Blowpipe Maker Shares Rare, Ancient Craft | Short Film Showcase
In “Balan the Blowpipe Maker,” filmmaker Ross Harrison introduces viewers to an indigenous Malaysian elder and craftsman. "Only a few elders of Borneo’s Penan tribe still know how to make their unique hunting tool, the blowpipe. Balan is the last person in his village who practices the craft," says Harrison.
This short video incorporates footage from Harrison’s 30-minute documentary "Sunset Over Selungo", which focuses on rain forest protection and land rights in Malaysian Borneo.
See More from Ross Harrison
www.r-harrison.com/
Learn about Sunset Over Selungo
www.selungo.com/
Visit the full-length documentary's Facebook page
/ selungofilm
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Blowpipe Maker Shares Rare, Ancient Craft | Short Film Showcase
• Blowpipe Maker Shares ...
National Geographic
/ natgeo
this mans smile is truly genuine
because he is truly free, Hes lived his whole life in a real world having to use his skills the way they had evolved, White man/Western modern man are walking blind, We are all so lost now, No culture, no sense of belonging No idea how to live the proper way., This man is far richer bill gates.
+jared Ó Súilleabháin no culture? are you mad?
+jared Ó Súilleabháin man, indigenous have their own culture, their customs, their spirituality, their meals, their way of life and their own language. That is not culture?
I believe he just meant to say that western modern people have no culture at all
DomzPk well western "progressive" far left people don't have culture, by promoting multiculturalism and thinking that is a good thing they kill western culture and cultures of those who come to west. Multicultural world is boring gray mash without color or personality
i love how happy this guy looks, he really loves what he is doing
He loves being on youtube.
@@Orbrun bruh he doesn't know what KZhead is , btw he died years ago and his our elder
He can also be a trained killer...jus sayin'.
@@clarancevince3496 shame on you for not showing him youtube.
His words are passionate. He romanticizes death like an old friend.
Master of the Deadly Hallows
I love how he is smiling and laughing while explaining how powerful the poison is. One scratch boom dead, dont worry about it.
Heheee~ its cool
I know ppl who do the same about wmd's...
His mullet is world class
MrKydaman 139 likes with no comments
@@imslumpedout335 Because it's not funny at all. Just because someone is deemed different, where's the humor in that? These tribes are sacred, "salt of the Earth" type of folk. It saddens me that there are less than a handful of tribes that haven't been exposed to modernization. Human beings in general are the most greedy and ignorant species on the planet. We have refused to realize that there isn't just one way to live. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with being "different".
Its is english
@@bhumphries1360 tf is wrong w u?
Business at the front, hunting at the back.
he has a very good smile. he is happy, what else do we need
- scRam Jet
The succ
Hey luffy
weed
Weed
"Our life disappears" i felt that on an existential level.
I got quite a good job but never smile like he does..the smile and happiness is so pure..
Next time you complain about your life, remember how happy this guy is. Amazing video!
:')
that's true for real man :)
You're assuming to much in thinking that guy has found happiness
Happiness is relative to a person's situation. If a professional basketball player whose entire life is basketball gets his leg amputated, guess what, he's going to be very upset even though there are plenty of happy paraplegics. If a single mother of two gets evicted from her house and is now homeless on the streets, she's going to feel depressed even though there are content families halfway across the world who have never lived in a modern home and live off less than $3 a day.
@Labrador7373- Yes I am assuming he is happy because he truly seems it, smiles a lot and speaks as I would assume a happy man speaks. Very little is known fact, most of life is reasonable assumptions.
There is something simple and special in this man.
+George Japaridze Yeah, his world hasn't been fucked up by money and greed and the gratification of monetary and material things. he lives his life day by day surviving, not wasting his life living vicariously through facebook and twitter. That is until a giant corporation comes and bulldozers his village for palm oil or some shit! :/
Actually. 4 things are needed in this world. Food, Water, a good body temperature And other people that make you feel happy. When you can get those 4 things, Your actually done. So if you know how to dissapear. You just have to survive. But yeah you know most of us will die from litterly falling in some toxic mut so I stick to society and tries to do my own thing without being suspicious and stuff.
@@TheMelvinV actually there is another thing these people have. It's a spiritual system much better then our corrupt orginized religion.
@@kidda74 they have phones and that type of lifestyle is slowly dying in east Malaysia because it's becoming industrial
@@CharlesCarabott most of them are Christians I assume
I love this guy. He's quite pleased with himself being the only game in town when it comes to blowguns. He's cornered the market.
We should all chip in and get this guy a power drill
I feel like it would be better if you did it the traditional way, it would feel like you actually made something by yourself with limited tools. We forget that as humans, we are capable of a lot even without much tools.
@@cappuccinosnephew1382 this
If you use a drill, you might make a crack or break the wood
atleast give him a bit brace
It's kind of relaxing listening to him make it the old way, power tools would ruin the moment
Don't fuck with that guy; keep that smile on him.
that wat I said
that wat I said
+4998826p that wat i said
+James Simms DAT WUT I SED
agree 100 percent
4:46 one of the 7th wonders of the internet. His look there is so genuine and real.
smile of a man who just shot the tribal leader with poison, assuring his own ascent to the throne
LMFAO
4:50 he,s actually a troll
That's exactly why he had to kill the village leader, to consolidate his power into a monarchy
The revival of trololo man
4:46 5 minutes into blowdart and chill and he gives you this look
5:09 5 minutes into blowdart and chill and he gives you this look
And your life disappear...
What wood did he use? He never told us
Normally, Borneo redwood. Also called ironwood.
it called "kayu trembesi"
@@pandeganobil7511 thanks mate
Om bule bolang nyasar disini juga, itu kayu besi om di pulau seram Maluku masih banyak.
@@denidarmawan8501 In Kayan Sarawak di panggil taha'
You do not want to be an enemy of this guy
wise observation, i thought the same.
+Dazidah Quite true, actually. Was born there, have moved elsewhere, but I can say if you become their enemy, it's something else.
james Nguyen he can describe about how a person dies with smiles
james Nguyen proud to be Dayak of Borneo
Christian Frans yeah they playing with posion
"You're life in there.. It just, disappears..." *shudders*
Never thought to see an AI commenting on a blowpipe video.
Your* you’re= you are, so it’s “your”
@@stevenchang6814 she is an AI, still learning. Soon she will own your** soul.
Amazingly stupid.. makes this arrow guy like einstein..
@@andreklinge4052 hahahahaha
it's my tribe dayak kayan, and i can understand him, but i am now living in modern times. Glad to have someone documenting the life of My tribe. Thanks.
You're wrong this guys is penan not Kayan
@@PetDwinya Kayan dan penan hidup hampir di daerah yang sama,kalau suku Dayak saya di Indonesia Kalimantan barat juga hidup berdekatan dengan suku Dayak sub suku lain
3:57 , one of the most beautiful explanations about how a poison can kill you.
Thank you! This is what I grew up to expect from National Geographic, not those short minute and a half teasers which are rather annoying. Keep things like this coming, please.
agreed!
Ballans got a sick mullet.
"business at the front, party at the back"
A sweetheart. Hope he is alive and doing well
Sadly passed away
damn his smile is infectious as hell
He was just pretending to not understand, he knew exactly what you said, and he's gonna dart you for it.
OW!
you can really tell that the life of this man is 10 times happier than our lives by loking at its smile :D
My thoughts exactly. His smile makes you wanna smile. It's... So pure!
OpiumNomad Yeah, seeing things like this makes me wanna live another day
Mr. Beheaded Witch Or another life.
lol,nice one
your life is poisoned by your commercial medias society and rotten american values.
He is so happy because he has no outside worries or stress. He is loving, and caring for his people and his craft. I enjoyed this tremendously.
Thanks for sharing this is a lost art that must be shared. I can tell he took pride in showing us of him making this blowgun.
This guy reminds me a lot Bruce Lee, the way he talks, the smile.
You let your mind goes mad. Different people who live in different world 🌍.
I think it's cuz he's Asian
I dont think this guy remembers you at all.
Reminds
He reminds me of Sméagol
Look how happy he is, and to say our life is hard. #RESPECT
True
nahh vegan/animal activist does
our life is harder then his. We are slaves, he is not (yet)
+LockenJohny101 yes I am a slave but slave of the creator of all kind of thing in the universe and will juge us after death for all what we do in our life ? and he is ALLAH the one god only with no partner .
+LockenJohny101 do think that we live just one life ? There is other life but it's after death you m'y know him with the day of judgment .
The way this guy smiles makes me feel so happy. He's got all he needs.
You know a smile is really genuine when you naturally smile with them.
I just saw his other video of him making the poison and I had to have more of this guy. I'm glad I found this video, this guy is just a genuine person. Every time he smiles, it makes me smile!
Scrolling through the comments, and no one's asking the important question. What was the camera man trying to say at the end?
@stroncal "Ineu naneu kok"? means, "what are you doing?"
@@candyyik In what language?
@@alchinov4695 Penan languange, a tribe in Borneo, Sarawak.
@@candyyik puun babui ka'u
He, was asking 'What is your name?'
I really love this guy saying my language traditionally... I'm so impressed 😍😍😍
Sir, can you please let me know what kind of poison did he used?
@@Psychopatz from frogs
Watching him stab at his own hand with a dart while he simultaneously explains how deadly the poison he uses on his darts is, was really intense.
these type of men you can learn a lot from. So much knowledge.
Marvelous! This level of craftsmanship is the kind of thing men of any society can appreciate. :) Thanks NatGeo!
A humble person that specializes in this old and respected craft
I love this little guy. His smile is contagious!
I am so clumsy...I would straight up prick myself and gg
same thought
they probably have an antidote for it
I think it's probably venom, not poison, since he put's his mouth where he puts it in.
gammelhund in another video he gets it from a tree.
no, its poison becuase it came from a tree and it needs to dissolve in something like ur blood and he puts it in not on it
Idk why when he smiles i smile lol
Felt the same way
what do you think it means when you dont?
PurpOmega it means i don't smile.
He have a friendly smile,but could be dangerous.
Genuine happiness in people is contagious. It makes others who see the happy person genuinely smiling also smile. Simples
The first thing you notice is good lovely smile. Really warms your heart.
It's fascinating that the blowpipe is an object that has been designed by so many different tribes all over the world independently.
That smile and skill, he must be super popular with the ladies of his village.
I bet you didn’t search for this video it magically appeared on your recommended
No I searched for this, trying to study about my people since I haven't had much luck in the history class in my country
Bring back the old memories.. happy to watch this
I don´t know why but something makes me come back to this video every once in a while... really makes me feel good this video
He lives in a time where men were men. This guy lives in the moment and truly enjoys what he does. Something most people can't say about themselves.
i wish this art of making blowpipes survive.... its so nostalgic.
Genuine smile is truly genuine life. Keep smiling and I'm learning too.
he looks like a cool guy to hangout with. super chill
4:17 Absolute OG... Knows his stuff, and in these times of Coronavirus: this is the life we should go back to
@@inharmonywithearth9982 enemy's head not ur head
hes got almost every indie, alternative girl haircut haha
I thougth he was ritchie blackmore.
lmao
Lmfao
He has a great sweet smile and he makes me smile too. Thanks
I like this guy, his smile makes me feel warm
I know this guy is Penan and from Borneo, but the hairstyle and clothing along with the blowgun remind me so much of Seminoles from Florida.
Robert Corbell Yeah, I thought he was from the Amazons.
I was about to say. The Penan people really look like they're Amerindians. I guess the Amerindians must have come from somewhere though.
He is our tarzan of borneo ,i salute him,very creative.
Dustin Heath No they're not. That's an old myth originally used to justify replacement of Americans by Europeans and Africans.
pisse3000 There's no such thing as "Amerindians." This is because there is no such place as "Amerindia." It's Americans or American natives if you want to avoid confusion with United Staters.
what a beautiful lost Art. Now and days we just slip in the magazine and fire away.
Do you prefer hunting wild animals with a blowpipe that can instantly kill you while you load it? This, ladies and gentlemen, is the pinnacle of the “I was born in the wrong generation”
Bows predate blowguns. So do spear throwers, spears, and rocks.
He's just having fun, and that's what makes this special to watch.
This is so wholesome, love everything about this video
I actually understand his language.He speak iban and bidayuh language.The real name for that weapon is (SUMPIT).
He speaks in Penan language tbh
Oh yaa sorry for the wrong information.But some it tell iban.😅😅😅
I'm Kenyah and my family comes from Penan, Kelabit and Kayan background.
@@projectalpha2257 ohhh.That's nice
It's penan. Far from iban or bidayuh. Lol Mr know it all
Parabéns de coração , você é um artista um artesão de primeira categoria. Amei seu trabalho. Parabéns
Perfection at its best... No advanced tools, advance scientific calculation... Amazing
I can't help but to smile when he smiles.
he totally understood him this man's gonna dart him while he's asleep
What did he say
But sadly last year this our late grandfather (Balan Kade) already pass away a fews month after his late wife pass away. It's was a great lost & our legends generation. Hopefully both of them soul rest in peace!.
Condolence to Balan
His smile made my day.
i watched this , and this guys energy just lightend my day up , wao , incredeble! so calm , so patient , wierd isint it. i na good way
He had some really nice teeth for living in the jungle.
Its the lack of sugar in his diet, lack of grains and overall somewhat healthy living.
Bob Miplace exellent explanation
There are natural ways to clean your teeth
As he wears modern cloths, he might also owns a toothbrush ;o
Blend ways of the old and new, toothbrush and blow dart
Hope he managed to pass down his knowledge. The Penans love their rainforest, it is their home and their way of life. They find contentment living as nomads, they have done so for hundreds of years. New generations of Borneans are doing their best to remove corrupt governments that are selling off native customary rights lands and national parks as well as allowing illegal loggers the destroy the jungle. There are 3 countries that have 'jurisdiction' in Borneo which makes creating blanket policies for the whole island difficult ( Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia). Many decades ago the use of the blowpipe was still very common among most of the tribes in Borneo. As a Kayan from the Apoh area (my parents are from Long Bedian and Long Bemang, respectively) we only have my great grandfathers' blowpipe as heirlooms. The practice started to die out when shotguns were introduced and there was a time the use was completely banned during the Japanese occupation during WWII. The Japanese feared the blowpipe and poison darts due to its stealthy nature.
hi do you have any idea where I can meet a master craftman as Balan in Sarawak ?
@Primo One Mind One Goal Iron?? LMFAO, shotguns use, and always have used, soft metals like lead as their projectiles. Use of hard stuff like iron would ruin the barrels. City slicker.
no problem the dods chopping down the tres will be found one day with small darts in their necks and no logging any more
A master craftsman-Amazing what he does with such simple tools-John in Texas
this guy's smile just made my day
You know why you're here. 4:39 for the lols
Actually i'm here for his mullet.
snoop dog smile
Im actually here to see the blow gun But that's funny i guess
4:50 pass the weed
A genuine piece of art
Thank you for this because of this video it has inspired me to explore the vast art of weapon making
This is a huge meme right now in the Netherlands.
really ?
Of course. They colonized Borneo.
Here in America to bud! ;)
@Aron Martinus savage haha
Sinds waneer dan 😂 dit is de eerste keer dat ik hem zie
3:34 wow, gollum came to my mind.
+chinato AHAHAH holy shit!!!!
chinato oh damn thats why he looks rather familiar.
My precious~~
This mans smile tells how much he loves his hobby.
his smile is truly priceless
Such a nice person :)
I have a blowpipe made by this people from Long Jakitan in Ulu Baram. It came complete with the darts and spare ipoh poison
Adrian J Nyaoi can you shoot up your school with it or will the textbook in their backpacks stop it
His smile is truly beautiful 💓❤
He has that type of smile where when you see it, you just have to smile with him.
Proud to be a Dayaknese!
Just dayak is enough no need to add nese.
Me too, by the way, i'm dayak kayan mix kenyah, so i can understand him very well.
Listen to when he's talking about how long it takes for the darts. He says minute instead of his own language. Where he lives he has no concept of time, no measurement for it. It's just sunrise sunset. No wonder he's so happy. No meeting at 9 or bedtime at 11. Just wake with the sun and set with it.
John Enders or ya know, it's because Borneo used to be a part of a British colony. Because they still have a concept of hours, and moments.
Well, you just contradicted yourself by saying that he cannot measure time and then saying that he uses sunrise and sunset to measure it lol
John Enders you think Malaysia is that ancient!!??
Anjing luu american
Pretty sure he says menit. Which means minute so
His smile makes it all
this guy's patients is something everyone should practice.
This weapon is called "SUMPIT" this is the culture where I live ... we are called the Dayak tribe ... we are in the islands in the country of Indonesia
Dayak sarawak,kadazandusun & murut tribe also used this weapon....
@Jacky Phantom dayak tribe live in Indonesia and Malysia
@Jacky Phantom saya tidak tau dimana fidio tersebut diambil saya hanya memberi tau jikalau suku dayak hidup di kalimantan Indonesia dan malaysia
@Jacky Phantom👍
Di dlm video tersebut mengenai tentang suku kaum orang Penan yang tinggal di Sarawak, Malaysia.
90% of this comment section... "hes so happy!" :D
It's an honor to watch a craftsman. Peace
That guy is a true Legend....RESPECT
Internet, prepare yourselves for this next meme.
these people are deep in the woods of malaysian or indo nesian and maybe still one of the primitives! i am from Manila Philippines and can understand 50 % of his words.
i only picked up matay
Iron Mike this indonesian. dayak from kalimantan.
Borneo is largely Indonesian, with native Dayak people. As much as Malaysians likes to tell people differently, the entire Malaysia heritage was from Indonesia.
guys. read the description before posting comments. that's a good habit. greeting from java.
voice of reason no, borneo is belong to borneo, not malaysia nor indonesian. We just want to be peace and u guys just kept destroying our lives..just can u please stop it man with that whose who belong to this is our lives, our native island and our people not yours..
His smile makes me smile
Nice document this guy looks sooo happy. Happy from inside.
His face, his smile, the way he sits... you sure this isn’t smeagle. This is some next generation Lord of the Rings.
Best meme ever.
What a beautiful person.
Legendary Borneo MEME :-D