Ngaju people
The Ngaju people, also known as Dayak Ngaju or Dayak Biaju, are an indigenous ethnic group of Borneo from the Dayak group. In a census from 2000, when they were first listed as a separate ethnic group, they made up 18.02% of the population of Central Kalimantan province. In an earlier census from 1930, the Ngaju people were included in the Dayak people count. They speak Ngaju language as their mother tongue, and also speak Banjarese language, a widespread lingua franca in Central Kalimantan.
Subgroups
Based on river stream regions, the Ngaju people are divided into:-- Greater Batang Biaju – Greater Biaju River
- Lesser Batang Biaju – Lesser Biaju River
- Dayak Ngaju
- Dayak Kahayan
- Dayak Katingan
- Dayak Mendawai
- Dayak Mengkatip
- Dayak Siang
- Dayak Bakumpai
- Dayak Meratus
- Dayak Berangas
- Dayak Beraki
Culture
Traditional folk songs
Sinta Takalupe LunukKarungut, Kalteng Membangun- ''Yang Mahakasih''
Traditional cuisines
- Kopu, fermented cassava root. Usually eaten by mixing with shredded coconut meat.
- Karuang or Kalumpe by the Ma'anyan people, a pounded Cassava leaf salad mixed with eggplant, lemongrass, onion, and garlic.
- Juhu Umbut Batang Undus, coconut sprout salad eaten with sambal and often served during thanksgiving or wedding ceremonies.
Notable people
- Hausman Baboe, a prominent figure in the Central Kalimantan press and founder of the first daily Suara Dayak Indonesian newspaper.
- Tjilik Riwut, a National Hero of Indonesia, founder of Central Kalimantan, a writer, a Central Kalimantan freedom fighter and former governor of Central Kalimantan.