A member of the Penan tribe on the island of Borneo, Balan is the last elder in his village who practices the craft of blowpipe making. The Penan blowpipe is a traditional hunting weapon with a unique design, and it can be crafted only with intense care and tireless manual labour. Balan the Blowpipe Maker is an excerpt from Ross Harrison’s 30-minute documentary Sunset Over Selungo, which profiles several members of the Penan tribe as their way of life is threatened by the effects of climate change and deforestation in the Borneo rainforest.
Meet the last Borneo villager who still crafts his own blowpipe for hunting
Director: Ross Harrison

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