The Penan

Introduction

The Penan are included in the politically coined term Orang Ulu. The Orang Ulu is a complex cluster which includes about 27 indigenous minority groups in Sarawak (Ding Seling and Langub, 1989, p19). The term Orang Ulu literally translates as “people of the upper river”. The Penan are a gentle people with a highly egalitarian society with little gender division amongst them. Whilst tribes like the Kayan and Kenyah have long settled, the Penan are divided into two groups. One group continues to find solace in their nomadic way of life. However an increasing number of Penan are shifting to semi-nomadism or even to a settled existence. Many live within or at the edges of the jungle and take advantage of the jungle as their source of food, shelter and domestic materials.

For more information :

http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/Sarawakiana/thepenan/Main_Penan_Settlements.html