Tebara daha 'kelunan aya'
Advice from Kayan elders
In Kayan tradition, the 'kelunan aya' or 'kelunan jia' represents the ruling class in Kayan society, hailing from the aristocratic 'hipun uma'. Community leaders such as the Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu, and Ketua Kaum are typically appointed from among them to lead the Kayan community. Two speeches by Kayan leaders during the ELF Language Legacy project on February 21-22, 2022, are featured here as snapshots, serving as reminders to the young Kayan generation about the significance of their language, culture, and identity.
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Ngiyoh adet tam Kayan, daha kelunan aya atau kelunan jia nih aleng geri itam tek alem uma aru. Kelunan hipun uma kurin tam; tek hang daha nih aleng jadi Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu dahin Ketua Kaum tam. Te' tinih dua daho' tebara men dawa kelunan aya tam tengu hadui kalo jaka ELF Language Legacy Project @ Februari 21-22, 2022.
Advice from Temenggong Elizabeth Deng
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Gist of the speech:
The Temenggong in her brief speech, advised Kayan parents to give Kayan names to their children:
"Assigning Kayan names to our children is integral to our concerted effort in preserving our Kayan identity. It is through these names that others will recognize our Kayan heritage."
"Sayu tam na aran anak tam aran Kayan, avin anan nah avan tam nelana puhu tam, dahin lahuh, urei kelunan jam itam Kayan".
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Advice from Pemanca Gilbert Ding*
gist of the advice
...'en telo jen nah nih (adat tam), en telo gam...ja em te' levah, em te' em tek'
We must always adhere to our adat (culture and tradition), holding them close to ensure they are not lost or forgotten forever.
*In memory of Pemanca Gilbert Ding Laing who passed away in May 2024.
His passion for Kayan culture and dedication to it's preservation is greatly appreciated.
Usi tam awi usan aleng legak men langit, mele'2 tua. Mesti te' kah puhu tam, mesti te' kah pu'un tam, mesti te' kah asen tam...
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We are not like rain that falls aimlessly from the sky.
(Rain, like lost identity, scattered and directionless, searching for purpose amidst the vast expanse of the sky) – we, Kayan, are not like that. We have our ancestors, we have our roots...we have our origin (Pemanca Gilbert Ding Laing, 2016).​