By Shikin Louis
BAU, May 1: ‘Sikon’—the Bidayuh art of bamboo stilt walking—was among the popular attractions at the Bung Bratak Day event held at Bung Bratak Heritage Centre near Kampung Tembawang Sauh here today.
Similar to a game called ‘kaki hantu’ in the Malay community, this traditional game requires participants to balance themselves on stilts made from bamboo.
While many children play the game as a race, it was believed that the Bidayuhs used the stilts to cross the river in the old days.
At the Bung Bratak Day celebration, many visitors took the opportunity to try on the bamboo stilts with some actually managing to keep their balance perfectly.
The annual event also featured captivating Bidayuh cultural dances and music performed by talented communities as well as booths selling food, beverages and handcrafts.
Bung Bratak Heritage Association (BBHA) chairman Dato Peter Minos said the event was held for the Bidayuhs to show their respect to their ancestors who lived in the ancient hilltop settlement where the Bung Bratak Heritage Centre currently sits some 750 years ago.
“If it were not for them, we would not be around. Thus, we feel that it is important for us to pay our respects and commemorate them who had lived at Bung Bratak 750 years ago.
“We feel that everybody must respect history and heritage because if we don’t, we would have no anchor in our life. History is so important that you have to honour history all the time so that you will remember your roots and heritage,” he said in his speech during the event at the site today.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Dato Snowdan Lawan was present to officiate at the annual event.
Also present were Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol and Temenggong Atok Derop.
According to BBHA’s statement released during the event, 750 years ago, a group of people from Sungkong (now in Kalimantan Barat) under their leader Sirauh trekked to Bung Bratak in search for ample paddy planting land and/or to avoid a serious infectious disease.
They settled peacefully at Bung Bratak until they were viciously attacked by hostile groups in May 1838 where their settlement was razed to the ground and the elders were all killed and the children kidnapped.
Panglima Kulow and a small group were at farms further downhill and were spared.
In 1841, Panglima Kulow sought the help of Rajah James Brooke to fight the enemy which led to the return of kidnapped children.
The brave warrior then rebuilt Bung Bratak and it became a big village, known all over.
By 1960, the Bung Bratak people moved to the lowlands of Bau and Lundu Districts with only Kampung Tembawang Sauh remained at the Bung Bratak foothills. — DayakDaily
