1. Introduction
1.1. Identity and History of the Dusun Kiau Community in Kota Belud
Located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu in the district of Kota Belud, the
village of Kiau is one of the highest villages found in Sabah. Our village is
divided into three areas, Kiau Bersatu, Kiau Taburi and Kiau Nuluh. We
have a population of around 2,000 people and a majority of us are of
Dusun Kiau descent.
The Kiau Community Conserved Forest is located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu and borders
the Kinabalu Park.
Our origins can be traced back to the 1800s as ethnic Dusuns from Nunuk
Ragang. At that time, we were hunters and gatherers that lived a nomadic
lifestyle. We then settled in the Mesilau area near the foot of Mount
Kinabalu. While in Mesilau, our ancestors hunted and came across an
area with a spring which they then drank from and heard the cry of a
Kologiau bird. After they drank the water, they found that they were full,
or “noiyau”. Since that incident, our ancestors had decided to settle in
this area and named it Kiau. We have already lived here for seven
generations.
7|Dusun Kiau Community Protocol