The Iban are an indigenous ethnic group native to Borneo, primarily found in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Brunei and parts of West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Historically, the Iban were known for their warrior culture, particularly the practice of headhunting, which was a central element of their societal structure and spiritual beliefs until the early 20th century.

The Iban trace their origins to the Kapuas basin in Kalimantan Barat, specifically the Ketungau tributary which is considered their ancestral land prior to their migration into the territory of modern-day Sarawak from the middle of the 16th century.

Central to their cultural and spiritual identity is Tembawai Tampun Juah, located in the Segumon region of Sanggau, West Kalimantan, which is considered the symbolic birthplace of the Iban people.

[9] Under the colonial administration of the Brooke family in the 19th century, the Iban played an important role in military campaigns, where they were recruited as soldiers and contributed to the defense of Sarawak and later, Malaysia.

The Iban continue to uphold traditional practices, including their language, Pua Kumbu weaving and ceremonial music, while also participating actively in the region’s contemporary social and economic spheres.

The Kayan people, who lived in the upper reaches of the Rejang River, used the term disparagingly to refer to the Iban pioneers, whose restless nature and migration patterns made them unwelcome neighbors.

[11] The Iban people have a rich indigenous historical tradition, passed down primarily through oral literature, written records on Papan Turai (wooden plaques) and cultural practices.

Key locations along their migration included Melanjan in the Kapuas Valley, Pangkalan Tubau near the Kalimantan-Sarawak border, and Lubok Antu, their first major settlement in Sarawak.

While Tembawai Tampun Juah represents their mythic origins, the Kapuas River region is considered the historical starting point of their migration.

Key locations along their migration route include Melanjan in the Kapuas Valley, Pangkalan Tubau near the Kalimantan-Sarawak border and Lubok Antu, their first major settlement in Sarawak.

It is said that at Merakai, a tributary of the Kapuas River, Sengalang Burung convened a council with his followers to plan their migration to Batang Ai, a region that would become a major center of Iban settlement.

The expansion of the Iban was not merely a physical relocation, but also a cultural and demographic shift, with their customs, language and traditions spreading throughout the western Borneo region.

After his success, he was appointed Rajah of Sarawak in 1841, where he focused on controlling piracy and regulating indigenous practices like headhunting, which were common among the Dayak groups, including the Iban.

Despite the controversy, Brooke continued to employ Dayak soldiers in various military campaigns, against the Chinese-led uprising of Liu Shan Bang and local Malay resistance movements led by Syarif Masahor.

In the early 20th century, Iban migration extended further to regions such as Tatau, Bintulu (formerly Kemena), Balingian and the northern parts of Sarawak, including the Limbang River and Baram Valley.

To manage this, the Brooke administration imposed migration restrictions to prevent overpopulation and resource depletion, leading to tensions in regions like the Balleh Valley.

However, the government also encouraged Iban settlement in newly annexed territories, recognizing their expertise in resource management, including the exploitation of rattan, camphor, damar and wild rubber.

[5] In other areas, including those inhabited by the Ukits, Seru, Miriek and Biliun, Iban migration led to violent conflicts and the near-total annihilation of these indigenous populations.

Following the Japanese invasion, indigenous populations, including the Iban and Malay, faced severe mistreatment and massacres, particularly in the Kapit Division.

Trained by a small team of US airmen and Australian special operatives, the Dayak force successfully killed or captured approximately 1,500 Japanese soldiers.

However, Colonial Secretary Oliver Lyttleton later confirmed that Iban troops had been authorized to engage in these actions as part of their military role.

One of their favorite tactics is to conceal some of their larger boats, and then to send some small and badly manned canoes forward to attack the enemy to lure them.

The rivers bends are chosen for this kind of attack, the overhanging branches of trees and the dense foliage of the bank affording excellent hiding places for the boats.

In the 19th century there was a great deal of piracy, and it was secretly encouraged by the native rulers, who obtained a share of the spoil, and also by the Malays who knew well how to handle a boat.

The Malay pirates and their Dayak allies would wreck and destroy every trading vessel they came across, murder most of the crew who offered any resistance, and the rest were made as slaves.

[43] A Dayak war party in proas and canoes fought a battle with Murray Maxwell following the wreck of HMS Alceste in 1817 at the Gaspar Strait.

The Malay sharifs were easily defeated at Patusin in Batang Lupar, without a major fight despite their famous reputation and power over the native inlanders.

[46] In 1849, at the Battle of Beting Maru, a convoy of Dayak boats that were returning from a sojourn at the River Rajan spotted Brooke's man of war, the Nemesis.

[47] Layang, the son-in-law of Libau "Rentap" was known as the first Iban slayer of a white man in the person of Mr. Alan Lee "Ti Mati Rugi" (died in vain) at the Battle of Lintang Batang in 1853, above the Skrang fort built by Brooke in 1850.