hello everyone this is TEDx Konya lab who knows what Kenya Lang means it means
who knows what Kenya Lang means it means
who knows what Kenya Lang means it means hornbill we’re in Sarawak the land of
hornbill we’re in Sarawak the land of
hornbill we’re in Sarawak the land of the hornbill and who agrees with me that
the hornbill and who agrees with me that
the hornbill and who agrees with me that sera whacks a pretty special place my
sera whacks a pretty special place my
sera whacks a pretty special place my friend Colin who could live in London
friend Colin who could live in London
friend Colin who could live in London Wellington or Sydney chooses to live in
Wellington or Sydney chooses to live in
Wellington or Sydney chooses to live in Sarawak because he says there’s no other
Sarawak because he says there’s no other
Sarawak because he says there’s no other place in the world where so there’s such
place in the world where so there’s such
place in the world where so there’s such a diversity of people who live in such a
a diversity of people who live in such a
a diversity of people who live in such a peaceful ambience and that’s no small
peaceful ambience and that’s no small
peaceful ambience and that’s no small achievement given the destructiveness
achievement given the destructiveness
achievement given the destructiveness and divisive ‘no sand violence of the
and divisive ‘no sand violence of the
and divisive ‘no sand violence of the world beyond our shores so what makes
world beyond our shores so what makes
world beyond our shores so what makes Sarawak special it’s us the people and I
Sarawak special it’s us the people and I
Sarawak special it’s us the people and I include myself in that I’m not what you
include myself in that I’m not what you
include myself in that I’m not what you see you look at me you see a tall white
see you look at me you see a tall white
see you look at me you see a tall white lady size 16 with a long nose but half
lady size 16 with a long nose but half
lady size 16 with a long nose but half of me is Italian and half of me is
of me is Italian and half of me is
of me is Italian and half of me is English and my heart is truly Sarawak
English and my heart is truly Sarawak
English and my heart is truly Sarawak Ian
I’m rather mixed up you see but being
I’m rather mixed up you see but being mixed up is a source of strength and
mixed up is a source of strength and
mixed up is a source of strength and many insights as I’ll share with you
many insights as I’ll share with you
many insights as I’ll share with you later on I’ve been taking a lifetime to
later on I’ve been taking a lifetime to
later on I’ve been taking a lifetime to understand what it is that makes Sarawak
understand what it is that makes Sarawak
understand what it is that makes Sarawak tick and I’m going to share with you a
tick and I’m going to share with you a
tick and I’m going to share with you a secret today I’ve discovered intangible
secret today I’ve discovered intangible
secret today I’ve discovered intangible invisible threads the linker saw
invisible threads the linker saw
invisible threads the linker saw together to make community and I’m going
together to make community and I’m going
together to make community and I’m going to give you two examples let’s go to
to give you two examples let’s go to
to give you two examples let’s go to Chinatown for the first example this was
Chinatown for the first example this was
Chinatown for the first example this was the intercultural mooncake festival held
the intercultural mooncake festival held
the intercultural mooncake festival held in carpenter street it was two months
in carpenter street it was two months
in carpenter street it was two months ago did anyone go so the whole of
ago did anyone go so the whole of
ago did anyone go so the whole of carpenter Street became open and people
carpenter Street became open and people
carpenter Street became open and people came from all about the bid I you came
came from all about the bid I you came
came from all about the bid I you came from the mountains around the Malays
from the mountains around the Malays
from the mountains around the Malays came from a cross River and the E Bank
came from a cross River and the E Bank
came from a cross River and the E Bank came from the outline kam punks
came from the outline kam punks
came from the outline kam punks and then there were all kinds of people
and then there were all kinds of people
and then there were all kinds of people that joined the party people left their
that joined the party people left their
that joined the party people left their cars and their computers to enjoy the
cars and their computers to enjoy the
cars and their computers to enjoy the celebration
celebration
celebration we took our lanterns and looked up at
we took our lanterns and looked up at
we took our lanterns and looked up at the full moon and we enjoyed the rhythm
the full moon and we enjoyed the rhythm
the full moon and we enjoyed the rhythm of the lion dances and we could hear the
of the lion dances and we could hear the
of the lion dances and we could hear the harmonies of the Malay drums who come
harmonies of the Malay drums who come
harmonies of the Malay drums who come every year from a camping on the coast
every year from a camping on the coast
every year from a camping on the coast we could also hear the plaintive
we could also hear the plaintive
we could also hear the plaintive melodies of the Borneo lute the SAP a
melodies of the Borneo lute the SAP a
melodies of the Borneo lute the SAP a with their songs from far upriver and
with their songs from far upriver and
with their songs from far upriver and then there were the harmonies on the
then there were the harmonies on the
then there were the harmonies on the five-foot way of the Chinese Orchestra
five-foot way of the Chinese Orchestra
five-foot way of the Chinese Orchestra so it was a wonderful celebration of a
so it was a wonderful celebration of a
so it was a wonderful celebration of a mixed
mixed
mixed of music and entertainment but not just
of music and entertainment but not just
of music and entertainment but not just that there was the food you could smell
that there was the food you could smell
that there was the food you could smell the aroma of the mouth-watering satay as
the aroma of the mouth-watering satay as
the aroma of the mouth-watering satay as it cooked
it cooked
it cooked barbecued you could taste the spiciness
barbecued you could taste the spiciness
barbecued you could taste the spiciness of the Sarawak Luxor or the Kahlo me and
of the Sarawak Luxor or the Kahlo me and
of the Sarawak Luxor or the Kahlo me and then there were the moon cakes it was
then there were the moon cakes it was
then there were the moon cakes it was all yeah man
all yeah man
all yeah man [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] the downside is it’s pretty difficult to
the downside is it’s pretty difficult to
the downside is it’s pretty difficult to diet in Sarawak but it was the moon
diet in Sarawak but it was the moon
diet in Sarawak but it was the moon cakes that really made the festival
cakes that really made the festival
cakes that really made the festival because they had invisible threads that
because they had invisible threads that
because they had invisible threads that linked us with the legends of ancient
linked us with the legends of ancient
linked us with the legends of ancient China the traditions and customs of long
China the traditions and customs of long
China the traditions and customs of long ago and these invisible threads into
ago and these invisible threads into
ago and these invisible threads into wove and matted together the Chinese
wove and matted together the Chinese
wove and matted together the Chinese community in Chinatown and those of us
community in Chinatown and those of us
community in Chinatown and those of us outside had shared experience and
outside had shared experience and
outside had shared experience and histories of these festivals and we came
histories of these festivals and we came
histories of these festivals and we came having collected our invisible threads
having collected our invisible threads
having collected our invisible threads and we interwoven with the community the
and we interwoven with the community the
and we interwoven with the community the newspapers had a field day for this
newspapers had a field day for this
newspapers had a field day for this event they talked about unity and
event they talked about unity and
event they talked about unity and harmony and diversity the cynics thought
harmony and diversity the cynics thought
harmony and diversity the cynics thought differently in the coffee shops and
differently in the coffee shops and
differently in the coffee shops and social media they said all this was a
social media they said all this was a
social media they said all this was a show for the tourism industry or it was
show for the tourism industry or it was
show for the tourism industry or it was fodder for the politicians but I don’t
fodder for the politicians but I don’t
fodder for the politicians but I don’t agree with this I believe these
agree with this I believe these
agree with this I believe these invisible threads are much more
invisible threads are much more
invisible threads are much more resilient and go much deeper and I’m
resilient and go much deeper and I’m
resilient and go much deeper and I’m going to take you on the long journey
going to take you on the long journey
going to take you on the long journey we’re going to long pull one a long
we’re going to long pull one a long
we’re going to long pull one a long house on the edge of the Cal
house on the edge of the Cal
house on the edge of the Cal bitch Highlands it’s close to Indonesia
bitch Highlands it’s close to Indonesia
bitch Highlands it’s close to Indonesia it’s very remote it’s where my husband
it’s very remote it’s where my husband
it’s very remote it’s where my husband comes from what can we see here it’s a
comes from what can we see here it’s a
comes from what can we see here it’s a place where elders sit by the fire and
place where elders sit by the fire and
place where elders sit by the fire and knowledge is transmitted from one
knowledge is transmitted from one
knowledge is transmitted from one generation to the next
generation to the next
generation to the next grandfather to grandson in the stories
grandfather to grandson in the stories
grandfather to grandson in the stories that are told are the invisible threads
that are told are the invisible threads
that are told are the invisible threads about knowledge of land of resources of
about knowledge of land of resources of
about knowledge of land of resources of territory of customs and traditions and
territory of customs and traditions and
territory of customs and traditions and these are what hold the communities
these are what hold the communities
these are what hold the communities together I was told of a very special
together I was told of a very special
together I was told of a very special story and I’m going to share some of it
story and I’m going to share some of it
story and I’m going to share some of it with you today the story introduced me
with you today the story introduced me
with you today the story introduced me to a new idea the idea is nun tau in
to a new idea the idea is nun tau in
to a new idea the idea is nun tau in collab it London Tau
collab it London Tau
collab it London Tau it means our people our people were the
it means our people our people were the
it means our people our people were the ancestors of the community that lives in
ancestors of the community that lives in
ancestors of the community that lives in the longhouse today they’re very mixed
the longhouse today they’re very mixed
the longhouse today they’re very mixed they’re collab it sabang and lauric and
they’re collab it sabang and lauric and
they’re collab it sabang and lauric and our people were led in migrations by a
our people were led in migrations by a
our people were led in migrations by a tall strong invincible leader called
tall strong invincible leader called
tall strong invincible leader called tellenson he could deflect Spears from
tellenson he could deflect Spears from
tellenson he could deflect Spears from enemies just by flexing his muscles and
enemies just by flexing his muscles and
enemies just by flexing his muscles and he led our people across river systems
he led our people across river systems
he led our people across river systems down valleys to a place that was very
down valleys to a place that was very
down valleys to a place that was very safe protected by rapids in the river
safe protected by rapids in the river
safe protected by rapids in the river and it was at this place but today we
and it was at this place but today we
and it was at this place but today we can still see signs of tellenson and the
can still see signs of tellenson and the
can still see signs of tellenson and the people he gathered with him in the stone
people he gathered with him in the stone
people he gathered with him in the stone graves and monuments on the river system
graves and monuments on the river system
graves and monuments on the river system it was this place though that they
it was this place though that they
it was this place though that they experienced the threat of their enemies
experienced the threat of their enemies
experienced the threat of their enemies what to do
what to do
what to do what could they do to Lin Sam said we
what could they do to Lin Sam said we
what could they do to Lin Sam said we have to split up those of us who are
have to split up those of us who are
have to split up those of us who are good at climbing can go up up into the
good at climbing can go up up into the
good at climbing can go up up into the hills and those of us who are good at
hills and those of us who are good at
hills and those of us who are good at going by boat can go down river and this
going by boat can go down river and this
going by boat can go down river and this is what they did they had to split up
is what they did they had to split up
is what they did they had to split up and form two separate communities and it
and form two separate communities and it
and form two separate communities and it is there where they lived and prospered
is there where they lived and prospered
is there where they lived and prospered why is this story told this story is
why is this story told this story is
why is this story told this story is told today because in the telling of the
told today because in the telling of the
told today because in the telling of the story community is is made we hear about
story community is is made we hear about
story community is is made we hear about our people and our people become
our people and our people become
our people and our people become generated in the minds of the listeners
generated in the minds of the listeners
generated in the minds of the listeners people have kin upriver and downriver to
people have kin upriver and downriver to
people have kin upriver and downriver to count on for festivals and weddings and
count on for festivals and weddings and
count on for festivals and weddings and funerals this idea of being together as
funerals this idea of being together as
funerals this idea of being together as our people was very important for
our people was very important for
our people was very important for survival in the forest our people
survival in the forest our people
survival in the forest our people intermarried and adopted children and
intermarried and adopted children and
intermarried and adopted children and made blood brothers they formed large
made blood brothers they formed large
made blood brothers they formed large heterogeneous mixed communities for
heterogeneous mixed communities for
heterogeneous mixed communities for defense because it was very important in
defense because it was very important in
defense because it was very important in the rain forests imagine if you wanted
the rain forests imagine if you wanted
the rain forests imagine if you wanted to cut down a big tree how many men
to cut down a big tree how many men
to cut down a big tree how many men would you need three five no ten at
would you need three five no ten at
would you need three five no ten at least ten men were needed to cut down a
least ten men were needed to cut down a
least ten men were needed to cut down a tree to create long houses or boats or
tree to create long houses or boats or
tree to create long houses or boats or fireplaces then you needed to clear land
fireplaces then you needed to clear land
fireplaces then you needed to clear land for farming you needed people to help
for farming you needed people to help
for farming you needed people to help you
you
you so your paddy plant your paddy weed
so your paddy plant your paddy weed
so your paddy plant your paddy weed you’re paddy and harvest how did you do
you’re paddy and harvest how did you do
you’re paddy and harvest how did you do it you work on my fields I work on yours
it you work on my fields I work on yours
it you work on my fields I work on yours this is the great Malaysian spirit of
this is the great Malaysian spirit of
this is the great Malaysian spirit of cooperative labor
cooperative labor
cooperative labor often grow young and this was the
often grow young and this was the
often grow young and this was the essence of how our people lived but what
essence of how our people lived but what
essence of how our people lived but what it was that kept them together were
it was that kept them together were
it was that kept them together were invisible threats the invisible threads
invisible threats the invisible threads
invisible threats the invisible threads with the shared values these shared
with the shared values these shared
with the shared values these shared values meant working hard so you had
values meant working hard so you had
values meant working hard so you had lots of paddy for festivals for sharing
lots of paddy for festivals for sharing
lots of paddy for festivals for sharing for being generous at all costs it was
for being generous at all costs it was
for being generous at all costs it was important to keep the community together
important to keep the community together
important to keep the community together so you rode on consensus you supported
so you rode on consensus you supported
so you rode on consensus you supported your leaders and her all costs you
your leaders and her all costs you
your leaders and her all costs you avoided conflict I learnt about avoiding
avoided conflict I learnt about avoiding
avoided conflict I learnt about avoiding conflict very early on in my marriage I
conflict very early on in my marriage I
conflict very early on in my marriage I hinted I was married to a can Abbot well
hinted I was married to a can Abbot well
hinted I was married to a can Abbot well we’d been married a few months the
we’d been married a few months the
we’d been married a few months the honeymoon was over and I was learning
honeymoon was over and I was learning
honeymoon was over and I was learning new things about my husband every day
new things about my husband every day
new things about my husband every day and having to adjust one of these was
and having to adjust one of these was
and having to adjust one of these was that he has amination
that he has amination
that he has amination idea of time that is very fluid and
idea of time that is very fluid and
idea of time that is very fluid and flexible and I was conditioned with a
flexible and I was conditioned with a
flexible and I was conditioned with a British sense of time that goes by the
British sense of time that goes by the
British sense of time that goes by the clock and Big Ben ding-dong ding-dong
so one evening it was really important
so one evening it was really important that he came home by 6 o’clock because
that he came home by 6 o’clock because
that he came home by 6 o’clock because we had to go to the airport to meet my
we had to go to the airport to meet my
we had to go to the airport to meet my family who were just arriving so I told
family who were just arriving so I told
family who were just arriving so I told him in the morning please be back by
him in the morning please be back by
him in the morning please be back by 6:00 so we get there on time 6 o’clock
6:00 so we get there on time 6 o’clock
6:00 so we get there on time 6 o’clock came and I was waiting and waiting
came and I was waiting and waiting
came and I was waiting and waiting my stomach was churning and I was
my stomach was churning and I was
my stomach was churning and I was getting ready for a really good Italian
getting ready for a really good Italian
getting ready for a really good Italian fight
so when my husband came in at 6:20 what
so when my husband came in at 6:20 what did I do
did I do
did I do I started yelling at him and what did my
I started yelling at him and what did my
I started yelling at him and what did my husband do did he yell back did he throw
husband do did he yell back did he throw
husband do did he yell back did he throw shoes at me
shoes at me
shoes at me no he laughed and what did I – I felt
no he laughed and what did I – I felt
no he laughed and what did I – I felt cheated
cheated
cheated I laughed back and we’ve been laughing
I laughed back and we’ve been laughing
I laughed back and we’ve been laughing ever since to get back to this idea
ever since to get back to this idea
ever since to get back to this idea about our people our people was a very
about our people our people was a very
about our people our people was a very fluid inclusive idea of identity I’ve
fluid inclusive idea of identity I’ve
fluid inclusive idea of identity I’ve given you an example of it as it’s used
given you an example of it as it’s used
given you an example of it as it’s used in our longhouse in a historical setting
in our longhouse in a historical setting
in our longhouse in a historical setting but can a bit still use it today but
but can a bit still use it today but
but can a bit still use it today but this inclusive idea of identity that
this inclusive idea of identity that
this inclusive idea of identity that accommodates mixed communities is very
accommodates mixed communities is very
accommodates mixed communities is very different to the way we think of
different to the way we think of
different to the way we think of ourselves now we’ve inherited from the
ourselves now we’ve inherited from the
ourselves now we’ve inherited from the colonial administrators a very fixed way
colonial administrators a very fixed way
colonial administrators a very fixed way of defining people according to
of defining people according to
of defining people according to ethnicity based on difference when this
ethnicity based on difference when this
ethnicity based on difference when this idea was being introduced by the
idea was being introduced by the
idea was being introduced by the colonial administrators they did it in
colonial administrators they did it in
colonial administrators they did it in order to classify and know the
order to classify and know the
order to classify and know the population and control them of course
population and control them of course
population and control them of course but Tom Harrison the curator at the time
but Tom Harrison the curator at the time
but Tom Harrison the curator at the time protested firmly he said people cannot
protested firmly he said people cannot
protested firmly he said people cannot think of themselves as named static
think of themselves as named static
think of themselves as named static classified groups and have a lot of us
classified groups and have a lot of us
classified groups and have a lot of us who are mixed also have the same feeling
who are mixed also have the same feeling
who are mixed also have the same feeling I have a young cousin Julie her father
I have a young cousin Julie her father
I have a young cousin Julie her father is eben her mother is Bedar you and then
is eben her mother is Bedar you and then
is eben her mother is Bedar you and then she has a stepmother who’s Chinese wipey
she has a stepmother who’s Chinese wipey
she has a stepmother who’s Chinese wipey who asked her what is she she doesn’t
who asked her what is she she doesn’t
who asked her what is she she doesn’t know she says she’s naughty bad she’s
know she says she’s naughty bad she’s
know she says she’s naughty bad she’s not bid are you she’s not Chinese
not bid are you she’s not Chinese
not bid are you she’s not Chinese she’s Sarawak iam and then she’s
she’s Sarawak iam and then she’s
she’s Sarawak iam and then she’s Malaysian so when she has to fill in a
Malaysian so when she has to fill in a
Malaysian so when she has to fill in a form and tick a box saying ethnicity she
form and tick a box saying ethnicity she
form and tick a box saying ethnicity she ticks three boxes just to protest if you
ticks three boxes just to protest if you
ticks three boxes just to protest if you like me have one parent who speaks one
like me have one parent who speaks one
like me have one parent who speaks one language and one parent who speaks
language and one parent who speaks
language and one parent who speaks another who have grandparents who
another who have grandparents who
another who have grandparents who worship in different places who have
worship in different places who have
worship in different places who have cousins who celebrate different
cousins who celebrate different
cousins who celebrate different festivals don’t feel muddled there is
festivals don’t feel muddled there is
festivals don’t feel muddled there is tremendous hope because you have a mixed
tremendous hope because you have a mixed
tremendous hope because you have a mixed heritage of rich traditions to draw
heritage of rich traditions to draw
heritage of rich traditions to draw invisible threats to build more
invisible threats to build more
invisible threats to build more community those invisible threats
community those invisible threats
community those invisible threats remember are based on generosity on
remember are based on generosity on
remember are based on generosity on inclusiveness on tradition and custom on
inclusiveness on tradition and custom on
inclusiveness on tradition and custom on shared experiences like we saw in the
shared experiences like we saw in the
shared experiences like we saw in the mooncake festival and this is what makes
mooncake festival and this is what makes
mooncake festival and this is what makes Sarawak at its very best
Sarawak at its very best
Sarawak at its very best special we in this room today are
special we in this room today are
special we in this room today are experiencing lots of people’s
experiencing lots of people’s
experiencing lots of people’s testimonies we are living shared
testimonies we are living shared
testimonies we are living shared experience
experience
experience there are many invisible threads being
there are many invisible threads being
there are many invisible threads being generated in this room our challenges
generated in this room our challenges
generated in this room our challenges today is not to lose those invisible
today is not to lose those invisible
today is not to lose those invisible threads but to gather them and this will
threads but to gather them and this will
threads but to gather them and this will be TEDx at its very best
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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