By: Atallah Rania Insyira, Farid Ibnu Zakaria, Siti Nurmalasari
Malinau, North Kalimantan — River journeys are often seen as leisure trips, but for us, traveling by long boat along the Mentarang River marked the beginning of our RIMBAHARI (Research Initiatives on Management of Biocultural Heritage and Resilient Innovations) study in the Pa’Kinayeh customary territory, Malinau Regency, North Kalimantan.
The name Pa’Kinayeh comes from Apa’ (river) and Kinayeh (the local term for the Mentarang River). This river serves as the main transportation route, as the area is not yet connected by road. Residents rely on ketinting (small motorized boats) or long boats to move between villages.
For 46 days (April 11 – June 4, 2025), we lived in four villages: Harapan Maju, Lung Barang, Lung Simau, and Lung Semamu. Our research focused on biocultural relationships and the biodiversity that sustains life in the area.
Surrounded by the dense forests of Kalimantan, the Pa’Kinayeh community depends deeply on nature. Agarwood is considered “forest gold,” supporting the local economy, while upland farming provides subsistence food. People also grow fruit, much of which sprouts naturally from seeds dispersed by birds or leftover consumption. For them, the forest is not merely a resource—it is a living space. The river is used for transportation, bathing, washing, fishing, and socializing. The forest provides timber, building materials, and medicinal plants, many of which remain underexplored.
However, this balance is under pressure from development. Since the inauguration of a mega dam project by President Joko Widodo in 2023, communities have faced large-scale relocation to the Seboyo area in Harapan Maju Village. They now live in dense housing clusters with limited land, shifting food patterns, and unfulfilled promises from the company.
We documented various meetings between the community and the company—most of which have yet to lead to agreement. Residents continue to hope for concrete follow-up that addresses their concerns. By the end of our journey, we came to understand that the community’s closeness to nature shapes a distinct and sustainable rhythm of life. Change may be inevitable, but who gets to define whether that change is good? We hope that in future research, we can explore more deeply how the Pa’Kinayeh community continues their lives after this major transition.
