The uses of Balau among the Melanau community especially in the traditional healing rituals. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 8 (2): 13. ISSN 2504-8562 (2023)
Abstract
Indigenous Knowledge is defined by UNESCO as the
understandings, skills and philosophies that is formed by
communities through a continuous interaction between
the natural surroundings with its people. The traditions
and customs of indigenous knowledge particularly
traditional healing rituals within the Melanau community
are being forgotten as they are less practice nowadays.
Balau or scientifically known as mextroxylon sagu is a
plant that is closely related to the traditional healing
practice and the way of life of the Melanau community.
The objectives of the paper are: to identify the uses of
balau among the Melanau community and to analyse the
types and practices of Melanau traditional healing rituals.
This paper uses a qualitative approach which includes indepth
interview and observation to gather all the data.
The findings of this paper are: there are many functions
of balau in the daily use of the Melanau community as a
source of food, income and healing; and there are several
types of traditional healing rituals that already not
practice by the Melanau community due to the
availability of modern medicine and religious conversion.
To preserve the practices of indigenous knowledge
mainly traditional healing rituals are challenging due to
the rapid modernization.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Balau, Indigenous Knowledge, Melanau Community, Modernization, Traditional Healing Rituals |
| Taxonomy: | By Niche > Ethnology > Melanau (Malaysian People) > Social Belief |
| Local Content Hub: | Niche > Melanau |
| Depositing User: | Normah Sadaiee |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Sep 2024 03:46 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Sep 2024 03:46 |
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