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Sunday, July 20, 2008

The Penan Community and Traditions


Hi, Joejyn here. i am going to indroduce to you today the penans(not the Mentawaian people). hope you enjoy this!

Introduction
They are traditionally nomadic people, living mainly in the most remote parts of northern interior Sarawak although the majority have settled. Only a few hundered penans are still nomadic, the forest providing them with food and building materials for both houses and culture. They continue to practise resource tenure unique to their community and is very famous for their exceptional rattan weaving and blowpipe making skills. Although majority of penans have ambraced christianity and the minority islam, they still adhere to age-old values and norms.

Settlements
There are 2 groups of penans, the eastern and western penans. The eastern penans settled along the Baram River while the western penans settled along the Rajang River. Penans live in bands, each consisting about 40 people. Nomadic penans live in camp huts which they abandon as they migrate. Those that have settled live in either longhouses or single houses in vllage settlements. The penans are led by a headman, or pengajau uma, who looks after affairs of the villages.

They are famous for - Rattan weaving
Want to weave mats from rattan but dont know how to? No problem! The penans are here! They(paricularly the western penans )are the best rattan weavers in Sarawak. its process involves splitting each length of rattan into eight strips which are then shaved for waeving. They are left to dry and then woven into mats, which might take at least three weeks to a month to complete. They are major producers of mats and baskets, but face a growing scarcity of rattan due to over-exploitation of the forest and development.

They are famous for - Bowpipe making
i am sure that you are more interested in this(well, i am!). The penans make excellent blowpipes, perviously made solely for weapons and hunting, they are now produced for sale. Wood from some 14 species of trees is used for making blowpipes.

Picture time!

Bored of me just talking? Now lets have the pictures do the "talking"!

Such a loving father, dont you think?


Some penans hunting using the blowpipe


Some penan woman weaving



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