OUR ADAT- Ridiculed by the present government.

Taken from Suara Telang Usan.

The ADAT of the various Dayak communities is an unwritten code of law and ethics commonly called customs and traditions that govern the life of a Dayak from birth till death. It is not a religion but it has moral and spiritual guidelines including penalties if broken, safety and well-being when observed and practiced in detail. That is the MAIN REASON why Dayak Tuai Rumah must be someone who has the capacity, capability and validity to lead rediculed by the neo-colonialist ( today's gomen ), Dayaks would still be a " disciplined lot " Before " scorning"  our ADAT, consult the very very senior members of the longhouse and the figure out why we are the way we are today. Our ADAT evolved through thousands of years of day-to-day practice by our ancestors. They survived through to ...US. Once we scorn our own ADAT and adopt a new law crafted in a few days by non Dayaks, we are on our way to " extinction " by way of a " silent genocide " well planned by those who eye and desires to own our ancestral land. Our descendants may be running around then, but they cannot identify themselves as Dayaks. They would be identified by their occupations, probably not of high standing. A community exists by way of their customs and traditions.... ( ADAT ) nurtured and practiced since time immemorial. It is easy to rob a man of his " family land " when he is removed from his family lineage. It is equally easier to rob the Dayaks of their NCR land when they are separated from their ADAT.