“Damang” Leadership in the Traditional Government of Dayak Loksado of Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency of South Kalimantan Province during the Covid-19 Pandemic

This study aims to see and prove that leadership is a social phenomenon that always exists, and is inherent in every society, both modern and traditional societies. “Damang” as the sacred leader of the Meratus Dayak Tribe in Loksado District has a very dominant position and role in various dimensions of Loksado Dayak community life, namely in human relations with humans, human relationships with the universe, and human relationships with the Creator (God) through Nini Bahatara. The research method used is a qualitative method with data collection techniques are observation and in-depth interviews, with key informants, in this case, "damang" and other parties directly related to the research focus. The results showed that the "damang" as the highest leader in the traditional government of the Loksado Dayak community in the Meratus Mountains area, precisely in the Loksado District Administration, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, South Kalimantan Province, has a very central and strategic role and function for people in the socio-economic, political and governmental fields. On the other hand, in the same area, the formal government of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is also running, in this case, the village government, sub-district government, and district government.