In 2019, Yayasan Pendidikan Budaya Mentawai (YPBM) embarked on a very meaningful project to preserve local cultural heritage through in-depth research of Mentawai’s cultural mythology – an endeavor proudly supported by our long-term partner, the Indigenous Education Foundation. The goal

Suku Mentawai Foundation/YPBM is proud to announce that our film “Mentawai Souls of the Forest”, Directed by Joo Peter, has won the Mt. Everest Award for Best International Documentary at the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) – held in Kathmandu,

Mentawai Cultural Education Foundation – YPBM will continue to be committed to working to develop the Mentawai Cultural and Ecological Education Program (CEEP) for the young Mentawai generation. We will continue to improve the quality of learning in accordance with

Due to the wonderful response and support we’re receiving via the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) and their As Worlds Divide #wafsac – ‘watch a film, save a culture’ campaign, our Suku Mentawai ‘Cultural and Environmental Education Program’ (CEEP) is now officially

Whether we choose to ignore it or not, tourism does impact local communities and their native environment in a big way – sometimes positively, sometimes negatively. What is important, however, is that we do have control over the decisions we

Together with August Sikatsila, Suku Mentawai’s program manager, we’ve spent the past month gathering cultural and environmental-based research in the Sarereiket regions of Siberut Island. August headed our previous community research and survey activities and is indeed right at home

To help maximise our impact within Mentawai, Indonesia and beyond, we’re working in partnership with the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) supporting the production of a feature-length documentary film called As Worlds Divide. The film, directed by Rob Henry who has

Early November I met with Esmat in Padang (West Sumatra) to finalize registration of the Indonesian Foundation setup to operate the Suku Mentawai program. Namely, the ‘Yayasan Pendidikan Global Pribumi Indonesia’. This is now complete. Big thanks to Yeni and

Please watch the video below to see if you’ve won the limited-edition Mentawai photo prize! Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets and for your support in getting the Suku Mentawai program off the ground. We’re extremely grateful, and excited. Plenty