Penan Community Maps

Indigenous Community Maps of Sarawak:

These 23 maps of the Penan tribal rainforest in Malaysia are the result of a fifteen-year ground-breaking community mapping project. In collaboration with Swiss cartographers of the Bruno Manser Fund, Penan tribesmen used modern mapping technology to trace their ancient heritage, identifying significant nomadic camps, burial sites, and blowpipe trees as well as dominant topographical features.

For the Penan, these maps will be important proof of their claims to the land they live on, which is currently being sold off by the Malaysian government without their consent. These maps are a testament to the importance of maps for indigenous rights, and the project will be a model for similar struggles across the globe. Each map includes a different historical Penan legend and the thumbprints of the local village leaders.

Contents: 23 maps of scale 1:35,000