Indigenous Women Fighting for The Punan Tugung Community Land Rights Amidst Timber Company Pressure

In 1972, the Punan Tugung Community was evicted by the local government from their living space, where generations had lived. Under the guise of forced eviction, the locals were promised easier access to education and health. The promise is far from fulfilled, where, until today, 115 households are crammed in a 1,8 hectares area that administratively does not even belong to them. They are far from being empowered, as cultivating the land has become impossible. On top of their ancestral land, the government has issued a concession permit for a timber company, PT. Intracawood. Currently, the Punan community is pursuing a legal pathway for their land ownership by having a verification process for the adat forest. The mantra that works for the Punan Tugung Community to keep fighting for their land is "Lunang telang Otah Ine’." It is a local saying which roughly translates to “The forest is mother’s milk.” The Punan community takes it to their heart that the forest, just like a mother, is a provider of their lives, where everything begins and ends. The saying Lunang telang Otah Ine’ reflects the women’s roles in their community, where the women are the bearers of the most vital knowledge of their community, particularly on livelihood and survival.