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GeoHuman: People, Place, and Power

Issue: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): GeoHuman: People, Place, and Power

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The Role of Sikerei in Preserving Mentawai Cultural Heritage: Between Tradition and Modernization

Anggia Rita Andriana
Muhammad Falah Rizky
Arfan Arfan
Pages: 30-40
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Published: 2026-02-15
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Section: Articles
Sikerei, Social Identity, Culture.
Abstract

Sikerei plays a central role in the spiritual, environmental, social, and cultural life of the Mentawai people, including leading traditional rituals, conducting traditional healing practices, and maintaining ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. This study aims to examine the role of Sikerei in the Mentawai Islands in maintaining traditions and cultural values in the face of modernization. Although several studies have discussed the traditional culture and belief systems of the Mentawai people, very few have specifically examined the role of the sikerei as the main actor in preserving cultural values in the context of social change and modernization. This research method involved participatory observation and in-depth interviews with 12 participants regarding the daily habits of the Sikerei people. The results of this research contribute to enriching the study of cultural anthropology regarding the role of the Sikerei in pre[in3] serving the spiritual, social, and ecosystem values of the Mentawai people amidst modernization. Practically, this research can serve as a reference for formulating sustainable community-based local cultural heritage preservation strategies in the Mentawai Islands.

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How to Cite

The Role of Sikerei in Preserving Mentawai Cultural Heritage: Between Tradition and Modernization. (2026). GeoHuman: People, Place, and Power, 1(1), 30-40. https://journal.bumi-spasial.com/index.php/geohuman/article/view/7

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