Yesterdays Weapon, Todays Sports Tool

At the Gawai Dayak 2012 (Dayak Culture Week) last month in Pontianak, capital of West Kalimantan province, one unique attraction was the sumpit tournament. The sumpit was once the Dayaks most trusted and reliable hunting weapon, whether at war or at peace. Today, though the sumpit has lost its luster, the Dayak people of West Kalimantan have found a unique way to preserve this cherished family heritage handed down from their forefathers. They have transformed it from a warring weapon into a competitive sporting tool. In 2011, the province hosted the first international sumpit tournament. Tempo English looks at the challenges of reviving an age-old tradition and turning it into a worthwhile cause.