Bontot Bangkanai

The Indigenous Community of Karamuan has long inhabited its territory since the 17th century AD. However, it officially became a community/village in 1900 or the 19th century AD—led at that time by a person named "Leket" with the position of "Jaga" by the Dutch colonial government, and "Leket" was the first person to become a leader in Karamuan. The Indigenous Community of Dusun Malang Leu Karamuan has a protected area, namely Kerengkang Adat.

Kerengkang Adat is a protected forest area for future generations. The Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan considers this area as sacred and holy. The Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan believes that anyone who damages or disturbs this place will be disturbed by the spirits that reside there. This disturbance does not only affect one person but also creates an unsettling atmosphere in the environment. This area has been protected for generations. Knowledge, management, and values that are firmly held have been passed down to subsequent generations. Therefore, until now, no one dares to damage this protected area. In addition, the Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan also has other spatial divisions according to tradition:

1. Kerengkang Uneng Tawas Tumbar is a place for searching for traditional medicines.

2. Kerengkang Uneng Usaha is a place for seeking rattan, resin, and hunting.

3. Kerengkang Uneng Sungkume is a reserve forest for farming.

4. Kebun Raba Masyarakat is a mixed garden such as rubber, rattan, and fruits.

5. Karengkang Uneng Eha Kenah is a special place for fishing and hunting animals.

The management of the three protected areas is regulated by the customary institution of Leu Karamuan which consists of 1) Mantir adat, responsible for overseeing the governance in the customary area; 2) Penghulu adat, responsible for handling marriage/divorce/death issues. If there are matters related to the management of these areas, decisions are made through a joint deliberation (simpun dudun) held at the Customary Hall (betang karamuan).

The main management rules applied are 1) no damage to the protected areas is allowed; 2) opening new fields in any way is prohibited without permission from the mantir adat. There are penalties for anyone who violates the above rules, which will be subject to the customary sanction of Bulot Bahanoi with a value corresponding to the violated rule.

The Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan has contributed to the preservation and biodiversity. They have made efforts to protect water sources and natural resources for future generations or their descendants. The Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan has a customary spatial division consisting of places for searching for traditional medicine, gathering wood, hunting, and farming. These natural resources include:

1. Food Sources (Rice, Cassava, Sweet Potatoes, Peanuts, Corn, Eggplant, Humbut Manau, Humbut Irit, Humbut Palm, Chili, Spinach, Water Spinach, Mustard, Rambutan, Durian, Cempedak, Mangosteen).

2. Timber Sources (Ulin Wood, Stone Wood/Pangin Jungau, Meranti Wood/Kerenkang Wood).

3. Traditional Medicines (Yellow Root for Jaundice, Tawas Urun and Lamping Ayou for stomachache, Dutch Jackfruit Shoots, Kapok Skin for diabetes medicine, Kareho Wood Shoots for ulcer medicine, Tawar Seribu Root for malaria, Buncar Grass for diarrhea medicine, forest noni tree roots for constipation medicine, Dusun Flower for fever medicine, Duck's Tongue Root for cough and diarrhea medicine, Sangkarukut Root for fever and stomachache medicine, Sky Net Mushroom for facial powder).

In addition, this management practice also contributes to the preservation of cultural and spiritual sites—the Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan respects things they believe in even if they are not visible. The community can optimally utilize the results, water sources will remain preserved, and the area can serve as a learning medium for both future generations and outsiders who wish to learn about the traditions and local wisdom of the Indigenous Community of Leu Karamuan.

The Indigenous Community of Dusun Malang Leu Karamuan does not yet have a legal basis governing the recognition and protection of their rights. Until now, there is only a legal basis that contains the Formation of the Indigenous Law Community Committee in Barito Utara Regency.

Decree of the Regent of Barito Utara Number 188.45/331/2019 concerning the Formation of the Indigenous Law Community Committee of Barito Utara