paper one - the mentawai's

8/14/2019 paper one - the mentawai's

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Chandler Routman

March 5, 2009

INDO 1011

Paper 1

The Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands lie to the West of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean.

They are composed of over seventy different islands. The islands

straddle the equator, which explains the lush temperate climate that is

associated with Indonesia. The history of the Mentawai Islands begins

between 2000 and 500 BC. The islands where once a part of Sumatra

and during the Pleistocene Era the islands were separated. The culture

of the Mentawai people is distinctly different from their fellow

Indonesians because of how long theyve been separated from each

other. The islands were have been influenced culturally by the British,

the Dutch, the Germans, and finally by Catholic Italian missionaries.

Currently the Mentawais are considered regency within the Suatera

Barat.

There are over twenty different endemic species spread through

out the seventy islands. There are four endemic primate species on the

islands; the Kloss Gibbon, the Mentawai Macaque, Mentawai leaf-

monkey and the sub-nosed monkey. In total the Mentawais house at


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least seventeen endemic mammal species. Other common animals (at

least in these islands) are sea turtles, dolphins, fruit pigeons, endemic

squirrels, tropical fish like parrotfish, sharks, snakes and many more.

The Mentawais are composed of lush tropical rainforests, mangroves,

coral reefs, and beautiful white sand beaches. Some of which are

protected by the government. The Siberut National Park is one of the

most famous protected areas. Not only can you see the beautiful

vegetation of the Siberut Island, but you can also experience the lives

of indigenous Mentawai tribes.

The islands lie over one of the most active earthquake zones in

the entire world; because of its location the Mentawais are very much

at risk for tsunamis and earthquakes.

The culture of the Mentawai people is becoming increasingly

difficult to preserve because of rapid globalization. Historically the

people were jungle inhabitants until the Indonesian government forced

people to live in villages, thus becoming more modernized. Before they

lived in the government-run villages, the people lived in umas, which

are traditional long houses where an entire clan would live in. Before

modernization, the people of the Mentawai have lived off of the

tropical rainforests and of the natural resources that were available.

Everyone, including women and children were treated as equals.

Sikeireis or shamans, who shared everything that they knew with their


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people, led the clans. With modernization came modern life styles,

many people renounced their clans and became more concerned with

materialistic ideals and thoughts. The government does provide school

for the children of the islands, but they tend to ignore the indigenous

history and culture of the Mentawai people.

The traditional religion of the Mentawai Islands is a form of

animism called Jarayak. This form of religion isnt allowed by the

Indonesian government, many people have converted to either Islam

or to Christianity, but at the same time many people still practice

Jarayak.

The Mentawais have become an incredibly popular surf

destination, not only for professional surfers, but also for surfers of all

skill levels since the mid-1990s. One of the most popular ways to

enjoy the Islands is to take boat trips that take visitors to surf

locations around all of the islands. Another option is to stay at one of

the many hotels and resorts that are on the islands. These places

accommodate all of a surfers needs by providing the best in food and

service with transportation to the best waves. The most popular

islands with the best surf are Suberut, Sipora, and North and South

Pagai Islands. The most well known surfing area is called Playgrounds.

It is one of the worlds greatest spots to surf bringing in top surfers like

Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, and my all time favorite Taj Burrow. Many of


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Taj Burrows videos are filmed in the Mentawai Islands, especially at

Macaronis, North Pagai and Lances Left, South Pagai. Surfing became

huge during a period during 1995 and still continues to gain more

fame as surfers continue to go and explore all of the wonders that the

Mentawais offer. The surfing industry has greatly expanded the

economy of the islands.

Tourism is now a huge industry. Since the 1980s luxury resorts

are springing up all around the islands to cater to all a visitors wants

and needs. Fishing, surfing, relaxation, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking,

hiking, learning about the culture and people, and just enjoying the

hospitality of the friendly Indonesian people are some of the things

that attract visitors to the islands.


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Bibilography

http://www.mentawai.org/jptm.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentawai_Islands

http://www.MentawaiSurfCats.com/Waves

http://www.lombokmarine.com/mantawai-islands.htm

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4466/siberut1.htm

http://www.siberut-island.org/website.php?id=/project.htm

http://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/cultures/indonesia/mentawai/

mentawai.shtml
http://www.mentawai.org/jptm.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentawai_Islandshttp://www.mentawaisurfcats.com/Waveshttp://www.lombokmarine.com/mantawai-islands.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4466/siberut1.htmhttp://www.siberut-island.org/website.php?id=/project.htmhttp://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/cultures/indonesia/mentawai/mentawai.shtmlhttp://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/cultures/indonesia/mentawai/mentawai.shtmlhttp://www.mentawai.org/jptm.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentawai_Islandshttp://www.mentawaisurfcats.com/Waveshttp://www.lombokmarine.com/mantawai-islands.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4466/siberut1.htmhttp://www.siberut-island.org/website.php?id=/project.htmhttp://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/cultures/indonesia/mentawai/mentawai.shtmlhttp://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/cultures/indonesia/mentawai/mentawai.shtml

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paper one - the mentawai's