The Mentawai tribe on Siberut Island has a number of unique facts that distinguish it from other tribes in Indonesia. They are known as a very traditional tribe, with a life that is very dependent on nature and strong animist beliefs.
Here are some unique facts about the ancient Mentawai tribe on Siberut Island
One of the Oldest Indigenous Tribes in Indonesia
The Mentawai people are believed to have lived on the Mentawai Islands for over 4,000 years, making them one of Indonesia’s oldest indigenous tribes. Their way of life has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Distinctive Tattoo Culture
The Mentawai are famous for their body tattoos, considered among the oldest in the world. Each tattoo design represents a person’s life journey, social status, or spiritual beliefs and is traditionally hand-tapped using natural ink and a needle-like tool.
Shamanic Spiritual Beliefs
Their belief system, known as Sabulungan, is deeply animistic. They believe that everything in nature has a spirit. Sikerei (shamans) play a vital role in healing, rituals, and maintaining harmony between humans and spirits.
Traditional Longhouses (Uma)
The tribe lives communally in Uma, large wooden longhouses raised on stilts, built from local materials like sago palm and bamboo. These homes house entire extended families and reflect the tribe’s communal lifestyle.
Hunter-Gatherer Lifestyle
The Kuno Mentawai rely on subsistence living, hunting wild boar and monkeys with poison-tipped arrows, fishing, and gathering sago, fruits, and medicinal plants from the rainforest.
Minimal Clothing and Unique Grooming Practices
Traditionally, the Mentawai wear loincloths or bark cloth. They sharpen their teeth to a point using a chisel and file—considered a sign of beauty and spiritual strength.
Resistance to Modern Influence
Despite government attempts to modernize them, many Mentawai choose to preserve their traditional lifestyle. Some groups on Siberut Island, especially in the interior, still live without electricity, roads, or modern healthcare.
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Siberut Island is recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, home to both the Mentawai and rare endemic wildlife.
Apart from the above facts, the Mentawai Tribe is also known for its tradition of worshipping ancestors through special ceremonies, their ability to make various handicrafts from natural materials, and their knowledge of medicinal plants in the forest.
