The Mentawai Self Documentation Project is focused around an indigenous led education program, run on the island of Mentawai, Indonesia, to re-connect the communities on the island with their ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants, basket weaving, traditional Mentawai dance, storytelling and local mythology, language and hunting techniques.
The project is widely held by both local schools and local government to make sure Mentawai culture is passed on to future generations. Sinchi collaborates on this project with the indigenous led organization Yayasan Pendidikan Budaya Mentawai, Sam Lee and Rob Henry from the Indigenous Education Foundation (check out their project and documentary As Worlds Divide) and Steyn Hoogakker from Impact Journey to document the process from inside out, by donating photo cameras, tripods a laptop and recording devices to the communities and giving workshops in photography and sound recording.
Objectives:
The facilitation of workshops in visual self-documentation through photography to a group of 6 to 12 participants per workshop, during a period of 3-4 weeks , of which the first phase took place in June 2019,
The recording of the above process includes photo, video and (sound) recordings of focus group discussions,
Analysis of data to be used for the CEEP and the future targets of the program,
The recording of traditional songs, myths and tales by Aural Archipelago (Palmer Keen),
The facilitation of a travelling workshop and exhibition about the progress of the Mentawai Education Program as a blueprint for self-documentation and self-determinations within indigenous communities, consisting of both the works of the workshop participants AND the work of our workshop facilitators Steyn Hoogakker (anthropologist and documentary photographer) and Palmer Keen (ethno-musicologist); and first-contact anthropologist Reimar Schefold.
Participants of the Sinchi – YPBM Photovoice Programme waiting for the very start of the programme. Sikerei Aman Kriko (right) and Aman Borio Okok are just as curious as what’s to come.
Tesa, Raimundus, Joni and Esrani getting familiar with their equipment (and software). (credits: Martison Siritoitet)
Practicing in composition, light, angle. From left to right: Eka, Hendrikus, Rejeki, Idris, Esrani.
Esrani and Rejeki working on their composition on the river bank, close to the education studio. (credits: Martison Siritoitet)
Helsa and Sunarti proudly showing their work to Manuel (staff YPBM). (credits: Martison Siritoitet).
First steps into Manual photography on the last day, but Idris, Joni and Jessyca (behind the camera) are excited
Talking with Rob Henry about the Programme, considering next steps. (credits: Martison Siritoitet)
Looking back and final presentations of the participants with various (visual) stories about Mentawai culture and identity.
Eka and Rejeki presenting their stories.
Tesa, Raimundus and Joni selecting their final photos and updating their captions from their notebooks, before handing in their final results
Tesa, Raimundus and Joni selecting their final photos and updating their captions from their notebooks, before handing in their final results
Listening with awe to the final stories of the participants. (from left to right: Hendri, Steyn and Martison). (credits: Rob Henry)
Handing over the certificate to Natalis (Sanggar Saibi, Central East of Siberut). (from left to right: Yan, Steyn, Natalis, Hendri). (credits: Martison Siritoitet).
Group photo showing their new certificates before the start of the party. (credits: Rob Henry).
Sinchi workshop facilitators Steyn Hoogakker and Palmer Keen on their way up river
Aman Poto shows off his freshly made fabric made from bark.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
A young Mentawai boy poses with a palm frond hat being woven for a local school orientation day.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
Lili plays the popoet bamboo flute
Copyright: Palmer Keen
A young boy tries out the popoet, a unique bamboo flute.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
Sikkerei Aman Poto demonstrates the making of poison used for hunting.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
Aman Salomo demonstrates the jajaok jaw harp, once played for courtship by young Mentawai men.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
Aman Salomo demonstrates shaving down the jajaok mouth harp to refine its shape and sound.
Copyright: Palmer Keen
