Siang in Indonesia

The Siang have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Siang people live in the province of Central Kalimantan. They are often called the Siang-Murung people because of the close relationship between the Siang and Murung peoples. The Siang primarily live in the Tanah Siang, Permata Intan, Laung Tuhup, Sumber Barito, and Murung districts of the North Barito Regency.The Siang are one of the people groups in the Barito cluster, which is part of the larger Dayak ethno-linguistic cluster. Dayak peoples (sometimes identified as either Land or Sea Dayaks) tend to live alongside the interior rivers of Kalimantan.Their language is called Siang, which is part of the Ot Danum language cluster. The Siang language is considered a "more polite" language than the Murung language. The Siang are particularly proud of their songs honoring respected guests or praising those who have done extraordinary feats.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main means of livelihood of the Siang people is farming. Other than that, they tap rubber trees, gather forest products such as rattan, hunt pigs, and pan for gold and diamonds. They still use simple tools such as spears, blowpipes, and trident harpoons. The Siang people's mobility is low. Despite this, the Siang people group is not a closed group. They are known as a friendly and open people, but of course any newcomer would have to adapt himself to their customs and traditions. The custom of helping one another is dominant in their communities. For example, during planting and harvest time, neighbors come to help, bringing their own tools, while the owner of the field provides the food and drink. This type of helping one another is called haweh. Nango is helping spontaneously without an invitation, and ndohop is giving aid to one who is unable to proceed with the requirements for a marriage ceremony. The ancestral line is characterized as ambilineal. Extended families are formed by the groom living with the bride's family. Social interaction is clearly defined. Their customs and manners are carefully defined, in matters concerning parents-in-law relations to their children-in-law. Another example is that a brother-in-law is not allowed to enter the house of his sister-in-law if her husband is not home.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Siang people follow an ancestral belief system called Kaharingan. They believe invisible creatures and spirits of the deceased inhabit the natural world around them. These spirits at times enter the visible world which is called Lewu Liau. When someone dies, they are temporarily buried, then later a special observance called numbeng is held to send the spirit to the spirit world to face the highest god/spirit called Ranying Mahatalla Langit.


What Are Their Needs?

There are needs for improvement in the basic infrastructure to facilitate communication with surrounding areas. This will serve to improve the marketing of agricultural products as well as to expand their horizons. They need to be taught how to use modern tools to maximize productivity. The wealth of mineral reserves, gold deposits, and other precious stones in the regions where the Siang live needs professional and wise development so that the welfare of these people will improve.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to the Siang people.
Pray for Siang disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for them to seek and find the loving and sovereign Lord of lords.


Scripture Prayers for the Siang in Indonesia.


References

PJRN - Indonesian National Research Network, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Siang
People Name in Country Siang
Alternate Names Ot Siang
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 14933
ROP3 Code 108981
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Tengah Province, Murung Raya regency. Northern bend area, Barito river, north along tributary.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Kalimantan Tengah Province, Murung Raya regency. Northern bend area, Barito river, north along tributary..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Siang in Indonesia Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.20 %)
5.00 %
Ethnic Religions
94.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
1.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Siang (19,000 speakers)
Language Code sya   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Siang (19,000 speakers)
Language Code sya   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Siang
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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