Mentawai Tribe
Ancestors Mentawai people expected to come to the island of Siberut about 3,000 years ago. Originally they had not known clearly, and many opinions about it, but probably came from the Batak, North Sumatra. According to public confidence in Siberut, the whole tribe was there originally came from one tribe / uma from Simatalu area located on the west coast of Siberut island, which then spread throughout the island and split into several uma / tribe.
Mentawai culture type is expected to spread throughout Indonesia in the past, but has been influenced by other cultures who come from outside the region such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Until now Mentawai culture is relatively pristine because of the isolation and has not been much influenced by other cultures.
Social Structure
Mentawai people are patrilineals and social life in a tribe called ‘uma’. Traditional social structures are together, they lived in a big long house called the ‘uma’ in the tribal lands. All food, forest products and jobs are divided into a uma.
Patrilineal groups consisted of families who live in narrow places along the great rivers. Although there has been a marriage relationship between uma groups living in the same river valley, but the political units have never formed because of this incident.
The social structure was also to be egalitarian, that each member has grown in uma same position except "sikerei" (or shaman), which has precedence because it can cure disease and lead religious ceremonies.
Uma traditionally has the highest authority in Siberut. During the New Order regime uma function of social organization to function but less so since the reform era uma begin again encouraged by the formation of several Village Traditional Council. Since regional autonomy planned rolling lowest government unit "laggai".
Traditional Culture
According to traditional religion Mentawai (Arat Sabulungan) all living things and everything in nature has a spirit or soul (simagre). Spirit can separate from the body and roaming freely. If the harmony between spirit and body are not maintained, then the spirit will leave and can cause disease. The concept of trust is valid in the daily life of people everyday activities that are inconsistent with customary and beliefs it can disrupt the balance and harmony of spirit in nature.
Religious ceremony known as punen, puliaijat or lia should be done in conjunction with human activities so as to reduce interference. The ceremony was led by the sikerei who can communicate with the spirit and soul are not visible to ordinary people. Spirit beings who are still living and the dead will be given a presentation that provided by many members of the tribe. Custom house (uma) decorated, pork is served and held dances (turuk) to please the spirit so that they will restore harmony. During the events are held, then the system is taboo or tabu (kekei) must be running and there were also various restrictions on various daily activities.
Traditional beliefs and taboos in particular that is the social control of people and regulate forest use are wise and prudent in thousands of years. However, now these cultures fade away. The population grew rapidly and natural resources are exploited without regard to the traditional rules that affect the decline in carrying capacity of the environment which was a focus for the life of the Mentawai people.
In doing hunting, making canoes, penetrated / open land to farm or build a uma ririskiky then usually performed jointly by all members of the uma and the division of labor is divided over the sexes. Each family in a uma bring food (chicken, sago, etc.) which is then collected and eaten together by all members of the uma after completed the activity / ceremony.
Food staples of the Siberut is sago (Metroxylon sago), banana and taro. Other foods such as fruits, honey and mixed mushrooms from the forest or planted in the fields. Protein sources such as deer, monkeys and birds obtained by using the arrows to hunt and fish fished from pond or river
