The analysis of the development of the Smong story on the 1907 and 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis in strengthening the Simeulue island community's resilience

Abstract

The story of Smong, which translates to tsunami or tidal waves, is an indigenous knowledge (IK) of the Simeuluean people, Aceh Indonesia. The Smong story has been embedded in the community through social interaction since 1907. Knowledge of this story passed down through the generations successfully alerted the Simeuluean people to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The purpose of the current study was to analyze the development of the Smong story on how it is received, perceived, and transmitted among the Simeuluean people on the 1907 and 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamis and how the Smong story can still contribute and strengthen the community's resilience. The research was conducted on ethnographic research on the Simeulue Island by interviewing the community's members. The narrative analysis and situational analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of the development of the Smong story from its origin until now. The research showed that knowledge of the Smong story was perceived at different levels according to whom the participants learned about it from. The study also found that the Smong story is stored in the traditional oral channel and has developed in the various cultural channels after the 2004 tsunami. The community's resilience could be strengthened when the local people integrate lessons learned from the Smong story into their current efforts of managing tsunami disaster risk.