A "living treasure" of M'nong culture.

Everyone in Buôn Đung (Đắk Phơi commune) knows and respects Mr. Y Par Đăk Căt because he is not only a respected village elder but also the "keeper of the flame" of M'nông traditional culture.

Even though he's nearly 70 years old, Y Par Đăk Căt still diligently weaves traditional baskets every day. The bamboo and rattan fibers, in his hands, become soft and pliable, transforming into sturdy baskets. Y Par shared: “Each basket has its own function, its own story. Depending on the shape and size of the basket, the purpose and user also differ. Baskets for fetching water are woven loosely, baskets for rice are woven tightly, and baskets for corn are woven densely. Smaller baskets for personal belongings or items are woven very carefully and elaborately with many skillful decorative patterns... In addition, there are baskets with high legs to reduce the weight because you don't have to bend or stoop. Now that I'm old and no longer have the strength to work in the fields, I just stay at home weaving baskets.”

The people of Buon Dung village learn about the traditional art of basket weaving from Mr. Y Par Dak Cat.

In the couple's stilt house, there are always baskets of various sizes available because many people order them to be woven. Maintaining the weaving craft not only provides him with additional income, but more importantly, it affirms the vitality and economic value of M'nong culture in modern society.

Besides weaving baskets, Elder Y Par of Dak Cat is also a renowned gong player, possessing complex ancient gong melodies, from gongs for rain prayers and gongs celebrating the new rice harvest to gongs for bidding farewell to the deceased... Elder Y Par has also painstakingly preserved two precious sets of gongs through many generations, including a set of gongs for playing on baskets and a set of gongs for playing by hand.