SEMINAR DAN PRAKTIK BEKANA SEBAGAI UPAYA REVITALISASI BUDAYA DAN BAHASA DAYAK DESA

Abstract

The rapid development of technology and the flow of globalization have had a significant impact on the sustainability of local languages and cultures, particularly among the younger generation. Gemba Raya Village, Sintang Regency, as one of the areas where the Dayak Desa language is spoken, is facing challenges such as the declining use of the local language, the weakening transmission of oral traditions, and the low participation of adolescents in cultural activities. This condition has the potential to threaten the continuity of local cultural identity if it is not addressed through appropriate and sustainable programs. This Community Service activity aims to revitalize the Dayak Desa language and culture through a participatory approach that involves adolescents as the main agents of cultural preservation. The implementation methods include cultural socialization and awareness-raising, Dayak Desa cultural seminars, the practice of Bekana as an oral tradition, and traditional arts training. The results of the activity indicate an increase in adolescents’ awareness, motivation, skills, and participation in using the Dayak Desa language and in performing local arts and traditions. The practice of Bekana also strengthens intergenerational interaction and fosters a renewed sense of pride in local cultural identity. This program contributes to strengthening the role of adolescents as agents of preservation of the Dayak Desa language and culture and serves as a model of community service based on local wisdom that can be replicated in other areas with similar characteristics.