Dayak Wehea Indigenous Community Awaits Formal Recognition After 14-Year Wait

For us, the forest is a mother, the mountains are grandparents, the land is life, and the water is mother’s milk. In the dense, towering forests of six villages spread across Muara Wahau District, East Kutai, East Kalimantan, the struggle of the Dayak Wehea community for official recognition as an Indigenous Legal Community is nearing its conclusion. Fourteen years have passed since the community’s name was first proposed for this status. Now, after a winding process, hope is slowly turning into tangible certainty. The community has long held a profound belief that the forest is more than just a collection of trees and vast land. This conviction is not merely an expression but a promise guarded for generations. They have long upheld the mandate to care for the green expanse, aware that it holds water sources, medicinal plants, and the natural balance that sustains their lives. This dedication to protecting nature received acknowledgement on 12 August 2015, when the Ministry of Environment and Forestry inaugurated a customary forest monument named Tlan Long Suh Wehea. However, formal recognition as an Indigenous Legal Community remained elusive. Various stages have been passed, including the completion of requirements in 2021 and a technical verification conducted in 2024. The process is now in the final document refinement stage before official designation.