Ngaju

The Ngaju, also known as Dayak Ngaju, are an indigenous ethnic group of central Kalimantan, Indonesia. They inhabit the lower and middle basins of major rivers, including the Kahayan, Kapuas, and Barito, and are concentrated around Palangka Raya, the provincial capital. The Ngaju are one of the largest subdivisions within the Dayak peoples of Borneo.

The Ngaju language is part of the Malayic subgroup of the Austronesian language family. It has several dialects and is used in everyday speech among communities, while Indonesian serves as the national lingua franca and education language. Language shift to Indonesian has occurred among younger generations, though Ngaju remains common in rural areas and cultural contexts.

Traditional Ngaju society is organized around village communities and kin-based networks. They historically practiced an animist belief system with ancestral and nature spirits, and adat customary law governs land rights, marriage, and ritual obligations. Adat practices persist in ceremonial life, alongside modern legal frameworks. Crafts such as weaving and woodcarving are notable, often tied to harvest and fertility rites.

Christian missions and churches, especially Protestant denominations, gained influence in the 19th and 20th centuries, and many Ngaju identify as Christian. Islam is also present in some communities, and syncretic practices blending indigenous beliefs with Islam or Christianity occur. The Dayak Christian Church (Gereja Kristen Dayak) serves Ngaju congregations.

Today, the Ngaju are integrated into the Indonesian state as part of Central Kalimantan Province. They participate in regional governance, education, and economic development, but face challenges from land-use changes, deforestation, and pressures to preserve linguistic and cultural heritage amid modernization.