Muarateweh is a district capital of North Barito regency. The area is in barito river stream. This regency was established on 29 June 1950. It has mot- to ― Iya Mulik Bengkang Tuan‖. Admi- nistratively, It contains 9 districts, 10 sub districts, and 93 villages. The widht of its area is 10.191,43 km2.
Geographically, There is Murung Raya regency and Kutai Barat bordering ( East Kalimantan province) in the north, South Barito and Tabalong regency bor- dering ( South Kalimantan province) in the south, Kutai Barat regency bordering ( East Kalimantan province) in the east, and Kapuas regency bordering in the west.
Population is 144.681. The ratio comparison between men and women from 9 districts is more men (76.433) than women ( 68.248). Composition of the population based on religion is Islam (70%), Hindu/Kaharingn ( 12%), Chris- tian (11%), Catholic (6%), budha and others (1%).
If North Barito Regency is seen from the regional potency and economi- cal structure, agriculture is the most do- minant sector, though it role is decreased every years. The dominance of this sec- tor is supported by the natural resources served, that is a wide range of field for farming in this sector to do people's rub- ber plantation that is almost spreading in every villages in North Barito Regency attempted by them hereditary. In 2013 the regional district gross income (PDRB) from agriculture sector shifted by mining sector. Mining sector plays significant role for PDRB to amount to 23,57 percentage. ( source: Book of Pro- file Of North Barito Regency 2018) 2. Manyanggar: Tradition in the
modernization era
Plural is understood that every social communities has their local wis- dom. One of them is a tradition or cul- ture. The local tradition or culture men- tioned, must face the wave of social changes through life modernization al- most in all lines or aspects. Consequent- ly, when the local tradition or culture mentioned, is not able to keep from modernization, local tradition or culture will be destroyed and extinct. Moreover if the next generation does not have sen-
sitivity and awareness with the tradition itself.
Manyanggar as a tradition or cul- ture of the society in Barito river stream area itself must have self-survival capac- ity. Without it, slowly but surely it will be buried and extinct by time changes.
Because of it, effort to keep and look for the local culture is necessary to do. This matter wass justified by one of local hu- manists H. Zarkasyi.
―This manyanggar is a tradition or culture nearly forgotten and left be- cause of the change of point of view in the society. The present society is closed to culture that was born from the devel- opment of technology, so the widely newest generation could not answer what is mayanggar. Some times ago this tradi- tion is revived again since many bad sit- uations hit in some places in North Bari- to. Fortunately, this activity is supported by the district government, including the Regent and Dayak Tradition Council (Dewan Adat Dayak).‖ (an interview, 23 June 2018)
The similar view was also said by the Leader of Local Dayak, Jonio Suhar- to. He said as follows:
―We are from Dayak Tradition Council seeing the importance of con- servation of the local tradition like
mayanggar. Even we plans and proposes to the district government in order to do this tradition twice a year. The last time this tradition was done in 1973 and in 2017 the society and Dayak Tradition Council has initiative to to it again. It means that this tradition is not preserved in the long range of time.‖ (an interview, 30 July 2018)
Anxiousness that the mayanggar tradition would be extinct was also stated by a member of society, Rizal, H.
Zarkasyi son in law who always helped H. Zarkasy to prepare mayanggar process. He said that
―Mayanggar culture is seldom organized, except there is a demand from the people or the society. And only the ancient people have known it. The young generation, mainly the present children may not know or hear about mayanggar since the tradition or the culture is not done every time. It can be said that this tradition is almost extinct because it is only H. Zarkasyi who can do it in Mua- rateweh. If he will be passed away, later we will not know whether the descen- dant can continue it or not because not every people can do it.‖ (an interview, 23 June 2018)
Conservation of the local tradi- tion or culture is also important to do by
the district government in North Barito Regency. This is stated as well in mis- sion of District Government of North Barito Regency(2013-2018) point 5 which was said ― to stabilize the applica- tion of development based on local wis- dom, tolerance, cultural, harmony among religions, tribe, race, or group in unity of NKRI‖.
Nadalsyah, the Regent of North Barito regency, who was chosen again in this election of 2018, gave the point of view about local culture or tradition.
Acoording to her, the district govern- ment had strong commitment to preserve the richness of tradition or local culture as it was a district government mission.
Tradition or local culture that along this time has already been revived, need to activate again. It was important said by her so the present generation was able to know tradition or local culture in his place. ―personally or in the name of dis- trict government, I see it is important and encourage the society to be able to keep and preserve the tradition or local culture because it contains good values of life. Furthermore the district govern- ment has the annual cultural festival agenda named Festival of Iya Mulik.
This festival is done annually to cele- brate Anniversary of North Barito Re-
gency and also as a facility to introduce the richness of local culture to our socie- ty.‖ (an interview, 31 July 2018)
Preservation of tradition or cul- ture contains the local wisdom basically having important things that can not be forgotten or even left thought the life of the society that continuously develops more modern or sophisticated. Tradition or culture is really born from under- standing of the society in context its rela- tion with the nature. Harmony relation- ship between human and nature is formed through ritual of tradition. A conserved tradition will indeed born goodness felt by the society. It was be- lieved as well by Siti Rosidah. She gave her opinion as follows:
―It is true that this present era, there are a lot of people lack of, or not (again) considering the importance of tradition. The influence of life that con- tinuously moving to be modern is less or more as the influencing factors. Actual- ly, in my opinion, if a tradition basically filled values of the local wisdom is pre- served, the impact or the wisdom will also be felt directly by the society. One things that I believe, is a tradition what- ever its kinds and names are, indeed con- taining good values. It is only how we
can find its meaning.‖ (an interview, 29 July 2018)
Conservation of local culture is really influenced by its society. The change of society's viewpoint is seen as the factor influencing the conservation of local culture as well as. So, The effort to preserve the tradition or culture which is full of values of local wisdom must be appreciated. Tuani Ismail, a leader of society, gave his view as follows:
―tradition or local culture for the society in this era appears to be nearly forgotten because the is a change in so- ciety's viewpoints. Hence, the effort to preserve again the tradition or local cul- ture is seen important. At least the socie- ty in this era know the ancestor.
Mayanggar is a tradition or local culture that has been really not heard and done for years. As I know, this tradition is started to be organized because there is an initiative from the society through Dayak Tradition Council.‖ (an interview, 25 June 2018)
The importance of the local cul- ture preservation like mayanggar in the fast social changes was also stated by Mukhtar, a secretary of Orgenazing committee and also caretaker of DAD of regency.
―DAD and the society indeed give initiative to organize mayanggar tradition. This tradition is almost forgot- ten. By organizing this mayanggar, it is an effort to recall and preserve the im- portance of tradition or local culture.
Luckily, The district government, specif- ically the Regent, supports this matter.‖
(an interview, 29 July 2018).
The life of the society moving dynamically with factors influencing di- rectly or indirectly changes society's point of view to the tradition or the cul- ture as the ancestral heritage. The exis- tence of tradition or local culture is de- pended on how the society saw and posi- tioned it.
3. Manyanggar as Media of Conflict Resolution
Every community always has a conflict potency. Conflict happened if they are two sides arguing. Conflict is also caused by the difference of interest among society's communities. In many conflict situations. The solving of the conflict can not be separated from re- conciliation since it is a step to resolute the conflict, that was peace building.
Reconciliation itself is a scientif- ic terminology focusing on a need to look peace as the open process and di- vide the process of solving the conflict in
some stages based on dynamic of con- flict cycle. A conflict must be seen as a phenomena happened because leveling interaction in many factors. A conflict resolution can be applied optimally if it is combined with many other various mechanisms which are relevant. A me- chanism of conflict resolution is only be able to be applied effectively if it is con- nected to the comprehensive effort to create long lasting peace.
According to Ralf Dahrendrof, the effective conflict resolution de- pended on three factors. First, both sides realized the reality and conflict situation among them. Second, The struggled in- terest must be organized so each of them understood other claim. Third, both sides agreed the rules that became the basis in interaction relationship among them.
Every cultures basically has their own wisdom in behaving the life prob- lem they faced, including wisdom in solving the conflict. This is mirrored in mayanggar tradition as well as. This tra- dition for the society in Barito river stream area becomes media of the effec- tive conflict resolution. Jonio Suharto, The leader of Dayak Tradition Council admitted it. He explained that
―Society in this area general hete- rogeneous. And the conflict potency is
existed. Along this time If there is a con- flict in the society, we always suggest more to previously be solved with local culture approach as the form of local wisdom than take the legal path.
Mayanggar tradition is also used by us as the conflict resolution facility.‖ (an in- terview, 30 July 2018)
The importance of solving social conflict with tradition or local culture approach was also said by Edi Gagat, one of Damang In Jingah village. He said as follows:
―all this time the life of the socie- ty here is safe. If there is a serious con- flict in the society, we previously try to solve it with local cultural approach or tradition approach. And the existing con- flict is not necessarily solved with legal path approach. The existence of role of Tradition Council after institutionalized, is important in participating to take care or preserve the tradition or local culture.‖
(an interview, 15 September).
The effort to solve social conflict with local culture approach was said as well by Sugiyanto, Head of Unit of Bi- mas of Central Teweh of police Resort.
―we as the side of police, so far if there is conflict in the society is not also directly solved with the legal path. Ac- tually we are more coordinating with the
traditional leaders (DAD) to behave so- ciety's problems such as conflict. The police and Traditional Council have agreement and commitment together that solving the conflict in the society can give more priority to the cultural ap- proach or tradition than positive law ap- proach since the positive law approach is not only necessarily solving the conflict in the society.‖ (an interview, 14 Sep- tember 2018).
Potency existed or the social con- flict happened in Indonesia is wide and can exist whenever and wherever. This can not be separated from the fact that diversity and plurality of Indonesian population itself. Considering social con- flict impacts seriously to psychology or even physics and material, so the gov- ernment see it important to make the law of solving social conflict. The stated law is UU No. 7 year 2012 about handling social conflict.
This law is explicitly giving the space for local wisdom as well to be pre- served as the effort to solve the existed social conflict. Therefore, government itself gives attention solely to the impor- tance of preserving the local culture as a necessary part to keep harmony in the social life.
4. Manyanggar: Symbolic Communication and Meaning Representation
Manyanggar as a form of local culture, of course contains values ai life philosophy. It was not only practice of culture which is dry and empty from values and life philosophy. In the prac- tice of mayanggar culture, process and communicative behavior really happens either symbolically or inter-personally communication.
Symbolic communication that is mirrored in the practice of mayanggar culture as the medium of conflict resolu- tion surely contains certain messages where they are interpreted or meant by the actors which are suitable to field of reference such as environment, educa- tion, authority, and experience.
H. Zarkasyi, a local humanist, stated that mayanggar tradition was a tradition that was rich and full of mean- ing inside. Moreover, he explained that before the cultural practice was done, it must be special preparation such as the vary of food served where the food was not only just to be eaten. Even to get and make the food needed specific condi- tions for people who made and served it.
―Manyanggar tradition is actually ancestral tradition which the characters
is inherited. Organizing mayanggar usually needs a certain reason. Even be- fore this tradition is done, it must be spe- cific preparation for instance the food served, there is a certain condition for the people who makes and serves this food. In another word, this tradition has certain values or meaning that must be understood.‖ (an interview, 23 June 2018).
Meaning to mayanggar tradition as local wisdom that had wise values was also stated by Jonio Suharto, a lead- er of Dayak Traditional Council. He viewed that mayanggar tradition could be meant as a form of social glue with various social background. There were social communication and symbol which were exist in mayanggar tradition.
―Before mayanggar tradition is done, we usually invite the sides that have conflict to do reconciliation sin- cerely. Without reconciliation firstly, the practice of mayanggar culture can not be done. So this tradition has meaning as medium of social communication and also conflict resolution.‖ (an interview, 30 July 2018).
Siti Rosidah, as the actor of tradi- tion, viewed that tradition or mayanggar culture was important to be preserved by the society. According to her, the impact
or the wisdom inside this tradition, was truly put back to the society. Along her experience as a cultural actor, she be- lieved that evil or disaster and conflict would not exist using mayanggar tradi- tion. The society in its everyday life was safe and quite.
―It is truly important to preserve mayanggar tradition since there is some- thing good felt by the society after they do this tradition such as safe environ- ment and area, no disaster or crime. It is just that not all people believe it. Com- monly, it is correlated with someone faith, especially for them who are mos- lem.‖ (an interview, 29 July 2018).
A number of views or meaning on this mayanggar tradition from infor- mers is clearly seen that an object is bas- ically meant based on its reference framework or reference field from the meaning giver. Therefore, meaning re- sulted is not singular. Meaning is born from certain interaction process. In the context of tradition or mayanggar culture, meaning is cretaed from interaction process between individual and an indi- vidual with an object (mayanggar tradi- tion) resulted a view of how important is to keep and preserve the tradition or lo- cal tradition in its area.