Indigenous knowledge among Iban Kua' in Samarahan District, Sarawak : some observations

This paper presents some findings of a study and observations on indigenous knowledge (IK) among Iban Kua’ and uses of natural resources in Samarahan District, Sarawak. Like the other Iban in Sarawak, Iban Kua’ in Samarahan is also rich in indigenous knowledge. As Samarahan has the fastest growing population in Sarawak with an average annual population growth rate of 6.0% in the year of 2000 to 2010, the study tries to examine the state of IK among Iban Kua’ in Samarahan. A qualitative research design which involves semi-structured questionnaires to the 165 respondents was used. This paper discusses some of the findings and observations based on the fieldwork at 14 Iban Kua’ villages in Samarahan in February 2017. This study also reveals the effect of physical development projects to the IK practice and to the natural resource management. Modernisation and Christianity are the key factors that affect the state of IK practices that are now diminishing