DOCUMENTAL_ EN EL CORAZÓN DE LA TRIBU MENTAWAI

Inside the Mentawai tribe. Off the western coast of Sumatra, far out at sea, beats an archipelago where time flows to the rhythm of the jungle. Their lives, the Mentawai tribe. Known as the flower men, they preserve an animist way of life, Aratsabalungun, the sacred harmony between human beings and nature. For the Mentawai, every plant, river, and animal carry a soul. Cutting down the jungle, they say, is like wounding life itself. The Sikarai, or shaman, is the spiritual center of the Mentawai community. A bridge between the human and the invisible, this role is not inherited, but a personal choice, forged through years of learning plants, rituals, and sacred songs. Sergi, the Sikarai of the Tatbaruk family, leads us deep into the jungle. Along the way, he checks a trap set for wild pigs. This time, it hasn't worked. We arrive at a mysterious place. A secret clearing the Sikarai found after getting lost in the jungle as a child. The Mentawai live in large traditional houses called Uma, built from wood, palm leaves, and bamboo. They are decorated with the skulls of animals, such as wild pigs or monkeys, considered elements of protection for the community. The Uma is a communal house for rituals, gatherings, and daily life, a symbol of tribal unity. Each family raises its own pigs, regarded as symbols of wealth and status. Women lead the preparation of Sugu, the dietary cornerstone of the Mentawai tribe. A single palm trunk can feed a family for half a year. The ripest tree is felled, its interior crushed and mixed with water. The mixture is settled, and the sediment is sun-dried into a light, starchy flour. The entire tree is used. Inside grow alutsamu, larvae rich in protein and fat. They are eaten raw, roasted, or fried. The Sikarai reveals the art of making Kabi, the men's gown that embodies the Mentawai identity, obtained from the inner bark of the Daiko tree. a wooden mallet, the Puka. Finally, the sheets are then dried under the sun for days. The result, a lightweight, breathable garment, perfect for the humid climate of the Mentawai islands. Women master the waters. Using handmade nets, they catch fish, shrimp, and frogs. Fishing takes place in nearby rivers. The most traditional women wear banana leaf skirts and bear chests. As for hunting, this activity is reserved for important festivals and is carried out primarily by men. Not only do they use traps, their arrows are poisoned with a substance known as Raki, an extremely potent poison made from a root called yam mixed with ginger and chili. The ingredients are pounded and mixed into a paste, which is squeezed out and then applied to the arrowheads. The Mentawai use large arrows for hunting wild pigs and small arrows for primates, birds, or bats. This poison is also fatal to humans. If the poison penetrates a wound, it would cause death within minutes. To thoroughly infuse the poison into the arrows, they are dried over a fire before storage. Mentawai tattoos aren't worn, they're lived. More than decoration, they are sacred symbols meant to protect from nature's spirits. Chin lines represent machetes. Chest designs, the hunters bow. Arm tattoos reflect the surroundings, sun and jungle vegetation. The bond I felt with the Tatbaruk family's ancestral way of life moved me to carry a permanent reminder on my skin. The ink has obtained hydrating charcoal with bamboo water and sugarcane juice. The saikrai applies medicinal herbs and gives his final blessing. The Mentawai family prepares their traditional cups for the farewell ceremony. Relatives and neighbors gather to share the moment. As usual, the pig is cooked for the meal. Passed down orally for generations, Sirji, our saikrai, blesses our journey. um everybody so thank you so much don't forget like comment and subscribe these people and bitcoin and money rupiah everything and ringgit so don't forget like comment and surprise so