Let's build our dreams together, says DNC president in his Gawai Dayak message

Fellow Dayaks,

On June 1, as Dayaks across Borneo and Malaya gather with families and friends, on behalf of Dayak National Congress, I wish everyone Selamat Gawai, Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai.

Gawai celebration is always a hopeful time, as we celebrate bountiful harvest and the beginning of another planting season.

This Gawai, I would like to reflect on my hope for a strong Dayak institution that would spearhead a new Dayak century. That was the reason Dayak National Congress was established about almost a year ago, it was a historic moment.

The month of June, being the month of Gawai celebration, is the month of merrymaking; of 'ngabang' and greetings;  of lovely lights and decors; good eating and drinking; and lots of laughter and gaiety.

Sometimes, in our seemingly unending merrymaking, we forget the real significance, the real meaning, and the real reason for Gawai - we tend to miss the point. Let this Gawai remind us that we Dayaks have always drawn strength from our rich, colourful cultures and traditions.

It's at the heart of who we are. It is why DNC is spearheading a new Dayak century to advance the social and economic development of Dayaks as we preserve and promote Dayak cultural traditions, custom, arts and know how. And it is why DNC is dedicated to honoring our heritage and to safeguarding the rights of Dayaks as indigenous people.

DNC has taken important steps by setting up bureaus to advance education and human capital development, NCR land development, capital investment and economic development, and promotion and protection of Dayak intellectual properties and cultural traditions.

The capital investment and economic development bureau has initiated important steps to develop a business venture with fellow Dayaks in Kalimantan that could generate funds for advancing DNC's mission.

The new generation bureau has started its first youth development camp just before this Gawai, from May  28 to 30. This is the beginning of DNC's flagship youth development programme that will grow to be a globally recognized program.

The past seven months since the formation of DNC has been a momentous period, filled with both success and mostly challenges, as we continued to work together to build DNC into a strong global Dayak institution.

While life has changed for the better for many Dayaks, but still many of our people are still waiting. Therefore, our work is still many generations away from completion.

DNC summons Dayaks to respond to their best impulses, their best selves, to lift up their heads in the world to come together to advance Dayaks now and for generations to come.

The best things in us are we are not confined by our ethnicity, or our educational background or our political alignment or by other boundaries.

Informed by the DNC Strategic Plan, we must come together to build a Dayak institution which inspires Dayak people everywhere to achieve greater things for themselves and for our country.

We must build a Dayak institution that would be able to continue to make a meaningful contribution to the development of Dayaks and the country.

Unity must be the rock upon which our Dayak institution is built. Dayak must unite beyond barriers of tribes, creed, politics or class, so that we can succeed in confronting head on, together, the challenges that face our people.

We should also continue to build even stronger relations with other races in the country and globally, building on our unity as strength.

Gawai celebration has been traditionally an occasion for us Dayaks to open our houses to people of all colours and creeds. Let this Gawai be a time to foster even stronger ties with our friends of other races and to forge greater understanding and tolerance.

I must call upon you, my fellow Dayaks, to come together under DNC to build our dreams - to have equal share in social and economic development of our country and to have our rights protected.

But there is no progress unaccompanied by growing pains and sacrifice. Our dreams can only be realized in the fullness of the days, the ultimate achievement of spirit will be at the end of a long and painful process.

I urge you all to join me in DNC to take this long journey of sacrifice and growing pains for Dayaks. When all the Gawai festivities are over, take the time to join DNC. It would be a choice between being the one who clear the path for others to follow and the one who sit reading about it long after history is made.

It would be a choice between being the one in the arena in sweat and tears and the one in the spectator's stand.

It's the aspiration and optimism of the next generation of Dayaks that inspires us, and gives us hope for this Gawai. With that, I want to wish everyone a very Happy Gawai. May this Gawai bring progress and prosperity to all Dayaks and Malaysians. Selamat Gawai, Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai.

Ari Mengga Mikui,
DNC President