{"id":2126,"date":"2023-04-06T07:12:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T07:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/?p=2126"},"modified":"2023-04-06T13:45:27","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T13:45:27","slug":"launching-first-edition-of-suku-mentawais-ethnobotany-field-guide-siureman-purimanuaijat-ka-simattaoi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sukumentawai.org\/en\/2023\/04\/launching-first-edition-of-suku-mentawais-ethnobotany-field-guide-siureman-purimanuaijat-ka-simattaoi\/","title":{"rendered":"Launching First Edition of Suku Mentawai\u2019s ethnobotany field guide, \u201cSiureman Purimanuaijat ka Simattaoi\u201d."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Yayasan Pendidikan Budaya Mentawai (YPBM) has carried out the launch of a new book focused on Mentawai\u2019s most important plant and herb resources, titled ‘Siureman Purimanuaijat Ka Simattaoi’. The launch event was held at the Uma Jaraik Sikerei Cultural Arts Studio on October 20, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019,\u00a0YPBM commenced\u00a0intensive ethnobotanical field\u00a0research<\/a> \u2013 documenting the\u00a0plant resources deemed most valuable to the day-to-day life of the Mentawai people\u00a0in the Sabirut and Sarereiket regions, including Matotonan, and Madobag Villages in the Southern Siberut District.\u00a0This important research was also\u00a0carried out in conjunction with the Mentawai language research project, also focused on\u00a0the Sarereiket<\/em> area and their specific\u00a0dialect. The results of this language project was the launch of our very first Mentawai dictionary<\/a>, Rereiket to Indonesian language, in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mentawai ethnobotanical research project was conducted in collaboration with Australian Researcher, Samantha Lee, a student from Southern Cross University, New Colombo Scholar and a National Geographic Explorer. Samantha worked alongside our Mentawai research team as an intern to our Mentawai Foundation. Samantha is also the Operational Manager of the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF)<\/a>, our Australian-based partner organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After three years conducting research, collating\u00a0information, checking data accuracy and hosting\u00a0workshops, finally in 2022 the YPBM Foundation launched the very first Mentawai Plant Field Guide. Our guide is first and foremost to be used as a learning tool for our Mentawai cultural and ecological education program, as well as a simple guide for those interested in learning about Mentawai\u2019s plant diversity and the survival of the indigenous Mentawai people.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Santi Sagari: Co-Editor , Matotonan field research 2019<\/em>.<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Co-Editor, Santi Sagari<\/strong> states: \u201cMany people in our community were concerned that our plant knowledge might become lost or diluted in the next generation. For many reasons, much of today\u2019s young generation lack knowledge about Mentawai plants that are often used for our daily needs, be it medicinal plants, building materials, food ingredients, etc. With this book, we hope the students realize that Mentawai\u2019s plants are very important for the life of the Mentawai people. Ultimately, we cannot live without our plants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In carrying out the research, YPBM documented\u00a0a total of more than 400 varieties of plants and herbs with guidance from the Sikerei (healers\/traditional leaders) and community leaders, which according to all\u00a0were very important for the survival of the Mentawai. The plant field guide includes plants from various categories: \u00a0food and drink, traditional medicines, construction and buildings, arts and crafts, household utensils and those necessary for supporting facilitation of Mentawai survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From all the data collected, YPBM managed to identify 64 types of plants and herbs seen as the most important and vital for survival of the Mentawai. Data from the 64 most\u00a0important plant resources was then carefully checked for accuracy and referenced against the community survey conducted by the team. \u00a0From this data, YPBM carried out follow-up surveys and workshops leading up to the finalization and publication in the form of a plant field guide. This guide was launched by YPBM on October 20, 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Panel discussion with Josep Sagari (Moderator), Sujono, S.Pd (Coordinator of Mentawai Education & Cultural Department), Anton (Director of Siberut National Park), Hijon, S.Pd (Southern Siberut Camat, Fransiskus Yan (Suku Mentawai Chairman) and Samantha Lee (Co-Editor and IEF representative).<\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The launch event was attended by the district head and the South Siberut sub-district government as well as members from the community. Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) partners, Rob Henry and Samantha Lee, were also present to witness the launch of the first edition of Mentawai’s important plant field guide book. It is planned that in the future YPBM will slowly continue research and accuracy of other Mentawai plant resources that have not yet been documented and published either in the form of books, catalogs, brochures and\/or leaflets for student learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enlivening the plant book launching event, Mentawai cultural school students from the Siberut area participated by presenting various Mentawai cultural performances and activities. We were all very proud to witness what they have gained while participating in the Mentawai cultural and ecological education program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dance performance by Mentawai Cultural School Students<\/em><\/sub>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“The launch of this book is our first edition, and so we open up space for the Mentawai people to provide their input for the future improvement of this community resource. We are happy to receive criticism, as the purpose of making this book is to provide access to education about our plant resources for the community, especially our cultural and ecological schools and studios that are under our guidance. We hope to also raise funding for our programs via sale of this book to the public.\u201d <\/em>Fransiskus Yan <\/strong>– Chairman of YPBM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, YPBM would like to thank the Mentawai Sikerei <\/em>who cannot be mentioned one by one, but who have been willing to contribute a lot throughout our research; and to the many other members of our community who sincerely and enthusiastically contributed and supported our research; and to the government of Mentawai and our Australian partner, the Indigenous Education Foundation. In particular, we also express our gratitude to Samantha Lee, New Colombo Scholar and a National Geographic Explorer<\/strong>\u00a0for their financial assistance to support the Mentawai plant field guide research\u00a0and the One In An Army<\/a><\/strong> community who have helped through fundraising so that\u00a0enabling us to print and publish the “Siureman Purimanuaijat Ka Simattaoi”<\/em>\u00a0book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The book can be obtained at the YPBM Office, Muntei Village, South Siberut with a donation of IDR 250,000. 100 percent of all donations generated will be used for the development of the Suku Mentawai cultural school program and the development of a Mentawai cultural advanced research strategy.For orders outside Mentawai please contact: +62 812-6770-8400 (YPBM Secretary – Santi Sagari)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank You<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masurak Bagatta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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