Customary Law Selam Air as the Final Mechanism in Resolving Disputes among the Dayak Kanayat’n Indigenous People
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23917/jtl.v7i2.14312Keywords:
Conflict Resolution, Customary Law, Dayak Kanayat'n, Land Disputes, Selam AirAbstract
Customary law selam air is positioned as the final step in dispute resolution within the Dayak Kanayat'n Indigenous Community in Kersik Belantian Village, especially when the customary deliberation process is no longer able to produce an effective solution. This study formulates the main question of how the customary law of selam air is implemented in handling disputes within the Dayak Kanayat'n indigenous community. This study aims to examine in depth and describe the implementation of the selam air mechanism as a means of dispute resolution. The approach used is an empirical legal method with a legal anthropology perspective, while the data collected, both primary and secondary, is then processed and interpreted through qualitative analysis. The results of the study reveal that the customary law of selam air is implemented through traditional ceremonies and carried out by diving into water, where the party that can survive the longest in the water is declared the winner, reflecting the values of struggle, honesty, and sincerity in interpreting justice. This selam air customary mechanism is one manifestation of justice that is alive and believed in by the Dayak Kanayat'n Indigenous Community. The uniqueness of this research lies in the revelation of the selam air customary law as a final form of living law with transcendental values, which has not been widely studied academically, so it is hoped that it can contribute to the study of legal pluralism in Indonesia.
Downloads
References
Absori. (2018). Pemikiran Hukum Profetik: Ragam Paradigma Menuju Hukum Berketuhanan. Yogyakarta: Ruas Media.
Absori, A., & Nugroho, S. S. (2019). The Transcendental Paradigm Of The Development Of Legal Law. Journal of Transcendental Law, 1(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.23917/jtl.v1i1.8786
Achmadi, A., Dimyati, K., Absori, A., Hangabei, S. M., & Usop, K. K. (2019). Concept Legal Culture of the Volkgeist-Based Customary Land Rights Conflict Resolution of the Dayak Tomun Community in Central Kalimantan Indonesia. Asian Social Science, 16(1), 115. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v16n1p115
Armayanto, H., Suntoro, A. F., Basyari, Z. A. S., & Zain, N. A. M. (2023). Snouck Hurgronje and the Tradition of Orientalism in Indonesia. Tasfiyah: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 7(2), 263–287. https://doi.org/10.21111/tasfiyah.v7i2.10384
Astono, A., Absori, Wardiono, K., Budiono, A., & Achmadi. (2025). Customary Law of Nyampokng Padi as a Practice of Mystical Justice. Lex Localis - Journal of Local Self-Government, 23(10), 65–75. Retrieved from https://lex-localis.org/index.php/LexLocalis/article/view/800426
Astono, A., Alkadrie, S. M. R. R. M., Fitrian, Y., Arabiyah, S., & Sitorus, A. P. M. C. (2023). Sustainable Mining Development Based on Local Wisdom in West Kalimantan: Progressive Legal Perspective. Changing of Law: Business Law, Local Wisdom and Tourism Industry, 47–55. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-180-7_7
Astono, A., Muyassar, Y. R., & Wagner, I. (2024). Perempuan Dayak dalam Peran Menjaga Lingkungan Hidup Perspektif Ekofeminisme terhadap Hukum Lingkungan di Kalimantan Barat (Studi Kasus: Kecamatan Sengah Temila, Kabupaten Landak). Arus Jurnal Sosial Dan Humaniora, 4(1), 8–16. https://doi.org/10.57250/ajsh.v4i1.308
Barroga, E., Matanguihan, G. J., Furuta, A., Arima, M., Tsuchiya, S., Kawahara, C., … Izumi, M. (2023). Conducting and Writing Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 38(37). https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e291
Buana, A. P., & Djanggih, H. (2018). Customary Court As Alternative To Settlement Of Dispute In South Sulawesi. Diponegoro Law Review, 3(2), 154. https://doi.org/10.14710/dilrev.3.2.2018.154-164
Ceria, C., Zega, Y. K., Widjaja, F. I., & Tanhidy, J. (2022). Contextual Mission Construction according to the Jubata Concept in the Kanayatn Dayak Tribe in Introducing the Triune God. International Journal of Indonesian Philosophy & Theology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.47043/ijipth.v3i2.34
Dako, F. X., Setyowati, R., Herningtyas, W., Pujiono, E., Budiman, I., & Oematan, O. K. (2024). Verifying the Existence of Indigenous Peoples using a Socio-spatial Approach: A Case Study of the Boti Tribe, Indonesia. Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika (Journal of Tropical Forest Management), 30(2), 169–179. https://doi.org/10.7226/jtfm.30.2.169
Dawi, K., Haryono, D., Yuliastini, A., & Astono, A. (2022). Restorative Justice Paradigm of Kanayat’n Dayak Customary Law on Environmental Damage Caused By Shifting Cultivation. Jurnal Analisis Hukum, 5(2), 245–252. https://doi.org/10.38043/jah.v5i2.3918
Efriani, E., & Agustinus, E. (2021). Reflection of the Concept of Sanctions and Law on the Tamambaloh Dayak Custom. Kanun Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 23(2), 309–324. https://doi.org/10.24815/kanun.v23i2.20897
Ehrlich, E., & Ziegert, K. A. (2017). Fundamental Principles of the Sociology of Law. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203791127
Febrianty, Y., Ghapa, H., & Ahmad, A. (2024). Integration of Customary Law in The National Legal System Comparative Study of Malaysia and Indonesia. SASI, 30(4), 379. https://doi.org/10.47268/sasi.v30i4.2303
Fidaus, Y. M. (2024). Preserving Customary Law in the Era of Globalization within Indonesian Society and Legal System. Law and Justice, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.23917/laj.v9i1.597
Fitriiono, R. A., Supanto, Budyatmaja, W., Ismunarno, & Andarsari Parwitasari, T. (2023). Formulation of Customary Criminal Law from the Perspective of Judges in Legal Findings. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(11), e759. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i11.759
Garrido Martín, J. (2018). Hermenéutica jurídica en la pandectistica alemana. Especial atención a la Rechtslehre de Georg Friedrich Puchta. Anales de La Cátedra Francisco Suárez, 53, 243–261. https://doi.org/10.30827/acfs.v53i0.7535
Hamzani, A. I., Widyastuti, T. V., Khasanah, N., & Rusli, M. H. M. (2023). Legal Research Method: Theoretical and Implementative Review. International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(2), 3610–3619. https://doi.org/10.15379/ijmst.v10i2.3191
Hopman, M. J. (2022). Wait, what are we fighting about? – Kelsen, Ehrlich and the reconciliation of normative jurisprudence and sociology of law. Legal Pluralism and Critical Social Analysis, 54(2–3), 155–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.2021.1973204
Ibrahim, H. M. (2024). The Role of Legal Anthropology in the field of Law. Qalaai Zanist Scientific Journal, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.25212/lfu.qzj.9.3.10
Imamulhadi, Nuriyah Hidayat, E., Surya, S. M., & Rusli, H. (2025). Customary environmental law and its transformation models in Indonesia. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2514680
Lestarini, R. (2023). The Sociological Perspective on The Study of The Living Law: Is It a Part of Legal Discipline or Social Discipline? Jurnal IUS Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan, 11(3), 448–464. https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v11i3.1270
Magdalena, M., Kristianus, K., & Lodo, M. D. (2024). Community Perception of the Position of Dayak Kanayatn Traditional Marriages Compared to Catholic Church Marriages in Menjalin District, Landak Regency. International Journal of Multi Discipline Science (IJ-MDS), 7(2), 105. https://doi.org/10.26737/ij-mds.v7i2.5714
Nainggolan, S. D. P., Sinambela, J., Simbolon, E. D., & Rahman, K. (2023). Harmonisasi Hukum Pidana Adat Batak Toba Dengan Sistem Hukum Pidana Nasional. Ilmu Hukum Prima (IHP), 6(1), 46–59. https://doi.org/10.34012/jihp.v6i1.3431
Nugroho, S. S. (2016). Pengantar Hukum Adat Indonesia. Solo: Pustaka Iltizam.
Permadi, I., Dungga, W. A., & Arshad, A. (2024). Ensuring Indigenous People’s Rights Protection Through Normative Law in Land Acquisition for Indonesia’s New National Capital City, Nusantara. Jambura Law Review, 7(1), 30–54. https://doi.org/10.33756/jlr.v7i1.24930
Prasetyo, L., Kristianus, K., & Magdalena, M. (2023). Kanayatn Dayak Beliefs about Jubata in the Perspective of the Divine Philosophy. International Journal of Multi Discipline Science (IJ-MDS), 6(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.26737/ij-mds.v6i1.4199
Rahmasari, B., Umami, A., & Gautama, T. (2023). Pengaruh Hukum Adat dalam Pengaturan Pemerintahan Desa: Perspektif Normatif. Muhammadiyah Law Review, 7(2), 60. https://doi.org/10.24127/mlr.v7i2.2770
Rai, N. (2010). Volksgeist: In View of Friedrich Carl Von Savigny. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1695389
Rengat, I. S., Ronaldo, P., & Hexano, S. A. D. (2022). Upacara Adat Gawai Suku Dayak Kalbar sebagai Kearifan Lokal dan Pembentuk Nilai Solidaritas. Titian: Jurnal Ilmu Humaniora, 6(2), 182–193. https://doi.org/10.22437/titian.v6i2.21080
Ridwan, R., Dimyati, K., & Azhari, A. F. (2017). Perkembangan Dan Eksistensi Hukum Adat: Dari Sintesis, Transplantasi, Integrasi Hingga Konservasi. Jurnal Jurisprudence, 6(2), 106. https://doi.org/10.23917/jurisprudence.v6i2.3008
Sada, C., Alas, Y., & Anshari, M. (2019). Indigenous people of Borneo (Dayak): Development, social cultural perspective and its challenges. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 6(1), 1665936. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2019.1665936
Samosir, A. (2022, August 16). Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara - AMAN | Memahami Pentingnya Menjaga Keberadaan Masyarakat Adat. Retrieved from https://aman.or.id/news/read/1455
Satria, R., Yuliastini, A., Fitrian, Y., & Astono, A. (2024). Progresifitas Hukum Adat Dayak Kanayat’n dalam Menjaga Ekosistem Lingkungan Hidup. Jurnal Adat Dan Budaya Indonesia, 6(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23887/jabi.v6i2.66723
Satria Satria, Viktorius Siga, Bernardus Subang Hayong, & Laurensius Anselmus Wae Woda. (2024). Telaah Metafisik Ritual Dolop Dalam Masyarakat Dayak Agabag. WISSEN : Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora, 3(1), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.62383/wissen.v3i1.502
Satrianegara, M. F., Juhannis, H., Lagu, Abd. M. H. R., Habibi, Sukfitrianty, & Alam, S. (2021). Cultural traditional and special rituals related to the health in Bugis Ethnics Indonesia. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S56–S58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.12.016
Siregar, F. A. (2018). Ciri Hukum Adat Dan Karaktristiknya. AL-MAQASID: Jurnal Ilmu Kesyariahan Dan Keperdataan, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.24952/almaqasid.v4i2.1473
Syamantha, T., Syahputra, D. H., & . Z. (2025). The Subject of Customary Law and the Relevance of Customary Law in the Indonesian Legal System. International Journal of Research and Review, 12(4), 298–301. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20250436
Tohari, I., Rohmah, S., & As-Suvi, A. Q. (2023). Exploring Customary Law: Perspectives of Hazairin and Cornelis Van Vollenhoven and its Relevance to the Future of Islamic Law in Indonesia. Ulul Albab: Jurnal Studi Dan Penelitian Hukum Islam, 7(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.30659/jua.v7i1.32600
Yoserwan. (2024). Implications of Adat Criminal Law incorporation into the New Indonesian Criminal Code: Strengthening or weakening? Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2023.2289599
Yusa, I. G. (2016). Identification And Analysis Of The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples In The Study Of Constitutional Law. Constitutional Review, 2(1), 001. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev211
Zainurohmah, Z., Mahmudi, S. N., & Alfarisi, J. (2024). Ensuring Legal Certainty for Customary Law Communities in Indonesia: Analyzing the Ratification Process of the Customary Law Communities Bill. Contemporary Issues on Interfaith Law and Society, 3(1), 177–202. https://doi.org/10.15294/ciils.v3i1.78878
Downloads
Submitted
Accepted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Agustinus Astono, Indah Fatmawati, Ivan Wagner, Weni Sentia Marsalena
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
