'Iban Cultural Foundation'

Basically, based on my observation there is no Iban cultural foundation especially here in Sarawak. What we have now is only Dayak's cultural foundation which is to serve all Dayaks consisting Iban, (Sea-Dayak) Bidayuh, (Land Dayak) and Orang Ulus (Kayan, Kenyah, Berawan, Kelabit, Lunbawang, Bisaya and many others). It is essentially important that, a solid governing body or foundation to be formed as a hallmark to serve and to help in consolidating strategic efforts in strengthening Ibans in various fields of socio-cultural, socio-economic, education, as well as in promoting and protecting its invaluable unique culture of custom and beliefs, art, festival, ceremonies, way of life as a legacy and heritage for younger generations ie our Iban language, music and instruments, 'Ngajat', (Iban traditional dance) 'adat Melah Pinang', (Iban wedding ceremony) 'Bepencha' and 'Bekuntau', (Iban martial arts) 'Gawai Mangkong Tiang', (Iban house warming ceremony) 'Gawai Kenyalang', 'Gawai Burong', 'Bepangka', (top game competition) 'Bibat', (arm wrestling) 'bepantun', 'besanggai', 'beganu,' 'berenong', 'bebiau', 'beramban' etc...(Iban songs, poem and rituals).

We need a proper venue and a solid platform; we need an Iban cultural and heritage foundation to be formed and become the household name for the Ibans. That is to say, a place where we and especially the youths can serve, brainstorming, study and discuss - to analyze the strengths and weaknesses, opportunity and threat concerning or relating to socio-economic, socio-cultural, and in the field of education effecting our Iban children in this globalize world full of competitions so as to be more competitive without discriminating others and to protect the welfare and to preserve the rights of the Iban community.

Through a Dayak Cultural Foundation as 'vehicle' to promote the Ibans very rich culture is not strategically effective because it would not be focusing totally on the welfare and the culture of the Iban community. It would be cumbersome and biased for us to promote our Iban cultural heritage exclusively to the world by projecting ourselves as Dayak when we are actually Ibans.