Kenoyong

The history of Kampong Maridan has two different versions of the story. In the first version, Maridan comes from the name of a prominent person, namely Jabat, with evidence in the form of a grave. Jabat is a figure from the Paser Tribe who is believed to have opened Kampong Maridan during the Dutch colonial era. Initially, Kampong Maridan was the customary territory of the Balik Tribe, but now the Balik Tribe no longer resides in Kampong Maridan.

In the second version, it is explained that the name Maridan is derived from a large tree branch that is upside down in a river. Maridan comes from the combination of the word 'Mori' which means haunted and is understood to be not disturbed; and the word 'Dan' which means tree branch. Over time, the combination of the words Moridan changed to Maridan due to the mixing of languages and dialects. The Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan has a site or area that is protected, which is called Kenoyong.

Kenoyong comes from the name of a person who opened the field for the first time. Kenoyong is also the name of an old village in Maridan. In the past, within the Kenoyong area, there was a stilt house with ironwood pillars that were carved, which was inhabited by Dato Lateda/ Dato Tinggi who was born in 1902 and passed away in 2002.

Kenoyong has a stretch of Alas Bekal, which is a semi-old forest containing hard trees and fruit trees. In the Kenoyong area, there is also a stretch of Alas Mangrove (Mangrove Forest). In addition, there are also old graves or the graves of the ancestors of the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan—not only old graves but also a well or spring called Sumur Dato Kotek. Around the Kenoyong mangroves, the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan catches fish using nembelat—a fish trap made of bamboo and sodo, a fishing tool made of bamboo.

The initiative to protect this area has existed and is deeply rooted in the minds of the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan. However, the customary leaders mostly do not understand the regulations regarding the protection of protected areas or their customary territory. Therefore, there are external parties that assist in the recognition and protection of the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan, such as AMAN (Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago), PEREMPUAN AMAN, and BRWA (Agency for the Registration of Customary Territories) in 2020 to conduct mapping of the customary territory and gather social data of the Indigenous community.

The Kenoyong area can be utilized by all Indigenous communities of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan are also allowed to utilize it. There are no prohibitions on utilizing the resources available in the Kenoyong area—anyone can take them as long as it is not excessive and with the permission of the tuo kampong (customary head). This rule is passed down orally and through generations.

The following are the rules that apply in the Kenoyong area:

1. No one may take natural resources around Kenoyong excessively.
2. It may not be managed by communities outside the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan.
3. Water sources and Mangrove Forests may be utilized by the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan and other tribes (with the permission of the customary head).
4. No destruction of the mangrove forest is allowed.
5. No cutting down of hard trees and fruit trees is allowed.
6. No lonsa (impure acts, or women who are menstruating are prohibited from visiting the dato kotek well and old graves) is allowed; if violated, it is believed to bring disaster or that the well will dry up.

These rules are managed and supervised by a customary institution called Penggugu Adat Kampong Maridan, which consists of:

1. Tuo Kampong, who plays a role in running customary governance, leading deliberations (bapekat), regulating the system of life of the Indigenous community related to land, fields, gardens, and forests, and deciding customary sanctions.
2. Saronoian, who assists Tuo Kampung in managing the village and invites local Indigenous communities to attend bapekat and cooperate.
3. Mulung, who plays a role in reciting mantras and performing traditional healing through customary rituals.
4. Penggading, who prepares all ritual equipment and ensures that the customary rituals run smoothly.

Currently, the customary institution is only run by the customary head and the deputy head, as well as members of the Indigenous community in carrying out the functions of the customary institution.

Spatial Division According to Custom

The Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan has a spatial division according to its customs, namely:

1. Alas: An area of land that is protected for the benefit of its garden reserves. There are various land covers in this area, namely brackish, teak, and pine. Alas is divided into several categories, namely:

• Alas Tuo: Alas that has never been cultivated for fields. Alas Tuo is a place to search for rattan, a hunting ground, a source of traditional medicinal materials, and to gather materials for building houses. Alas Tuo is understood as a still dense forest.
• Alas Bengkal: A semi-old forest that contains fruit trees and meranti wood. Alas Bengkal will be used again in the future.
• Alas Mori: A forest that is guarded and never managed by the Indigenous community because it is considered haunted.
• Alas Bakau: Mangrove Forest.

2. Lati Burok: Shrubland from abandoned rice fields that have been left for 3-4 years.
3. Umo: An area of garden/field land for planting mountain rice and vegetables.
4. Kebon: An area of land used for planting rubber and palm.
5. Gentung: An area of land that functions as a water source with collective rights.
6. Kampung: A settlement area in the Kampong Maridan region.

The Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan protects the Kenoyong area because it has a history closely related to a respected customary leader. The management and protection of Kenoyong contribute to the preservation of forest and mangrove coastal ecosystems. In addition, it also contributes to the protection of the biodiversity within it such as: Fruit Trees (Tudak, Coconut, Rambutan, Elai, Langsati); Medicinal Plants (Melepek for Malaria, Cough and Cold; Pasak Bumi for Fever, Cough, Cold; Kelekakait for Cancer, Tumor, Joint Pain, Rheumatism; Koyur for Eye Pain, Back Pain).

In addition, there are also protected flora and fauna such as:

• • Mouse Deer (Kancil)
  • Deer (Kijang)
  • Kelawot (Uwa-Uwa) (protected)
  • Bekarak (Bekantan) (protected)
  • Code mea (Lutung) (protected)
  • Code (Monkey)
  • Buis (Gray Lutung) (protected)
  • Boruk (Beruk)
  • Slow Loris (protected)
  • Ukor (Book Monkey) (protected)
  • Kung (Kumbung Melaya) (protected)
  • Besikak (Squirrel)
  • Tetung (Landang)
  • Munin (Civet)
  • Biyontung (Singung)
  • Dongon (Otter)
  • Tugok (Turtle)
  • Delawi (Bulus)

• Kuek (Hornbill) (Sacred) has a relationship with ancestral spirits
• Tukuk (Hornbill) (Sacred)
• Nungau (Hornbill) (Sacred)
• Tiong (Tiung) (protected)
• Beliomban (Stone Magpie) (protected)
• Tinjau (Green Gecko)
• Bangku Liang (Rowo Gecko)
• Okak (Crow)
• Tekalis (Woodpecker)
• Koniw (Eagle)

The Indigenous community in Penajam Paser Utara Regency has only a legal basis for recognition and protection at the provincial level, namely East Kalimantan Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2015 concerning Guidelines for the Recognition and Protection of Customary Law Communities in East Kalimantan Province. Until now, there has been no specific regulation governing the recognition and protection of the Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan.

The Indigenous community of Kampong Maridan is one of the Indigenous communities affected by the eviction for the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in Sepaku District.