The Punan People of Batu Benau Sajau: Between Hunter-Gatherer Mobility and Contemporary Challenges

Abstract

This paper examines whether the Punan people of Batu Benau Sajau in North Kalimantan can be seen as a hunter-gatherer society in the contemporary context. Historically, the Punan people were known as forest nomads who relied on hunting, gathering, and seasonal mobility for their livelihoods. However, with state expansion, market penetration, and the entry of corporate concessions, this lifestyle has undergone a significant transformation. The Punan people of Batu Benau Sajau continue to maintain hunter-gatherer characteristics, including a forest-based subsistence system, seasonal mobility, and an egalitarian social structure. Their spatial cosmology also demonstrates a deep attachment to the forest landscape, which serves as the basis not only for their livelihood but also for their cultural identity. They cannot be viewed as "pure" hunter-gatherers, but rather as a society that articulates a hunter-gatherer identity within the context of contemporary political-ecological contestation. This study highlights the importance of understanding hunter-gatherers as a spectrum of adaptations, thereby strengthening the basis for recognizing their customary rights within the framework of Indonesian forestry policy.