Huma Betang Muara Mea

Preserving the Dignity of Dayak Teweh: Cultural Exploration at Huma Betang Muara Mea

Huma Betang Muara Mea is more than just a magnificent wooden structure standing in Barito Utara Regency, Central Kalimantan. It is the heart of life, the center of cultural gravity, and the physical manifestation of the "Belum Bahadat" (civilized living) philosophy. Located in Muara Mea Village, Gunung Purei District, this cultural center serves as the last bastion safeguarding the authenticity of Dayak traditions, particularly for the Dayak Teweh and Lawangan sub-ethnics, ensuring their relevance amidst the accelerating currents of modernization.

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Architecture as a Symbol of Unity

Huma Betang Muara Mea is built by preserving the traditional structure of a Central Kalimantan betang house. The elongated building with sturdy ulin wooden pillars symbolizes the resilience of the local community. Within this cultural center, the spaces not only function as living quarters but also as communal areas for deliberation. The existence of this Huma Betang affirms the concept of harmonious coexistence without regard for differences in religion or social status, a noble value passed down by the ancestors of the Barito Utara people.

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Revitalization of Traditional Performing Arts and Music

As a cultural hub, Huma Betang Muara Mea is a crucible for the preservation of performing arts. Every weekend, the sounds of Kecapi (a stringed instrument) and the beats of Garantung (copper gongs) echo from the main hall. One of the flagship programs here is the training for the Wira Panyumpit dance, a distinctive dance depicting the agility of Dayak youth in hunting with blowpipes.

In addition, this center regularly stages the Giring-Giring Dance. Unlike performances at general tourist attractions, at Muara Mea, this dance is taught with its original form, using bamboo sticks filled with panyat seeds that produce a synchronized rhythm between foot stomps and jingling sounds. Visitors are not just spectators; they are invited into the dance circle to directly experience the collective energy of the Teweh community.

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Handicrafts and Culture-Based Creative Economy

In one corner of Huma Betang, there is a special area dedicated to handicrafts. Women's empowerment programs in Muara Mea focus on Rattan and Purun weaving techniques. The flagship products are Lanjung and Sidin, traditional bags with intricate geometric patterns full of philosophical meaning.

Uniquely, Huma Betang Muara Mea also serves as a center for developing distinctive Barito Utara batik motifs. Motifs such as Batang Garing (tree of life) and Mandau are integrated into fabrics using natural dyes derived from tree roots in the forests around Gunung Purei. This is a concrete effort by the cultural center to transform ancestral heritage into a sustainable economic source for the village residents.

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Educational Programs and Cultural Literacy

The Muara Mea Cultural Center recognizes that preservation without education is futile. Therefore, they run the "Betang Mengajar" program. This program involves customary leaders or Mantir Adat to provide material to the younger generation on customary law, oral history, and an introduction to the Dayak Teweh language.

The education provided is not limited to theory. Young people are taught precise Menyumpit (blowpipe usage) techniques, as well as how to prepare traditional medicines from forest plants. This step aims to ensure that the ethnobotanical knowledge possessed by the Dayak people is not lost to time. Huma Betang acts as an intergenerational bridge, ensuring that cultural identity continues to flow through the veins of Barito Utara's youth.

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Festival Celebrations and Customary Rituals

Huma Betang Muara Mea becomes the epicenter during the annual cultural festival. One of the most sacred moments is the Wara ceremony, an eschatological ritual to guide the spirits of ancestors to their final resting place. Although this ritual is religious for adherents of Kaharingan, the cultural center packages it (while maintaining its sacredness) as a means of visual education for tourists and researchers.

Additionally, every harvest season, the Pesta Panen (Harvest Festival) is held, enlivened by traditional sports competitions such as Manyumpit, Manggasing, and Habayang. These activities attract both international and domestic tourists, while also strengthening social solidarity among the residents of Barito Utara.

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Conservation and Protection of Intangible Heritage

Huma Betang Muara Mea's role in cultural conservation also includes the documentation of intangible heritage. The cultural center's management actively collects folk tales (Kisah) and nearly extinct ancient songs. They collaborate with relevant agencies to register the communal intellectual property of the Barito Utara community at the national level.

Preservation here is not just about the physical building but also about safeguarding the "soul" of every ritual. For instance, in the creation of Sapundu statues, the cultural center ensures that the wood used is obtained with customary permission and that the carving process follows the mystical rules established through generations.

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Role in Regional Cultural Development

Huma Betang Muara Mea has transformed into a cultural tourism icon in Barito Utara. Its existence has a domino effect on regional development. With this center, road access to the Gunung Purei area continues to be improved, and supporting ecosystems such as homestays based on local residences have begun to develop.

More than that, this cultural center functions as a social laboratory. It is here that dialogue between local wisdom and government policy takes place. Huma Betang becomes a space for the community to voice their aspirations through a cultural perspective, ensuring that development in Central Kalimantan does not uproot the traditions of its people.

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Conclusion: A Home for the Future

Huma Betang Muara Mea proves that tradition is not a dead object merely displayed in a museum. It is a living, breathing, and continuously evolving entity. Through synergy between performing arts, handicrafts, education, and customary rituals, this cultural center has succeeded in preserving the dignity of the Dayak people in Barito Utara.

For anyone who visits, Huma Betang Muara Mea offers a profound spiritual and intellectual experience. It is a reminder that in an increasingly uniform world, cultural uniqueness is the most valuable wealth. As a cultural center, it will continue to stand strong like ulin wood, serving as a beacon for anyone who wishes to return and rediscover their identity as a nation that cherishes history and tradition.