Mentawai society was once near perfect: no war, no crime, no thieves and no adultery. Everyone shared in the generous bounty of the
tropical rainforest and all clan members were treated equally—including women and children. While the head of the clan was the acknowledged leader, the
sikeireis
(shamans) were revered and honored for the knowledge, wisdom and guidance they
offered.
Today, local government-appointed political leaders are overshadowing the influences of clan heads and
sikeireis. These men embrace modernization and consider electricity and
television more important to Mentawai life than its traditions. It seems their
main purpose is to control the traditional clans and encourage them to become
“law-abiding” Indonesians who will pay taxes to the government—regardless of its
destructive impact on Mentawai culture.
