Gunung Timur

The Dayak Simpakng Indigenous Community, often referred to as Dayak Simpang, is one of the sub-ethnic groups of the Dayak people generally residing in the Simpang Hulu and Simpang Dua sub-districts of Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. A small portion of them also exists at the border of Ketapang Regency and Sanggau Regency, specifically along the river basins of Banjur, Semandang, Baram, and Kualatn. Based on common stories found, the Dayak Simpakng ethnic group originated from Tanah Tamba Rawang in Sukadana and migrated to Tanah Simpakng/Banua Simpakng. Political changes in the Sukadana Kingdom and the spread of Islam led the Dayak Simpakng people to migrate en masse to Banua Simpakng for several reasons, such as security considerations and interest in the natural potential of Banua Simpakng. The second wave of migration was caused by coercion for the payment of blasting taxes due to the cooperation between the Tanjungpura Kingdom and the Dutch Company. The discovery of the location known as Banua Simpakng was accidental.

Then, regarding the history of the indigenous community in Mekar Raya Village, it is told that during the Matan kingdom era, there was a figure named Ria Niti. Ria Niti was a highly influential figure among the Dayak Simpakng at that time. Ria Niti invited his close associates to hunt in the area now known as Banjur (which became the center of the Mekar Raya Village government). During the hunt, Ria Niti and his close associates found large fish covered in moss due to being unused for a long time and numerous wild boars with rattan growing on their shoulders. With the abundance of these resources, Ria Niti returned to Tamak Rawang (Sukadana) to invite other friends and family to visit Banjur and decided to settle and build a village, a legacy continued by his descendants to this day. The name Mekar Raya has an abbreviation ME, which stands for Merangin; KAR, which stands for Karab; and Ya, which stands for Baya; (Merangin, Karap, and Baya are the names of hamlets in Mekar Raya Village).

Before it became a village, Mekar Raya Village was known as Kampung Banjur Karap. It began to form into a village in 1996 led by the Village Head Mr. Adoria Niti until the year 2000. From 2000 to 2005, it was led by Mr. Keike, from 2005 to 2015 by Absalon Nunai, and from mid-2015 until now (2023) by Mr. Toni. Mekar Raya Village was previously divided into five (5) hamlets, namely Dusun Baya Keranji which is now Desa Batu Daya, Dusun Kembra which is now Desa Kemora, Dusun Merangin which is now Desa Kampar Sebomban, Dusun Banjur, and Dusun Karab which until now are still one village, namely Mekar Raya Village.

The Dayak Simpakng community in Mekar Raya Village has areas that are managed and protected through generations due to their natural resource potential, namely: Tembawang, Sacred Forest, Berugak and Senibung Water Sources, Semugo Hill (Tiger Habitat/Ancestral Manifestation), Sacred River (Tanikng, Bejangkar, Amun Tuda), and East Mountain (Maria Cave and Bangka Waterfall). East Mountain is considered an important place because it has religious functions, serves as a pilgrimage site, and religious tourism. This location has been developed into a waterfall bathing tourism site. The area can be accessed by two-wheeled motor vehicles and on foot, and it has become a favorite tourist spot for the residents of Mekar Raya Village and its surroundings due to its scenic views of the forest, waterfall, and Maria Cave.

The management of the areas that are managed and protected is the responsibility of the customary institution and the village authorities. The customary institution in Mekar Raya Village consists of Demung as the customary leader and Lemaku as a witness, as well as the Village Shaman who acts as the person responsible for the sacred areas—each sacred area has its own key holder to safeguard the location. Currently, the regulations established for each managed and protected area are only passed down orally and through generations. However, there are also plans to draft Village Regulations for managing the protected areas. The East Mountain area itself has been functioned as a religious tourism site managed by the institution responsible for tourism management in Mekar Raya Village.

The protection of the East Mountain area contributes to the social, cultural, and religious aspects of the community. In addition, it also contributes to the preservation of forest ecosystems and the biodiversity within them. East Mountain will be managed sustainably in accordance with its previous use, which is related to religious functions and combined with tourism functions. Additionally, there are protected flora species (flowers, trees, plants) according to customary law such as: Maliali Bolang, Kumpang Darah, Red Betel, Rarak Bosi, Dogak, Akar Libang, Romeo, and Maaliali hijau. Furthermore, there are also fauna (animals, birds, etc.), such as: Hornbill, Enggang Tajak, Enggang Kuko, Bears, Porcupines, Civets, Clouded Leopards, Mouse Deer (Forest Mouse), Deer, Barking Deer, and Pangolins.

The Dayak Simpakng Indigenous Community in Mekar Raya Village does not yet have specific regulations governing the recognition and protection of rights or the protection of community-managed areas. There is a legal basis that has been established regarding the recognition and protection of Indigenous Law Communities in Ketapang Regency, namely through Regional Regulation No. 8 of 2020 on the Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Law Communities in Ketapang Regency and the Decree of the Ketapang Regent No. 589/DISPMPD-B/2021 concerning the Indigenous Law Community Committee.