Build a traditional rainforest school in Mentawai

Hey my name is Matty Hannon, a filmmaker from Australia.

We’re raising money to build a modest forest-school building called 'Tirit Oinan' for the traditional Mentawai people of Sumatra, Indonesia, which will help to pass on their radiant and globally important knowledge, culture and wisdom to their children.

The Sikerei (shamans) are the stewards and protectors of the tropical rainforest in Mentawai - this school is THEIR idea, not mine.

Aman Lepon, a Sikerei (shaman) of Mentawai is a leading light of charisma, happiness and cultural resilience in Mentawai. But he and his family have had a very tough year, only recently Aman Lepon's father (the famous Sikerei of Mentawai - Aman Lau Lau) passed away too early, and left the traditional communities reeling with his loss. Then only 1 month later, Aman Lepon lost his youngest son - Leai - to a mystery illness, a tragedy beyond words.

He lost his father and son in the space of one month.

Beyond the personal tragedy, what this means for the Salakirrat family is the loss of one of Mentawai's most esteemed elders (Aman Lau Lau), as well as one of their most promising future Sikerei (Leai), who was set to carry the torch of their traditional culture - Arat Sabulungan - for the next generation.

Sometime after the funerals, Aman Lepon came to me and said he was deeply concerned about the future of his community, because he was 1 of only 2 shamans left in the Salakirrat clan. He asked if I could help him build a modest structure that he could use as a 'school' for the children of Mentawai, so that they too could learn the traditional ways of the forest, community and spirit world.

I have already donated several thousand dollars of my own money, and we now we have a frame of the building up, as well as the thatched roof. Aman Lepon wants to build a toilet too, and finish the building properly. If we can raise $20,000 then we will have enough to do this properly.

Thank you for considering to donate, even a donation of $5 is very significant in Mentawai (and is much more than what most people in the region earn daily).

By building a small forest-school, we are simply helping to do what the Mentawai people themselves are determined to execute, this is their project, their idea, their culture and their future - but we as a community can help them realise that vision.

Thank you.

EXTRA BACKSTORY:

Many years ago I lived in the Mentawai Islands of Sumatra, an incredible place famous for its consistent and perfect waves, endemic tropical rainforest species and an iconic traditional culture, called Arat Sabulungan.

I lived in Mentawai for 5 years, during that time I spent a lot of time with the Salakirrat family, and in particular became close friends with a Sikerei (shaman) called Aman Lepon, he wasn't sure exactly how old he was, but we figured we were about the same age. During my stays with the Salakirrat family I learned that their traditional ways were inherently connected to the health of the rainforest, and that their animistic relationship with the spirits of the rainforest, longhouse, river, etc meant that they did not perceive the biosphere around them as a 'resource' to exploit, but as community of living people (some were human people, others 'more-than-human-people') whose relationships need to be tended to, and cared for, in order for the community and ecosystem to flourish. Because the traditional Mentawai people are deeply connected to the natural environment around them, they are 'conservationists', protectors and stewards of the unique ecology of Mentawai. Their traditional culture also places emphasis on many dynamics of society often not measured in western metrics of GDP etc, dynamics such 'time with family and community', time in the forest, hunting, art, tattooing, rainforest knowledge, and interaction with the spirit world through dancing and trance ritual.

Unfortunately, Mentawai traditional culture is waning. There are many reasons for this; the early Christian and Catholic missionaries demonised traditional Mentawaian culture and bribed communities to convert, they were responsible for a large scale shift away from Arat Sabulungan; then the Indonesian government outlawed Mentawai traditional culture and forced many communities into government sanctioned villages (rather than autonomous longhouses in the forest); and now the effects of globalisation and marketing are forcing/drawing young people away from traditional lifestyles into monetised economies and the 9-5 workforce.

Nowadays, most regions of Mentawai have lost the central tenets of the traditional culture - Arat Sabulungan - they live in government controlled, Christian, Catholic and Muslim villages, with environments around them severely impoverished - where once beautiful rainforest grew, now stands row after row of coconut palms. The 'Kopra' which is made from coconuts, is a common income for Mentawai people, but one that renders communities struggling in a low-cash economy.

By building a small forest-school, we are simply helping to do what the Mentawai people themselves are determined to execute, this is their project, their idea, their culture and their future - but we as a community can help them realise that vision.

Thanks, Matty.