Sumber Air Bukit Berugak dan Bukit Senibung

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 districts, 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 originates from Tanah Tamba Rawang in Sukadana, migrating to Tanah Simpakng/Banua Simpakng. The 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 called Banua Simpakng was accidental.

Then, regarding the history of the indigenous community in Mekar Raya Village, it is told that during the Matan kingdom, there was a figure named Ria Niti. Ria Niti was a very 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 government for Mekar Raya Village). During the hunt, Ria Niti and his close associates found large fish covered in moss due to being unused for a long time and wild boars that were abundant, 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 establish a village, a tradition that has continued through his descendants to this day. Meanwhile, 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 as 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 to the present (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 (Habitat of Tigers/Ancestral Manifestations), Sacred River (Tanikng, Bejangkar, Amun Tuda), and East Mountain (Maria Cave and Bangka Waterfall). The Berugak and Senibung Water Sources are part of the same expanse as Gunung Juring. The spring water is channeled through piping. This water source is used by the community for drinking, eating, bathing, and daily needs. In addition, this water source has also been developed as a business, namely: a business unit of BUMDes managing refillable gallon water. This business activity began to be established in November 2021.

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 guard the location. Currently, the regulations set 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.

Protection of the Berugak and Senibung Water Sources contributes to the preservation of the spring ecosystem. The spring water is utilized by the community for drinking, eating, bathing, and daily needs. Furthermore, this water is also sustainably managed through the BUMDes business unit. In addition, there are types of flora around the water sources (flowers, trees, plants) that are protected by custom, such as Maliali Bolang, Kumpang Darah, Red Betel, Rarak Bosi, Dogak, Akar Libang, Romeo, and Maaliali Hijau. Additionally, fauna around the water sources (animals, birds, etc.) that are important to protect include: Porcupines, Civets, Pangolins, Mouse Deer (Forest Rats), Weasels, and Jelarang.

The Dayak Simpakng Indigenous Community of 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 Ketapang Regency Regulation No. 8 of 2020 concerning 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 Committee for Indigenous Law Communities.