Improving the Government Policy on the Arat Sabulungan Tradition in Mentawai Islands

Abstract

A BSTRACT: Government policy on banning the “A rat S abulungan ” tradition in Sioban V illage, South Sipora S ubdistrict, Mentawai I sland s D istrict, West Sumatra , Indonesia has occurred since 1954. Since the banning of the “A rat Sabulungan” tradition, it eliminates the local wisdom of the Mentawai people. This is due to the policy of the Mentawai regional government , which abolished tradition. The occurrence of controversy between local governments and Mentawai people , who still carry on the tradition , w hereas for the Mentawai people, the “A rat S abulungan ” tradition is very important in the life of Mentawai people. The historical method is used in this study with a qualitative and an ethnographic approach es . The result s of this research show that the abolition of “Arat Sabulungan” tradition was the coercion form of the government . H owever, indigenous peoples in Mentawai Islands are still active in carrying out the “ Arat Sabulungan ” traditions in cultural, ritual , and ceremonial customs . “ Arat Sabulungan ”, as belief system, has still existe d in the life of the Mentawai indigenous people. Besides other factors, such as their very strong ties to customary law , e ven though Protestantism, Islam , and Catholicism have become the official religion of the indigenous Mentawai people since 1954 , b ut they still carry out the principles of living in the “ Arat Sabulungan ” tradition in daily life. Until now , there is still no new customary law system that is able to replace the position of “ Arat Sabulungan ” that they have upheld. They still think that “ Arat Sabulungan ” tradition is a belief system; and principles of tradition are still relevant to the culture and legal ideals of the Mentawai people. KEY WORDS: “ Arat S abulungan ” T radition ; P rohibition ; Mentawai Islands People; Improvement of the G overnment P olicy . About the Authors: Refni Yulia, M.Hum . and Zulfa , M . Hum. are the Lecturers at the History Education Department of STKIP PGRI (College of Education and Teacher Training, Teachers United of the Republic of Indonesia) West Sumatera in Padang, Indonesia. Hendra Naldi, M . Hum . is a Lecturer at the History Department, Faculty of Social Sciences UNP (State University of Padang) in West Sumatera, Indonesia. E-mails address: refniyulia17@gmail.com , zulfaeva75@gmail.com , and hendranaldi@gmail.com Suggested Citation: Yulia, Refni, Zulfa & Hendra Naldi. (2018). “Improving the Government Policy on the Arat Sabulungan Tradition in Mentawai Islands” in TAWARIKH: Journal of Historical Studies , Volume 10(1), October, pp.59-74. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI, ISSN 2085-0980 (print). Article Timeline: Accepted (July 27, 2018); Revised (September 19, 2018); and Published (October 30, 2018).