However, mention the name Orang Kaya Pemancha (OKP) Dana Bayang, and you are likely to be greeted with blank stares.

This will all change when we catch a glimpse of OKP Dana in the upcoming Hollywood film “Edge of the World”, which gives us a sneak peek of Brooke’s voyage of discovery to Sarawak in the 1800s.

According to Sarawak activist Peter John Jaban, who traded in his placard for a parang to play OKP Dana, this will, hopefully, be the right step to greater representation for the indigenous people of Sarawak.

“OKP Dana was one of the most famous paramount chiefs of the Saribas river basin who commanded 40 longhouse communities before and during the Brooke regime,” he said.

OKP Dana of Padeh was the youngest child of Orang Kaya Beti and his wife, Endau.

He was described as a small, plain-looking man but was known for his bravery and fierceness.

As a war leader among the Dayak Iban community, OKP Dana had led many successful war expeditions along the coast of Sarawak towards the Sambas territory in Pontianak and beyond the surrounding areas of West Kalimantan in Indonesia.

It all started in 1800 when OKP Dana attacked the Sungai Raya in Kalimantan with 40 warboats from the Saribas and Skrang rivers.

He and his followers raided many villages and longhouses, and his warriors killed over one hundred Malays and Salakau Dayaks in the area and brought back a considerable amount of prisoners to their homes.

Six years later, he led a large number of Saribas and Skrang Iban in a raid on the Chinese town of Singkawang.

The Chinese defended themselves with long-handled knives known as “tat”, but a great number of them were killed.

A large number of captives were also taken, whose descendants still live to this day in the Saribas district.

However, some of the Chinese managed to escape to a town called Mentrado, and in 1810, OKP Dana attacked the town with 180 warboats which resulted in hundreds of Chinese killed.

“His position of respect among his people and from leaders from other ethnic communities made sure that the Ibans were seen as a force to be reckoned with,” Peter said.

As it turns out, Rentap was mentored by OKP Dana and accompanied him on major headhunting expeditions from south of Sarawak to the Kapuas River.

OKP Dana even appointed him as his lead warrior for his army, and when he grew old, Rentap took over as the commanding officer and led several similar war expeditions to raid Sambas and Pontianak in Indonesia.

OKP Dana died in 1854 after contracting smallpox and one of his sons named Umpu also died of the disease.

According to Peter, OKP Dana was instrumental in allowing Christian missionaries to enter his territory and, as a result, his son Buda was the first Dayak to convert to Christianity.

About his experience filming the movie, Peter told FMT he was one of only two Sarawakians with a speaking role.

“The dialogue was in my native language and represented a part of my history and the story of my homeland.

“It was also an amazing opportunity to take part in such a grand production, moving around the most beautiful locations in Sarawak and sharing that with the international crew and cast,” he said.

Peter hoped that the history syllabus in the Malaysian education system would take note of the local leader, as highlighted by this international film.

“Indigenous people are the ‘lain lain’ in a national context and this has put our unique culture and heritage under threat. Each territory has a long and distinguished history before the formation of Malaysia, something that most Malaysians know little about.

“Appreciation of each region’s special culture and fascinating history will be the best foundation forward to bring unity in Malaysia,” he said.

“Edge of the World” is slated to be released on June 23 in the US followed by other countries worldwide including Malaysia.

The film stars Hollywood actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Brooke, Dominic Monaghan (best known for his work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) as Colonel Arthur Crookshank and Hong Kong actress Josie Ho as Brooke’s former lover Madame Lim.

It will also star several Malaysian and Indonesian actors, including Bront Palarae, Shaheizy Sam, as well as Sarawakian actors Peter John Jaban and Kahar Jimi.