MENTAWAI TRIBE

Mentawai tribe is one of indigenous tribes who still preserve old ways of custom and tradition in Indonesia. Mentawai tribe settle down in a small Siberut island; just west of Sumatera island and a throwing stone from Padang town. Perhaps slightly bigger than an island in Maldives. A vast rain forest relatively covers the island. Living scatteredly, they live communal in one family of father’s lineages and in a long traditional house, called “Uma”.

Before the influence of outside modern world more than half century ago, Mentawai tribe practiced the way of living of neolithic civilization. Main living are making sago and hunting. Equipment works like axe and pickaxe were made of stone. The tools were also sometimes got from outside traders who came down to buy their forest products. After more arrivals, they came in touch with iron tools.

Their clothes are very simple. Men wear “kabit” (processed bark) and women use skirts made of women sago trees. Interestingly base of the long wooden house derives from “durian” wood found plenty throughout Siberut island. Durian is a controversial fruit for European but loved much by S.E. Asia people.

Main food stuffs of Mentawai are sago and taro. But they are fond of rice now. Normally comes together with fish for side dishes, or meat of birds and boars. Daily life necessities like clothing, fuel, tobacco, materials means, rice, salt, and others are generally brought by traders from Padang town.

SIKEREI
The most respected person of Mentawai community is “Sikerei” or kind of shaman. Believed to have supernatural powers, he has close relationship with ancestral spirits; So that he can heal illnesses. Sikerei provides needed medicinal herbs and followed by mystical dance called “turuk”. Mentawai people believe the soul is leaving the body when someone is sick. It is the Sikerei’s task to recall the soul back.

To be a Sikerei is definitely not easy. He must go through years of practices. He must undergo a series of test both mentally and physically, from the ability to make medicines and to do meditation to meet the spirits of Sikerei’s ancestors (called “Pagetasabau”). Only a very few people pass the test and willingly to live it. In account of that Sikerei is usually also appointed one based on descent.

For the inauguration of Sikerei, they have to kill pigs/boars and chickens. In respect of social status, they are in highest rank. But no mean they can do anything they want. They have many cultural restrictions; No ferns, pigs, bilou (a family of monkey in Mentawai), eel, squirrel, and turtles. Not allowed to temp or seduce other woman. They have to put public interest over personal or family one.

TATTOO OF MENTAWAI
Believably tattoo tradition of Mentawai is classified among the oldest ones in the world; Dating back to 1500 – 500 BC. It is also the symbol of balance and represents spirit of life. For that reason, tattoo has different purposes. Hunter’ tattoo is not the same with others. They often set tattoo in the forms of the captured animals such as deer, monkey, bird, or boar. But the Sikerei’s tattoo with pictures of Sibalu-balu star symbol.

Tattoo processing has 3 steps. Earliest made is around arms for 11-13 years old. Next level is around thigh when 18-20 years. The last one when they reach adulthood. Tattoo is carefully done by Sipatiti or tattoo artist. He draws the pattern using bamboo stick first; Then tattooed and colored. The probably different is the way of putting tattoo ink into the skin. They use a small needle attached in small wood.