Ruyud and Bupen: Traditional Values of the Krayan Indigenous People, North Kalimantan

Mutual cooperation among the Dayak people during the rice harvest/ Formadat

The human factor cannot be separated from any tourist destination. The island of the gods, Bali, for example, is favored as a tourist destination not only for its natural beauty; but also the wealth of culture, art, traditional values, and the Balinese people themselves.

As for Kalimantan, of course what's interesting isn't just its ecotourism charm; but also the human factor and the value of its extraordinary traditional heritage.

Read Dayak Customs And Culture: The Native People Of Borneo

One of the thousands of inherited cultural values ​​and ancestral traditions of the Dayak people is cooperation, mutual help, which in North Kalimantan are called: Ruyud and Bupen.

Gotong-royong is seen as a natural, or original value, of the Indonesian nation in which every ethnic group that lives and resides in the archipelago has practiced it as a cultural heritage.

However, what or where is the evidence from the traces of the ethnic civilizations that practice gotong that have continued to live and be lived up to this moment?

Ruyud is also often done during the harvest season in the fields. Rice fruit that is ripe, must be harvested immediately so as not to rot and be damaged.

Krayan people, North Kalimantan, can be a little proud in this regard. Why? Because they can prove the traces of the value of mutual cooperation which is the nature of the Archipelago, which is genuine, typical of the local community. The name is also in the local language, more than just cooperation, but contains values ​​beyond compassion in the terms Ruyud and Bupen.

Ruyud is the equivalent of gotong royong. However, it is not just working together, doing things for the public interest, repairing public infrastructure, and helping people who have been struck by disasters.

In traditional societies, wage work is not recognized. Therefore, even if you don't join the ruyud but give some money in exchange, this cannot be accepted as an expression of compassion. The presence of that person is more important than the value of money.

Presence becomes very meaningful, when in ruyud it is not only the work that is done, but also that there is compassion, a family atmosphere, laughter, jokes, inspiring life stories, eating together, including usually performing arts. For example, riddles, rhymes, poems, songs, and so on.

Read Borneo As A Choice Of Ecotourism And Historical Tourism Destinations

Ruyud usually takes place in a cycle of traditional Krayan organic farming or rice fields. Determine how many times a week to work ruyud, for example two days. Four for personal/family days, one day for rest, or God's Day.

Why must ruyud? Because there are many jobs that cannot be done by one, two, or three people. However, it must be done together. For example, in one cycle of cultivation, planting rice, which is called nugal.

Nugal should be finished that very day. Because if not, rice will not grow together and the results will not be optimal. The men drill holes in the ground, because this work requires extra effort. While the women baited or dropped the seeds into the drill hole. In that ruyud, it happens not only to complete a job together; but there is a socio-cultural dimension.

Ruyud is also often done during the harvest season in the fields. Rice fruit that is ripe, must be harvested immediately so as not to rot and be damaged.

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In such a way, so that residents do ruyud. One day ruyud, an expanse of fields can be harvested/planted where the results can be up to tens of baskets. Tomorrow, and so on, ruyud ngetam in a different owner's field.

Therefore, not only in terms of good mutual cooperation, but also in terms of results. In addition to the value of gotong royong, there are several types of work that are more efficient and effective when done in a coordinated manner than when done alone.

Apart from ruyud, Krayan is also known as bupen among humans. That is, residents work for someone who really needs the energy of many people to complete a big job that must be completed that very day. Residents are not paid, but enough to be provided with food/drink.*)