The tribal peoples of Sarawak, among them the Iban, Kenyah, Kelabit and Penan, are known collectively as Dayaks, and number about 200,000. The land and its resources are vital for the survival of Sarawak's Dayak population. It provides them not only with a livelihood but also the focus for many of their spiritual beliefs. Most tribes lead a semi-settled life where they practice agriculture and also depend on hunting and gathering. The tribespeople live in longhouses, each one constituting a village community.
Every family occupies a separate room, but all rooms share a common verandah.
A longhouse community shares an extensive tract of communal land used for hunting and collecting forest produce. The land is also a reserve for future cultivation. The agricultural communities are scattered along the rivers and their tributaries. These waterways are the principal means of communication and transport is by dug-out canoes. The rivers provide the Dayaks with fish.