Mentawai Shaman
This is Amajaninan, a Shaman of the Sikerai People of Pulau Siberut, a remote island in North Western Indonesia. Here he is applying poison to each of his arrows in the morning light.The Sikerai live virtually the same now as they have done for thousands of years. Chickens, pigs, dogs and cats roam throughout the Uma (big house where tribe members live communally), and there is no seperation from themselves and the natural world. Their ancient tattoos and dieties represent the different elements of nature and what sustains them. Life can be raw and brutal here, but only what is needed is taken - and always with ceremony and immense gratitude. Every aspect of their world works in cycles, and whatever is taken must be returned to restore balance.Whenever travelling through Indonesia I'm constantly struck by the generosity and joy it's people express. Many live on, or just above the poverty line, and the sheer joy people express in the face of adversity is always humbling to me. Life is simple, everything is shared, time with friends and family is valued above all else, and there is never a rush to miss the present moment.
Tad Souden
