Orang Ulu

The Orang Ulu (literally "upriver people" or "interior people" in Malay) are an ethnic group comprising numerous smaller tribes who reside in the interior of Sarawak, Malaysia. They are distinct from the Ibans (Sea Dayaks) and the Bidayuh (Land Dayaks), although they share the island of Borneo.

The term "Orang Ulu" is a collective term that encompasses a variety of distinct and diverse ethnic groups, each with their own unique languages, customs, and histories. Some of the more prominent Orang Ulu groups include:

• Kayan: Known for their longhouses, intricate beadwork, and wood carvings.
• Kenyah: Similar to the Kayan in many cultural aspects, also renowned for their art.
• Kajang: A smaller group often associated with the Kayan and Kenyah.
• Penan: Traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers, now increasingly settled. Their forest knowledge is extensive.
• Murut: Found in both Sarawak and Sabah, known for their traditional agriculture and unique cultural practices.
• Kelabit: Inhabitants of the Kelabit Highlands, known for their rice cultivation and traditional longhouses.
• Lun Bawang/Lundayeh: Another group residing in the highlands, known for their agriculture and distinct language.
• Berawan: A smaller group with unique traditions and language.

Traditionally, the Orang Ulu lived in longhouses and practiced shifting cultivation. They are skilled artisans, producing elaborate beadwork, wood carvings, and woven crafts. Their cultures are rich in oral traditions, music, and dance.

The Orang Ulu have faced numerous challenges due to logging, dam construction, and the pressures of modernization, which have impacted their traditional ways of life and the environment they depend on. Many Orang Ulu communities are now actively involved in efforts to preserve their cultures, advocate for their rights, and promote sustainable development.