Joey L.
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  • Bajak Lala with daughter Jemba.

    Father and Daughter

    Bajak Lala with daughter Jemba.
    Mentawai Tribe, Sakalio clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Peno with his father Bajak Tolkot.

    Father and Son

    Peno with his father Bajak Tolkot.
    Mentawai Tribe, Sakalio clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Rudi will not follow the path of his father and become a shaman. "There is a huge burden you must take on when becoming a shaman... It requires a strong commitment."

    Sorumut and Son Rudi

    Rudi will not follow the path of his father and become a shaman. "There is a huge burden you must take on when becoming a shaman... It requires a strong commitment."
  • Aman Bajik, father of Gejeng.

    Aman Bajik

    Aman Bajik, father of Gejeng.
    Mentawai Shaman, Sakalio clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.

    Siturubakbak Rests

    Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.
    Mentawai tribe, Rorogot clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.

    Portrait of Siturubakbak

    Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.
    Mentawai tribe, Rorogot clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.

    Siturubakbak in Rainforest

    Siturubakbak, wife of Bajak Sorumut.
    Mentawai tribe, Rorogot clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Tetap is quite young to take on the heavy burden of becoming a shaman, but it is a choice made out of desperation. Tetap is sick with rheumatism, a painful disease which inflames the muscles and tissue of the body. He believes that if he does not become a Sikeri, he will die from this disease.

    Aman Tetap

    Tetap is quite young to take on the heavy burden of becoming a shaman, but it is a choice made out of desperation. Tetap is sick with rheumatism, a painful disease which inflames the muscles and tissue of the body. He believes that if he does not become a Sikeri, he will die from this disease.
  • Aman Tetap

    Aman Tetap

  • Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Biliejo and son Aman Tetap.

    Atabai Clan

    Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Biliejo and son Aman Tetap.
    Mentawai tribe, Atabai clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Aman Biliejo

    Aman Biliejo

  • Aman Tarason

    Aman Tarason

  • Portrait of Siobak Icit Fishing

    Portrait of Siobak Icit Fishing

  • Siobak Icit

    Siobak Icit

  • Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Biliejo and son Aman Tetap.

    Sikeri Outside Uma

    Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Biliejo and son Aman Tetap.
    Mentawai tribe, Atabai clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Mentawai Shaman Initiate

    Mentawai Shaman Initiate

  • Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Tetap.

    Sikeri Initiation

    Shaman Initiation Ceremonial dress. Aman Tetap.
    Mentawai Shaman, Atabai clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Monkey skulls adorn the Mentawaian homes. The skulls are there to notify the other animals of the forest that their death was not in vain, and that the shaman's took the care to ensure their spirit was not angered in the hunt.

    Monkey Skull Adornment

    Monkey skulls adorn the Mentawaian homes. The skulls are there to notify the other animals of the forest that their death was not in vain, and that the shaman's took the care to ensure their spirit was not angered in the hunt.
  • Monkey Skull Shrine

    Monkey Skull Shrine

  • The ceremony begins with a ritual feast and pig sacrafice and lasted a few hours, but the main events of the night are the turog dances. The 5 traditional dances to allow the initiate to be accepted in the spirit world.

    Mentawai Initiation Ceremony

    The ceremony begins with a ritual feast and pig sacrafice and lasted a few hours, but the main events of the night are the turog dances. The 5 traditional dances to allow the initiate to be accepted in the spirit world.
  • Turog

    Turog

  • Atabai Clan Hunt

    Atabai Clan Hunt

  • Aman Sakke Hunting

    Aman Sakke Hunting

  • “I became a shaman to protect my family. I can be there to heal them when they need me.”

    Aman Tai Jia Jia

    “I became a shaman to protect my family. I can be there to heal them when they need me.”
    Aman Tai Jia Jia. Mentawai Shaman, Atabai clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Bai Silaikat

    Bai Silaikat

  • Bai Silaikat in Madobak

    Bai Silaikat in Madobak

  • Teururu Kikunen

    Teururu Kikunen

  • Portrait of Bajak Tolkot

    Portrait of Bajak Tolkot

  • Bajak Tolkot Smoking

    Bajak Tolkot Smoking

  • After a Mentawaian dies, the family will show tribute by carving the shape of their foot into a durian tree. The Sikeri believe that if someone were to break off the bark of the foot and bring it to the relatives house, that relative will certainly die. It is a great shame for an enemy to spoil the grave.

    The Son of Bajak Sorumut

    After a Mentawaian dies, the family will show tribute by carving the shape of their foot into a durian tree. The Sikeri believe that if someone were to break off the bark of the foot and bring it to the relatives house, that relative will certainly die. It is a great shame for an enemy to spoil the grave.
  • Bajak Sorumut

    Bajak Sorumut

  • The Tattoo Master

    The Tattoo Master

  • Study of Siturubakbak

    Study of Siturubakbak

  • Study of Bajak Sorumut

    Study of Bajak Sorumut

  • Study of Bajak Sorumut Smoking

    Study of Bajak Sorumut Smoking

  • Study of Bajak Lala

    Study of Bajak Lala

  • Study of Bajak Sakke

    Study of Bajak Sakke

  • Study of Sikep

    Study of Sikep

  • Study of Gejeng

    Study of Gejeng

  • I took one image of Gruivi before he ran away, terrified of my flash.

    Study of Gruivi

    I took one image of Gruivi before he ran away, terrified of my flash.
    Mentawai Tribe, Rorogot clan. Siberut, Indonesia
  • Study of Siturat

    Study of Siturat

  • Study of Bajak Tolkot

    Study of Bajak Tolkot

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