Hutan Adat

The Indigenous Community of Tulou Bulusu Pentian is part of the Bulusu Dayak Tribe whose ancestors originated from Gong Solok, an area in the Upper Malinau River. Currently, they reside in a settlement located along the Pentian River, which has become an important part of their identity. In Bulusu's mythological belief, their ancestors are Yadu (Grandmother) Lawang and Yaki (Grandfather) Bugang, protective deities who reside in Muruk Lingu, a place believed to be akin to heaven, who gave birth to a child named Yaki Ibuk. He was sent to earth at Dagas Sebengawang with provisions of kencur, a machete, and a white chicken as symbols of strength and life. From Yaki Ibuk, the Bulusu Dayak community was born. However, their journey was not always peaceful; the threat of headhunting forced them to leave Gong Solok and move downstream and to the coast, eventually settling in the Malinau, Tana Tidung, and Sekatak River areas in Bulungan. In each new settlement, they built baloy (longhouses) by the river as the center of life, while continuing the traditions of gardening, hunting, and fishing.

The name Pentian comes from the Pentian River that flows through their settlement. This river has become an important identity for the Pentian Indigenous Community, as each baloy is built along the tributaries in the customary area. Each tributary is managed by the community group residing in the baloy, and they rely on nature to meet their daily needs. In addition to gardening and hunting, livestock farming has also become an important part of their lives. Since the time of their ancestors, the Bulusu Pentian community has raised pigs and chickens as their main livestock. However, in 2016, the community began to recognize cattle farming, which provided an additional source of income and became part of their economic development.

The leadership of Bulusu Pentian was initially held by the Village Head, with the first leader being Yaki Yotoi (1874–1896) in Baloy Panagar. Since the enactment of the Village Law in the 1980s, this title has changed to Village Head, along with a government program that centralized the community from scattered baloys to permanent settlements through the construction of affordable housing. Although they now reside permanently, the spirit of togetherness and close relationship with nature remains inherited from their ancestors in Gong Solok.

The jungle is an area whose management rules are carried out communally. The community is allowed to take natural resources, such as wood for building materials and various other food sources. However, to avoid forest damage, the activity of scraping has been prohibited in the forest area, so the jungle/forest is currently protected and proposed to become a Customary Forest. The main functions of the customary forest according to the community include;

• As a land reserve
• As a source of protein (hunting)
• The community can utilize natural resources, such as damar wood and rattan.

Currently, the Customary Forest is managed by the indigenous community with customary rules passed down orally through generations. These rules are unwritten but are adhered to by all community members. The applicable customary rules include:

• Prohibition on clearing land in the forest area.
• Prohibition on farming in the forest area, for example, it is prohibited to take silad leaves because they are considered important for ceremonial/ritual use.

These rules must be adhered to by both the indigenous community and newcomers entering the Customary Forest area; if violated, there will be penalties in the form of warnings, but if the violation is severe, such as violations that could damage the forest ecosystem, a customary court will be held, and the result of the customary court is the determination of a fine in the form of Tempayan/money. The customary court is conducted by gathering at the Baloy Adat, the place for community discussions in determining conflict resolution agreements with customary leaders.

The Customary Forest serves as a primary reserve of land and food for the Bulusu Pentian community. In addition, this area also contributes to the biodiversity of the mountain forests. Some important flora species found in this area include;

• Owoiria (red rattan)
• Owoijalun (rattan)
• Tagas (ulin)
• Togolom
• Gaharu
• Ipah
• Lasun
• Kiliu
• Tabar
• Bakag Kelawid (bajakah root)
• Silad

Meanwhile, the fauna living around the area includes;

• Bakas (pig)
• Tambang
• Pelanuk (mouse deer)
• Payau (deer)
• Paus (deer)
• Abang
• Pelaju
• Berangu (fish)
• Pipi
• Sapang
• Kosop
• Tuntul

In the Customary Forest or Jungle belonging to the Bulusu Pentian community, there are important points they protect as a form of their protection, namely a site called jeranjang or silad leaves, and the river mouth called anak sungoi jeranjang.

Internally, the customary forest or jungle is recognized as the customary territory of Bulusu Pentian and is managed by customary institutions with the Customary Chief as the highest leader. Management decisions are made through a deliberative forum in the Baloy, with active participation from all community members.

However, externally this area still has the status of APL (Other Use Area). The Bulusu Pentian community is now committed to fighting for official recognition as a Customary Forest, so that its protection is legally stronger and not threatened by external interests, including company concessions in the surrounding customary area.