda Road, Simunjan until June 4, 2012. All are welcome to the kampung.

Baru Bian’s Gawai Dayak Message 2012

As we return home to be reunited with our families to celebrate and give thanks to God for his blessings in another bountiful year, I would like to wish you all a happy and meaningful harvest festival.

Amidst the merrymaking and the feasting, however, I urge everyone to take a moment to think about the future of Sarawak and the generations to come. It is well-known that Sarawak is a land blessed with great wealth in the form of its forests and oil deposits. Sadly, this wealth has not been equitably distributed to the people of this land. Over the years, the bulk of this wealth has been plundered by those who were trusted to govern the state.

Politicians and the well-connected have been enriched at the expense of the people whose lives are deeply rooted to the land. The greed of these people knows no limits, as evidenced by the many cases of land grabbing taken to court and the revelations made by investigative journalists such as Sarawak Report. There is a profound saying by Mahatma Gandhi: Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed. It is time to curb the greed of the ruling elite - the rakyat must rise up to protect their rights and claim back the heritage that has been stolen from them.

Recently the people have shown that they are no longer willing to accept the injustices perpetrated by the current government. Hundreds of thousands came out to support the call for clean elections at Bersih 3, exercising their rights to peaceful assembly. The authorities injured many innocent citizens that day by violent means. Recently, a few notable people including Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali have been charged under the new Peaceful Assembly Act. We must ask ourselves why the BN government does not support the call for free and fair elections and punishes those who call for the election process to be cleaned up.

This Gawai season, I call upon Sarawakians to rise up to the challenge of PRU13, to treat your votes as sacred and priceless. Your votes represent your future and the future of your children and grandchildren. I urge you to reflect on what you have achieved after so many years of BN rule. Why is it that so many are still without access to electricity, clean water, proper roads, healthcare, education, employment and advancement? Why is it that the BN government only goes to visit your villages to make promises during election year? How many of these promises have been fulfilled?

I am confident that like our brothers and sisters in Peninsula Malaysia, Sarawakians are no longer willing to accept the injustices that we have been subject to. We will no longer be taken for granted by the BN as their fixed deposit. Let us exercise our free will to vote for a new government that is competent, accountable and transparent. A new government of Pakatan Rakyat will restore justice and equality for everyone and work towards a just distribution of wealth for all Sarawakians. When that eventuality materializes, we can truly look towards celebrating bountiful harvests and ever improving prospects during the Gawai Dayak season.

SELAMAT HARI GAWAI DAYAK, GAYU GURU GERAI NYAMAI

Baru Bian

State Assemblyman

N70 Ba’ Kelalan /

Chairman

PKR Sarawak 

Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak

~ Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak ~

The administrators of The Broken Shield wish the readers of the blog “Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai, Senang Lantang Nguan Menua, Betuah Belimpah, Bulih duit Bulih Ringgit”.

Gawai Dayak has added meaning to Simunjan people

The 2010 Gawai Dayak has an added meaning to the longhouse people along the Simunjan Road because they are able to have contacts with the outside world after the installation of an ICT tower in the Kpg. Ruan area, all because of the efforts of YB Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture.

Many overseas workers who were unable to return for the Gawai Dayak were able to contact their parents and relatives. For instance, my son, Rudy Tawie, who is studying for his PhD (civil engineering) in South Korea, was able to contact our Kpg. Sungai Semabang, Simunjan to convey his Gawai greetings to us.

It was indeed a very happy moment and a very special meaning to us to be able to speak to my son and his family. We would like to express our sincere thanks to YB Datuk Salang.

We were also able to use our internet connections through Celcom broadband and followed what was happening around the country especially on the minor cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Najib.

However, the services need to be upgraded as the lines sometimes “putus”.

While I conveyed our Gawai Dayak greetings to YB Datuk Salang, I also informed him of our problems. He promised to speak to the local authorities to improve the ICT services in the Simunjan area.

Meanwhile, Gawai Dayak was celebrated modestly by the people of our village. It was an occasion to meet our relatives and friends.

The Gawai began with the drinking of “ai Pengayu” (long life water) at the stroke of midnight on 31 May. This was followed by various cultural events till the early morning of the 1 June.

At 10.00 am, all the people of Sungai Semabang gathered at the ruai of Tuai Rumah Sipi Anak Narang where the festival continued with cultural performances, drinking and eating.

Later in the afternoon, all they came to our humble house where delicious foods such as pansoh manok, panggang manok, pansoh jani, and so on were served to the pengabang (visitors).

Source: http://www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/

Jetty's family members after the drinking of "ai Pengayu". They have to open their shirts in order to get rid of 'bad luck' and welcome the new Gawai spirit.

Mr. Juah performing the "ngajat"

SDNU GAWAI ON 15 MAY 2010

Welcoming speech by Dr. Dusit Jaul, Chairman of Organising Committee:

Yang saya hormati saudara dan saudari pengacara majlis;

Sebelum saya menyampaikan ucapan rasmi, saya mohon izin untuk menyampaikan ucapan pembukaan khas dalam bahasa Iban.

Nya alai lemai tu
Kitai begempuru ditu
Baka tematu kerang kepayang,
Amat mayuh meh kitai ari beluh nyaru arang
Amat banyak ari nyemetak Tinting Kedang
Nyau bepadat kitai baka sikat pisang jerenang
Nyau duduk rapit kitai betambit pintu tapang
Nyadi penatai kitai tu
Ukai ari siti menua, siti bansa
Bisi kitai datai ari menua jauh pancar suluh bulan terang
Tang mayuh agi ke datai ari menua semak dinga pangkung tawak sekali nerentang.
Enti kitai merening tunga ka kanan
Nya bala menyadi kitai ke datai ari Kalimantan
Nya ga menua asal pesaka lama kitai bansa Iban
Sida iya datai kitu cukup ngena ngepan
Enggau kitai ngintu pengawa Gawai Dayak kitai Iban
Ngambika kaul kitai semampai rat, tan baka kah tebelian
Enda tebuka selama jeman, rat tanchang enda beguyang
Nya alai ketegalnya
Dia kitai enda tau enda ngangauka Biku Bunsu Petara
Pantan Inan Jadia
Ngangau ka Lai Nyakai Menaul Benda
Mesanka Bunsu Bulan
Nyapa bintang tiga
Ngambika sida datai sereta
Pia ga kitai enda tau enda ngangauka orang di Panggau Libau
Ke gegiau Takang Isang
Ngangauka orang di Merawa Lama
Munyi ke berimba Bong Nebang
Ngangauka Keling Aji ke berani ati mutus kempang
Ngangauka Bungai Nuing Manuk Biring di sabung mali lengang
Sereta enggau semua sida serumah
Datai magang nadai timpang
Datai bekaling alu, betambit pintu
Raja Ribai mega di kumbai
Datai ari Bungai Pangka Pasang, tasik gilik gumbang
Datai kitu!
Sama enggau kitai begempuru ditu ngerami Gawai Dayak
Mai ubat serangkap genap
Mai pengaruh gembar tubuh
Batu Pengaya, ubat pengeraja
Ubat pengerapit pengaul bansa
Awakka kitai tu ila begulai sejalai diri sebala
Sama berakup ngering ka bansa
Ngemansangka juluk 1Malaysia
Ngambika tebilang ditunda urang!


Salutations:

-YB Dato Sri William Mawan ak. Ikom
-YB Senator Dato Empiang Jabu
-Y.Bhg Dato Sri Daniel Tajem & Datin
-Y.Bhg Dato Edmund Langgu & Datin
- Mr Mengga Mikui and Mrs
-Y.Berusaha Temenggong James Jimbun and Mrs
- Bapak Makarius Sintong
- Bapak Thadeus Yus dan Ibu Katharina Lies
- Mr. Chulin Serang
- Members of SDNU SEC
- Members of the Press
- Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

A very good evening and Salam 1Malaysia; Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan. Talk of 1Malaysia. What is it that in 1Malaysia we can see in our Gawai this evening?

Rakyat Didahulukan

In the spirit of 1Malaysia, our SDNU Gawai Dayak Dinner this evening is truly the rakyat’s celebration. All of you have made your way here through your own pocket. Your presence here is not subsidised by any other parties.

Tonight is therefore your Gawai. Because we all pay for it, this Gawai is also our Gawai. Since we are all Dayak, this is also our Gawai Dayak attended by many of our non Dayak friends – this is truly 1Malaysia at work.

I am sure you all agree with me that your financial sacrifice is not wasted; it is to be spent on a noble cause; to uphold Dayak culture and tradition; the Gawai Dayak. With us ordinary rakyat of Dayak origin gather here this evening, our Gawai is truly an authentic
Gawai Dayak.

Pencapaian Diutamakan;

Ladies and gentleman,

Since my involvement with SDNU, I have NOT seen a Gawai crowd of this magnitude. For the record, this evening we have 120 tables. The only limiting factor for other Dayak friends from NOT joining us here this evening is that this hall is not able to accommodate more.

Right up to this morning, there were still many more of our Dayak brothers and sisters who wanted to purchase dinner tables. Unfortunately, we have to decline them due to space constraint. My humble apology to them.

What this means is that if we set aside differences and work together, if we’re willing to mobilise our collective resources, we can deliver much more for the Dayak community.

Our Gawai Dayak dinner this evening is very significant; Significant in the sense that:
We have managed to overcome obstacles created by the divisive factors of geography, political inclination and ethnic groups. Because we’re able to set aside differences, so we have here this evening fellow Dayak friends from far and near. We have the Ibans, the Bidayuhs and the Orang Ulu.

The second significant is this. Though we’re living in a modern world so to say, we Dayak have not forgotten our culture and tradition. Now, this is a very relevant point for us to ponder upon. I am reminded by the Malay saying that say, Hilang Budaya, Hilang Bangsa. Gawai is unique to the Dayak; Gawai is exclusive to the Dayak. I am pretty sure you all agree with me that we must uphold it.


Ladies and gentlemen,

This year, our Gawai Dinner theme is “Celebrating Dayak Cultural Uniqueness”. This evening we will get to see the presentation of our unique and authentic Dayak culture. What more with the presence and strong support of our Dayak brothers and sisters from across the border.


Ladies and gentlemen

This evening i would like to invite you all to acknowledge the presence of our special guests; they are our Dayak brothers and sisters from KALBAR. Adil katalino, bacermin ka syurga, basengat kajubata.

Rombongan saudara mara kita dari KALBAR terdiri dari tiga persatuan:

Majlis Adat Dayak Nasional Indonesia pimpinan Bapak Makarius Sintong
Dewan Adat Dayak KALBAR pimpinan Bapak Thadeus Yus
Persatuan Perempuan Dayak KALBAR pimpinan ibu Katharina Lies.

Bapak-bapak, ibu-ibu:

Kami amat menghargai semangat kerjasama budaya yang telah ditunjukan oleh bapak-bapak dan ibu ibu. Kami faham bahawa bapa-bapak dan ibu ibu sekalian sedang sibuk dengan persediaan Gawei Dayak di KALBAR yang akan bermula pada tanggal 19 Mei. Namun begitu, demi kerjasama budaya sesama kita bangsa Dayak, bapak bapak dan ibu ibu tetap memberi sokongan dan kerjasama kepada kami di sini. Ini satu semangat pengorbanan dan kerjasama yang harus dicontohi oleh kita semua.


Ladies and gentlemen,

We also have with us here this evening our Dayak friends from Labuan headed by Mr. Chulin Serang. Let us give them a warm welcome.

This evening we have lined up a number of interesting events. We will get to see cultural presentations by our local performers as well as from our KALBAR brothers and sisters. Our KALBAR brothers and sisters are kind enough to share their Kumang Gawai with us. They are with us this evening and we will get to see them parading Dayak costume on stage later. The highlight of this evening program is of course the much awaited event, the Kumang Gawai contest. We have 15 finalists, all beautiful Dayak maiden. So stay tune right to the very end.

This biggest ever SDNU Gawai Dayak dinner could not have been possible without the cooperation of many parties. Many individuals and associations have come forward to lend their support, especially in buying dinner tables and advertising pages in the souvenir program. We have the STAR for example becoming our official paper for the dinner and sponsoring Ms Photogenic with RM1000 cash prize.

Supports from members of the press have been very encouraging. This evening they are present in full force making this year Gawai dinner one to be remembered by all.

There are too many of you; individuals and associations alike who have come forward to support us. To mention all of you one by one is time consuming. Believe me, we in the Organising Committee appreciate your kind support.

Notwithstanding what I have just said, there are few personalities who deserve to be mentioned here.

Dato’ Sri William Mawan ak Ikom – Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation. For the record, YB Dato’ is one Dayak leader who had never declined an invitation to grace SDNU functions.

Mr. Mengga Mikui: President SDNU - his leadership, his support and advise comes in handy. It is through his hard work that we have attractive prizes for this year’s Kumang Gawai contest.

Finally, my thanks to members of the Organising Committee for your commitment and contributions. This evening we can see the fruits of your hard work and dedication.

Sebedau aku ngundur ka diri, aku deka besampi ngagai Petara ke diau di perabung serega ngambika meri berkat ngagai kitai semua.

Laban ari tu udah beganti; minggu nyau ka lalu
Bulan nyau ka padam
Taun nyau ka nyampun,
Awak ka gawai taun tu mai tuah, mai limpah manah ari taun ka udah
Ngambi ka kitai empusung baka bukit, ngebung baka langit
Tampak baka pulau, luas baka danau
Ngambi ka pengawa kami tu nyadi
Baka wi tampung tali, baka ijuk tampung penduk
Ngambi ka taun tu mai jereki
Dayak ke bumai bulih padi, Dayak ke belajar bulih degree,
Iya ke dara bulih laki, iya ka bujang bulih bini
Iya ka megai parti nyadi Kepala Menteri
Charik labung batik, ganti labung betawi,
Pecah periuk tanah, ganti periuk betani
Nadai sida ka tuai, di ganti bala kami
Gayu ko Sentuku, gerai ko Sempandai
Bulih pengeraja, bulih pengaya semua kitai ka begempuru ditu malam tu.
Salam gawai, salam perpaduan, have a wonderful evening.Adil katalino, Bacermin ka syurga, Basengat kajubata.

Gawai Dayak 2010

This year Gawai Dayak saw greater unity among the Dayaks of Borneo as evident by the presence of our Dayak brothers and sisters Majlis Adat Dayak Nasional Indonesia and Kadazandusun Cultural Association of Sabah.

“My hope is that this kind of collaborative effort among the three biggest associations that represent the indigenous people of Borneo will be sustained,” said William Mawan, Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation in a message in the souvenir programme for the pre-gawai dinner-cum-cultural show on 15 May.

Gawai, he said, is a time for joy and celebration. More important, Gawai is also a time for us to forge the spirit of unity.

“This is the time for us to let go the divisive elements in us, whatever it may be. This is especially so among us Dayaks whom we know comprise many ethnic groups and coming from regions and localities far apart.

“It is not far-fetched for me to say that Gawai is a powerful unifying factor for us,” he said.

I was hoping that this Gawai gathering should be the best one that I ever attended especially when witnessing the performance of the Indonesian Dayak cultural troupe.

But my hope was dashed and I was in no mood to enjoy after we were shabbily treated. I am referring to an ugly incident that could have been adverted, if there was a strict supervision by the organising committee.

Someone should have been appointed to ensure the table arrangement and numbering of tables was not disturbed. This type of incident kept on being repeated over and over again. Why can’t we learn from past mistakes?

For the night Gawai function, we bought a RM500 table hoping to be seated nearer the stage where the “Kumang” contest was to be held. And the colour of the tickets was pink indicating the RM500 table. We arrived at 6.00 pm.

To our surprise, we were asked to seat on a Table number 25J covered with a purple table cloth meant for the RM400 table. We were not the ones affected as there were few other people faced with similar problems. Ambrose Gramong and his guests were also grumbling as they asked to sit on a RM350 table.

I asked the SDNU Secretary General Joshua Jabing and assistant secretary Spencer Birai of the organising committee as to why we were seated in the RM400 table when our table should be in the RM500? They could not explain.

Naturally, each one of these people who were seated with me demanded the return of their RM10. It was very embarrassing to me and the guests. Worst if non-Dayaks were involved.

In future, no one wants to buy RM500 tables if this is the type of treatment that greets us.

Let us learn one or two things from this incident. One, numbering all the tables in their order and not one here, two at the other end and 20 near the table number one, and so and so on. In other words do not jumble the numbering of the tables.

If the tables are priced differently, then make a clear division. Someone should supervise this arrangement.

Please look after the comfort of the dinner guests, otherwise you are going to embarrass not only the organising committee, but also reflect badly on the SDNU as well as Dayak community.

And please do not allow other people who do not like SDNU to have an opportunity to criticise and condemn the organisation. We have enough of it. – The Broken Shield

Source: www.thebrokenshield.blogspot.com