Riska: Memories of a Dayak Girlhood

by Riska Orpa Sari, Linda Spalding (Editor), Carol J. Pierce Colfer (Afterword)

Books by Western specialists have compiled many observations and facts about the “headhunters of Borneo,” but the culture has never before been described from the inside, by an indigenous person born and reared in the rain forest listening to the stories and legends of her tribe. In this vivid memoir, Riska Orpa Sari tells us about the remote village of her birth, where rice is cultivated by cutting and burning the rain forest, where hunting and gathering take place under its dark canopy. She describes courtship and marriage, funeral rites, the sound headhunters make before they strike, the impact of the logging industry on the Dayak way of life, and the centrality of the river to all aspects of daily living. As Riska’s marvelous story unfolds, a witty, intelligent personality is revealed, endearing, resilient, and dedicated to the preservation of her people.

Genres: Memoir

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Sarah Corsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must!
This is an exceptional account of the life of a girl in the forest of Borneo (Kalimantan) and then the life of a Dayak woman in a very different more modern society on the coast. The norms and notions of what is appropriate for a girl/woman are very different between the Dayak Delang (or Dayak Ngaju) and the Muslim majority coastal "modern" society.

The most important part of this book is the incredibly detailed account of life in the forest. A forest that sadly is being logged away, one tree at a time.

[Skinsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and often sad stories but not very well written and a bit scattered. I appreciate, however, that the stories were published; I assume there aren’t many books in English that discuss the Dayak culture, especially from a female perspective.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read after The Follow by Linda Spalding. Interesting ethnographic memoir. Would like to engage author as guide on upcoming holiday but can't find contact info online.