Riska - Softcover

""Riska" ought to be essential reading. . . . A totally enchanting and beguiling autobiography of a young woman who grew up in a rain forest [that] provides valuable insights into the past, present, and future of Borneo's first inhabitants."--"Woman Newsmagazine" "A lovely memoir . . . a rare and valuable record [and] a thoroughly original account of growing up in the rain forests of Borneo. . . Fresh, direct writing and sparkling, meandering connections between thoughts, snatches of conversation and memory."--"Globe and Mail" "Riska vividly captures the tastes and textures of her early life and the ancient traditions and habits of her people. This is a captivating story . . . proof of its author's ambition and perseverance, and a stunning and insightful testament to her life and the life of her people."--"Winnipeg Free Press"

Books by Western specialists have compiled many observations and facts about the headhunters of Borneo, but the culture has never before been described from the inside, by an indigenous person born and reared in the rain forest listening to the stories and legends of her tribe. In this vivid memoir, Riska Orpa Sari tells us about the remote village of her birth, where rice is cultivated by cutting and burning the rain forest, where hunting and gathering take place under its dark canopy. She describes courtship and marriage, funeral rites, the sound headhunters make before they strike, the impact of the logging industry on the Dayak way of life, and the centrality of the river to all aspects of daily living. As Riska's marvelous story unfolds, a witty, intelligent personality is revealed, endearing, resilient, and dedicated to the preservation of her people.