Kumais

Kumais is the plural term used to describe residents of Kumai, a town and administrative district in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The word functions as a demonym for people from Kumai and, in some contexts, as an adjective for things related to Kumai.

Kumai lies along the Kumai River, which runs through the coastal lowlands of western Kalimantan and empties into the Java Sea. The surrounding area includes mangrove ecosystems, riverine habitats, and proximity to protected areas such as Tanjung Puting National Park, making ecotourism and river travel common activities.

Historically, Kumai developed as a local center for fishing and river trade, linking inland communities with coastal markets. In contemporary times, the economy is diversified among fishing, agriculture, and expanding ecotourism. The region has also seen logging, plantation agriculture, and related infrastructure development, which have raised environmental management concerns and prompted conservation and sustainable-use initiatives.

Demographically, Kumaians come from multiple ethnic backgrounds, including indigenous groups and migrants from other parts of Indonesia. Cultural life reflects this diversity, with traditional crafts, music, and religious practices commonly observed alongside modern urban influences. The language landscape includes Indonesian as the national lingua franca, with local dialects and languages spoken by communities in and around Kumai.

See also: Kumai River, Tanjung Puting National Park.