Advice from Kayan elders

Tebara daha' kelunan aya'

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.

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.

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".

Temenggong Elizabeth Deng

*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.

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.

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...

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).

Pemanca Gilbert Ding

Penghulu Ajeng Wan

Daho' nangen

Anih daho' nangen men itam Kayan ja nyadui peji, nyadui sayu te' hang ji dahin ji, ja tam em melak te' pahu tam, te' adat, te' besa' tam Kayan. Kurin na', daha' ha' beh uh maju, bi itam Kayan, usi tam maju awi daha'. Sayu kah bang te' men hang tam aleng uh maju, uh sayu te' alem sekulah, ja deng mejat itam lim pala aleng sayu. Kurin na' nih, sayu alem sekulah, alem hadui, alem pelitah dahin alem Tuhan, tam geri nah itam pala aleng sayu. Awi tam em peji kenep, usi tam jam ket aleng sayu. Tengayet nah peji kenep. Kahum kah tebara amei anih, sek kelo kelenghi na'.

A brief summary of the advice from this elder:
I would like to emphasize, he says, for us Kayan to be of one heart, to work together to bring the Kayan community to a higher level of progress like others, to work together to preserve our pahu (*our people) and our culture. The Kayan is still far behind, we need to work together for the well-being of the Kayan, to be seen as at par with other people; be it at school, work or government so that we can uplift our people. We must also be faithful, to follow God's path. We must work together, be of one heart, for that is the way of the Kayan.