INTRODUCTION

In Riau Province there are several Suku Asli tribal groups (kelompok suku asli): the Suku Bonai along the Rokan river, the Suku Sakai along the Siak, the Suku Talang along the Kampar, the Suku Talang Mamak along the Indragiri, and the Suku Laut in the waters of the Melaka Straits. (See Map 15.1.) Each of these communities is made up of several sub-groups known by such terms as pesukuan “major tribal division”, tobo “sub-pesukuan”, and yet smaller kinship-based subdivisions known variously as hinduk, perut, and puak anak. In daily life, these Suku Asli are known simply as “people” (orang) rather than “tribes” (suku), thus: Orang Asal, Orang Bonai, Orang Sakai, Orang Talang, Orang Talang Mamak, and Orang Laut. They may be further named according to their particular local subgroup (pesukuan or puak anak). More general names for the Mainland Sumatra groups are Orang Darat (“Land People”), Orang Petalangan (probably related to talang “middleman, trader”), or Orang Pebatinan (“Headmandom People”). Nowadays, all such groups of this kind of society are called Suku Terasing (“isolated, separated tribes”) by the government.

Although they are dispersed throughout several different areas, all these groups, including the Orang Laut, nevertheless possess a basic similarity of culture. Their customs, beliefs, symbols and philosophy all follow the same mould. A notable similarity is their sense of consubstantiality with the natural world (“persebatian” mereka dengan alamnya) – like that between a person's backbone and body. For them, the natural world is not just where they reside and make a living, but a “self “ in its own right and the authentic basis for their own self-identity (jati dirinya). For this reason, they cannot be separated from their own natural environment, whether on land or at sea. One of their mantras (monto) puts it thus: “The world as a whole may be made smaller, the local environment may be used up, but the world itself will still remain”.5 The point of this saying becomes clear when interpreted through such ever-present symbols as the “World Tree”, usually thought of as represented by the sialang tree (Koompassia excelsa, or tualang). (See Figures 15.1 to 15.3.)