Siberut Conservation Programme: The People of Siberut Island (Settlement, Subsistence lifestyle, Tradition)

Subsistance farming is a major component of peoples activities and the primary source of food. The humid climate, as well as the fertile soil of the alluvial river banks and the adjacent forest provide excellent conditions for tropical agroforestry. In addition to the locally produced staple food like sago, taro, bananas and coconuts, products like rotan, durian and cacao represent commodities with a potentially high market value. Sustainable production and improved marketing of the latter may be one of several alternatives to logging as means of cash income. In addition to the vegetarian diet, protein rich food stems from fishing, extensive pig- and poultry farming and hunting.

The collection and storage of skulls belongs to the cultural history of hunting primates and the custom of offering a home for the souls of the animals killed by the hunter. In contrast to deforestation, the traditional hunting of monkeys as part of special events or ceremonies never posed a threat for the primate populations in northern Siberut.

SCP_Logo


	People

The indigenous people of Mentawai are thought to stem from migrating populations of the Malayo-Polynesian region, speaking languages based on an "Austronesian proto language”. They spread along the islands of Sundaland towards the west and most probably arrived on Siberut between 500 and 2000 BC. Ever since, these colonising people formed the indigenous population of the Mentawai island chain and have been an integral part of its ecology. Their lifestyle and (religious) ceremonies have survived on Siberut, more or less isolated from the outer world and today these traditions represent one of the most ancient human cultures within SE-Asia.

The original animistic religion and belief that every kind of animal and plant possesses a soul are connected with many ancient rituals which form an important part of Mentawaian culture. It is these cultural traditions that until recently have helped to ensure a sustainable coexistence between people and their environment. In the 1970’s and 1980’s however the central government launched several transmigration programmes, which forced the indigenous people to move to (prepared) coastal villages in order to register and gain access to public schools and medical care. This demographic policy of pooling the people in newly established villages has caused a trend towards a consumer based economy. As a consequence, the traditional Mentawai life style of subsistence agroforestry is gradually being replaced by large scale exploitation of the natural resources.




	Traditionally small settlements are scattered across the forests of Siberut and consist of several wooden buildings which are raised above the swampy ground on sturdy poles. This way, the upper part of the construction as used by the whole family, remains relatively dry, whereas the lower part can serve as shelter for pigs and poultry.




	Basic education in public schools and conventional medical care however are only available in the coastal villages of the island, which were established in the 1970’s as part of the transmigration programme.



	An important staple food of the indigenous people is Sago. Sago is a starch extracted from the pith of sago palm stems (Metroxylon sago). The pith of the sagu palm trunk is stored and heated in bamboo tubes and provides the people with their basic nutritional needs.


	For logistic reasons, these settlements as well as adjacent agricultural fields – locally called “ladangs”- were usually established next to rivers



In the coastal villages, people are getting in contact with the outer world and the ferry harbours turned into meeting- and trading places. Nevertheless, most of the local traditions survived and today people “commute” between their recently established coastal villages and their ladangs inland.


			Religious ceremonies including traditional dances are still performed on a regular basis and represent an important aspect of the ancient culture on Siberut.




	An essential part of almost all ceremonies is the presentation of ancient songs and stories, explaining about the genesis of life and the ancestors of human- and animal populations on the island.


		Elderly citizens of Politcioman are amongst the few that still hold a great knowledge of traditional medicinal plants and curative rituals.






Traditional handicraft techniques have been passed over from generation to generation.



	The predicted destruction of the Siberut ecosystem as a result of logging will have profound negative consequences for this traditional way of life, which once lost, will be gone forever. Until now, communities of northern Siberut have resisted the demands of logging companies to exploit their rainforests. Without external support this situation is likely to change soon...


	Pak Tarianus (left), a representative of the Salamanang clan, which owns the forest of our study area, is checking the forest with Dr. Christophe Abegg (right) at SCP’s field site. Pak Tarianus and his clan are already convinced that logging (already ongoing in adjacent territories, right) would be the worst scenario with regard to future perspectives for this area and all its inhabitants.

Carefully organized ecotourism can provide a constant source of cash income for the local people and a sustainable alternative to the short-lived profit through logging concessions. Currently, the infrastructure needed for such an ecotourism programme in North Siberut is being built up. Once operational it will be run by the local people, to ensure long lasting and direct benefits for the village communities.


	→ Top of the page