From Myth to Modernity: The Historical Evolution and Socio Cultural Resilience of Suti Semarang Village, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan (1939–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33736/jbk.11992.2026Keywords:
Dayak Bemoyo; village history; socio cultural resilience; historical evolution; West Kalimantan; intangible cultural heritageAbstract
This study examines the transformation of Suti Semarang Village in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, from its mythological roots in Dayak Bemoyo tradition to its current status as a modern village. It is guided by three main questions: (i) What was the history of the village prior to 1939? (ii) How did the village take shape in 1939, and how did the name change in 1969 occur? (iii) How have the village’s social, economic, and cultural dimensions evolved between 1939 and 2025? The main objective is to analyse shifts in the village’s functions, changes in community perceptions, and forms of customary adaptation within the context of modernity.
The research employs a descriptive‑analytical historical approach within a constructivist–interpretivist paradigm, combined with a mixed‑methods design. Primary data were obtained through in‑depth interviews with five key informants (the village head, customary leaders, and an RT head), field observations at historical sites, and village documentation. Secondary data include books, scholarly articles, undergraduate theses, and official documents, such as census data and regional regulations on kecamatan (sub‑district) division.
The findings show that traditional elements—such as the legend of Semorongk–Siti, patterns of tembawang migration, and gotong royong (mutual aid)—have been preserved, yet adapted in response to administrative restructuring (the 2002–2003 sub‑district split), a shift toward commercial agriculture, and the impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Modernisation has prompted a rationalisation of customary practices, reduced the role of ritual, and strengthened economic orientations, raising concerns over the authenticity of cultural practice.
The discussion highlights the need to strike a balance between safeguarding tradition and allowing for necessary adaptation so that Dayak Bemoyo identity can endure. This study contributes to debates on intangible cultural heritage in West Kalimantan by illustrating how a local community manages continuity and change without relinquishing its core identity.
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