Selong Botuk

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 branch of wood that is upside down in a river. Maridan comes from the combination of the word 'Mori' which means haunted and understood to not be disturbed; and the word 'Dan' which means branch of wood. Over time, the combination of the words Moridan changed to Maridan due to the mixing of languages and dialects. The Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan have a site or area that is protected, called Selong Botuk.

Selong Botuk is taken from the name of the river located in the middle of the mangrove; Selong is the name of the river and Botuk means middle. The Selong Botuk area has a stretch of Mangrove Forest—utilized for fishing, collecting clams, or snails using nembelat or sodo (fish traps made of bamboo).

The initiative to protect this area has existed and is deeply rooted in the minds of the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan. However, the community 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 People 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 customary territories and gather social data of the indigenous community.

The Selong Botuk area can be utilized by all Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan can also utilize it. There are no prohibitions on utilizing the resources available in the Selong Botuk area—anyone can take them as long as it is not excessive and with the permission of the tuo kampong (head of customs). These rules are passed down orally through generations. The following are the rules that apply in the Selong Botuk area:

1. No destruction of the mangrove forest is allowed.

2. No cutting down of trees in the Selong Botuk area is allowed.

3. No excessive extraction of natural resources around Selong Botuk is allowed;

4. It cannot be managed by communities outside the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan and other tribes living in Maridan.

5. The mangrove forest can be utilized by the Maridan indigenous community and other tribes with the permission of the customary leader.

These rules are managed and supervised by the 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, as well as deciding customary sanctions.

2. Saronoian, who assists Tuo Kampung in managing the village and inviting local indigenous people to attend bapekat and work together.

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 customary rituals run smoothly.

In addition, the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan have a division of space according to their customs, namely:

1. Alas is an area of land that is protected for the benefits 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: An area that has never been cultivated for fields. Alas Tuo is a place to gather rattan, hunt, collect traditional medicinal materials, and gather needs for building houses. Alas Tuo is understood as a forest that is still dense.
• Alas Bengkal: A semi-old area that contains fruit trees and meranti wood. Alas Bengkal will be used again later.
• Alas Mori: A forest that is guarded and has never been managed by the indigenous community because it is considered haunted.
• Alas Bakau: Mangrove Forest.

2. Lati Burok, is a shrubland that was once a rice field left for 3-4 years.

3. Umo, is an area of garden/field land for planting mountain rice and vegetables.

4. Kebon, is an area of land used for planting rubber and palm.

5. Gentung, is an area of land functioned as a source of spring water with collective rights subjects.

6. Kampung, is the residential area in Kampong Maridan.

The management and protection of Selong Botuk contribute to the preservation of the mangrove coastal ecosystem. In addition, it also contributes to the protection of the biodiversity of flora and fauna within it such as:

• Diverse Flora Species:
• 1. Song/Brus Mangrove (Male Mangrove)
• 2. Bawe Mangrove (Female Mangrove)
• 3. Niri/Boi Mangrove
• 4. Tengere/Tengar Mangrove
• 5. Landing Mangrove
• 6. Setigi Mangrove
• 7. Api-Api Mangrove
• 8. Landro/Berus Song Mangrove
• 9. Landro/Berus Bawe Mangrove
• 10. Nipah
• 11. Jeruju
• 12. Perepah/Perepat
• 13. Perangat
• 14. Perepah/Perepat Stone
• Diverse Fauna Species:
• 1. Tontong Stork (protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 2. Hawksbill Turtle (Protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 3. Irrawaddy Dolphin (Protected and Rare/Endangered)
• 4. Mangrove Crab
• 5. White Shrimp
• 6. Kipar Fish
• 7. Baronang Fish
• 8. Belanak Fish
• 9. Red Snapper Fish
• 10. White Snapper Fish
• 11. Sumpit Fish
• 12. Barracuda Fish
• 13. Tompel Fish
• 14. Ketamba Fish
• 15. Trekulu Fish
• 16. Stingray Fish
• 17. Mayung Fish
• 18. Mangrove Osi
• 19. Stone Osi
• 20. Song Osi
• 21. Bawe Osi
• 22. Brungun
• 23. Cempude
• 24. Punpun
• 25. Tengkoang
• 26. Mangrove Clam
• 27. Iron Clam

The Indigenous People in Penajam Paser Utara Regency only have a legal basis for recognition and protection at the provincial level. Until now, there has been no legal subject regulating the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, especially the Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan. The Indigenous People of Kampong Maridan are one of the indigenous communities affected by the eviction due to the development of the Nusantara Capital located in Sepaku District.