Intercultural Communication

  

As stories of old, the Kadazan Dusun have many tales and legends to its authenticity. Although thought by many as a made up word by the political derivative around the late 1950's, the people itself was in legend thought to be originated from a village or settlement called Nunuk Ragang. Located along the Ranau-Sandakan highway and about an hour drive from Ranau, this original settlement was thought to be the place where the civilization of the Kadazan Dusun took birth. Derived from two Dusun words - Nunuk and Aragang -  Nunuk Ragang is the collaboration of the two meaning of those words. Nunuk which is the local name for the fig tree or banyan, and Aragang means red. For them, why Nunuk is so special is because - it is said that the giant fig tree in their original village had provided them of all the essential needs that one can ask for which is food and shelter. In the past, this was critical for the survival of the community and with luscious growth of the Nunuk tree, the people who seek shelter there revered the tree as their savior. As for Ragang, in past- the villagers there would climb up the tree and bask in the warm morning sun. From afar, this gave the tree a reddish color. It was also said that the latex of the tree flowed into the river giving the river a reddish color. It was also said that the latex of the tree flowed into the river giving the river a reddish color. For whatever the reason, this made it known as the Red Fig Tree or Nunuk Ragang which one of the most famous attraction if you ever visit Sabah.