By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 28: Curtin University Malaysia has launched the Kayan Ethnographic Online Dictionary, a pioneering digital platform designed to preserve the endangered Kayan language and safeguard Sarawak’s indigenous heritage for future generations.
The initiative, unveiled on May 22 at Curtin University Malaysia, brought together around 100 participants, including community leaders, members of the Kayan and Kenyah Councils of Elders, academics, and cultural advocates.
According to a media release today, the gathering reflected a shared commitment to protecting one of Sarawak’s rich linguistic and cultural legacies.
Among those present were Curtin Malaysia Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak Dominic Nyurang Ajang, and administrative officer (Magistrate) of the Native Courts of Sarawak Baweng Tajang.
More than a conventional dictionary, the Kayan Ethnographic Online Dictionary serves as a comprehensive cultural archive, documenting not only vocabulary but also oral traditions, cultural knowledge, and identity.
The platform transforms decades of lived heritage into an accessible digital resource aimed at supporting younger generations, researchers, educators, and the wider public.
The project was spearheaded by Dr Roselind Wan, Academic Skills Advisor at Curtin Malaysia, whose research-driven collaboration with indigenous communities highlights the role of higher education institutions in cultural preservation.
Supported by the Endangered Language Fund (ELF) in the United States through its Language Legacies Grant, the initiative also involved collaboration with Dr Marcelo Schellini of Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Foad Motalebi, senior lecturer in Curtin Malaysia’s Electrical & Computer Engineering Department.
The launch was officiated by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Mulu asssemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala, who described the initiative as more than the unveiling of a digital platform, but rather a meaningful celebration of identity, heritage, and cultural continuity.
“Preserving indigenous languages such as Kayan is not merely about protecting one community’s heritage. It is about safeguarding the cultural identity and diversity of Sarawak itself,” he said in his address at the event.
He cautioned that the disappearance of a language results in the loss of unique worldviews, ancestral wisdom, and generations of cultural knowledge.
“Amid increasing globalisation and the dominance of major world languages, many indigenous tongues face growing risks of extinction, particularly among younger speakers,” he added.
Gerawat praised the Kayan Ethnographic Online Dictionary, alongside its accompanying YouTube channel and upcoming Kayan language website, as a timely and impactful effort to revitalise indigenous language learning and strengthen cultural pride.
He also commended Dr Roselind and her team for their dedication, saying the project could serve as a model for similar preservation efforts across Sarawak and beyond.
Meanwhile, Professor Vu said the launch marked an important milestone not only for Curtin Malaysia but also for indigenous knowledge preservation in the region.
“At Curtin Malaysia, we believe education and research should serve communities meaningfully. This project exemplifies how academic research can strengthen cultural identity, empower communities, and inspire future generations to value and protect their heritage,” he said.
He added that the initiative underscores the importance of partnerships between universities, indigenous communities, and supporting institutions in ensuring that endangered languages are not only documented but also actively revitalised and celebrated.
The event also featured a deeply moving cultural performance by Kayan elders, who welcomed Gerawat with Tekna’, a traditional Kayan oral singing practice that embodies storytelling traditions and ancestral knowledge passed down through generations.
The Kayan Ethnographic Online Dictionary stands as a significant cultural milestone, reinforcing the idea that every language carries irreplaceable histories, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world, making their preservation essential to sustaining humanity’s shared cultural diversity. — DayakDaily
