Punan

Punan Ba people
Punan people

An elderly Punan man performing Bungan rites. Photo taken at Punan Sama village.
Total population
(approx. 5,000)
Regions with significant populations
Malaysia Sarawak (Kapit and Bintulu Division)  Indonesia West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan
Languages
Punan Bah, Malay, English
Religion
Christianity and Animism
Related ethnic groups
Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan'

Punan Ba or Punan is an ethnic group found in Sarawak, Malaysia and in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Unlike the semi-normadic Penan, the Punan Bah people are distinct and unrelated to the Penan people. Their name stems from two rivers along the banks of which they have been living time immemorial. They do have other names: Mikuang Bungulan or Mikuang and Aveang Buan. But those terms are only used ritually these days.

The Punan (or Punan Ba) have never been nomadic. In the old days, they based their living on a mixed economy – Swidden agriculture with hill paddy as the main crop, supplemented by a range of tropical plants which include maniok, taro, sugar cane, tobacco, etc. Hunting, especially wild boar, fishing, and gathering of forest resources, are the other important factors in their economy.

However, in the late 1980s, many Punan, notably the younger, more educated, gradually migrated to urban areas such as Bintulu, Sibu, Kuching and Kuala Lumpur in search of better living. However, they didn't abandon their longhouses altogether. Many would still return home, especially during major festivities such as Harvest Festival or Bungan festival as it is known among Punan.

Punan is a stratified society of 'laja' (aristocrats), 'panyen' (commoners), and 'lipen' (slaves). This determines their historical traditions that have been preserved. Just like most of the history of European Middle Ages is linked to and mainly concerned the various ruling monarchs, so are the historical and mythical traditions of Punan closely connected to their rulings aristocrats.

There is this common misunderstanding that all the so-called Punan on the island of Borneo are related and referring to the same tribe. In Sarawak, for example, there is the confusion between Punan and Penan. On the other hand, throughout the island of Borneo, the term Punan often indiscriminately used referring to the then (unknown or yet to be classified) tribes as such as Punan Busang, Penihing, Sajau Hovongan, Uheng Kareho, Merah, Aput, Tubu, Bukat, Ukit, Habongkot, Penyawung as Punan. This heritage from colonial times still remain until today.