Eight Indigenous Communities in the Mentawai Islands Strengthen Recognition, Restoration, and Management of Indigenous Territories

Eight Indigenous Communities in the Mentawai Islands, namely Goiso'oinan, Rokot, Matobe, Saureinu, Sakaleak, Sakerebau, Sagurujuw and Sakulok, have taken a series of steps to strengthen the recognition and protection of their customary territories covering 24.212,51 hectares. 

This effort stems from the fact that most indigenous territories have not yet received state recognition. This situation discourages many from actively participating in their management, thus underutilizing their economic potential. Limited communication with local governments also hinders technical decision-making regarding indigenous territories. 

Through focus group discussions (FGDs) on the recognition and protection of customary forests, indigenous communities began to rebuild their communication channels with the government. In this forum, the indigenous communities of the Mentawai Islands, namely: Goiso'oinan, Rokot, Matobe, Saureinu, Sakaleak, Sakerebau, Sagurujuw, and Sakulok, obtained information on the procedures for submitting applications for recognition of customary areas based on Regional Regulation No. 11 of 2017 and policies from the central government through Ministerial Regulation of the Environment and Forestry No. 17 of 2020. 

Indigenous communities also acknowledge verification challenges for those who have submitted documents for customary forest recognition, including funding constraints from local governments due to budgetary constraints and the absence of a definitive regent. Recent information also indicates that Indigenous communities that already possess a Customary Territory Decree (SK) can submit customary forest documents to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

This forum fostered a shared understanding among Indigenous Peoples that legally unrecognized customary territories are at high risk of being appropriated by outside parties, including through permits in the forestry and plantation sectors. This understanding clarifies the urgency of recognizing and protecting customary territories to prevent the loss of living spaces that have been traditionally managed.

With a stronger understanding, Indigenous Peoples began to identify various risks to their customary territories. For example, when a plan for forest utilization by outside parties emerged, the Indigenous Peoples of Sipora Island held a meeting and firmly rejected the plan. They sent a letter to the authorities urging them not to proceed with the permit process, which could potentially disrupt their living space. They also expressed opposition to plans for large-scale plantations, which they feared would reduce the size of their customary territories and ensure environmental sustainability if converted into Cultivation Rights (HGU).

Along with strengthening legal and institutional aspects, the Indigenous Communities of the Mentawai Islands, Goiso'oinan, Rokot, Matobe, Saureinu, Sakaleak, Sakerebau, Sagurujuw, and Sakulok are also carrying out customary territory rehabilitation activities by building nurseries. Seedlings of local plants such as jengkol, durian, and nutmeg are being prepared for planting on previously identified critical land within their customary territories. Planting is carried out to restore the ecological function of customary territories and maintain the sustainability of resource utilization through the utilization of economically valuable non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

To ensure economic sustainability, the processing and marketing of food products using raw materials from indigenous forests has begun. Food products made from bananas and taro are processed independently and marketed on a small scale to local markets. For this purpose, the community rents a space to serve as a processing location and temporary distribution point.

Eight Indigenous Communities in the Mentawai Islands (Goiso'oinan, Rokot, Matobe, Saureinu, Sakaleak, Sakerebau, Sagurujuw, and Sakulok) now have a deeper understanding of the mechanisms required to obtain recognition of their customary territories and identify existing administrative barriers. The initial model for restoring and managing customary territories is also being further explored, using methods familiar to the Indigenous Communities of the Mentawai Islands: deliberation, mutual cooperation, and adhering to Indigenous values ​​and knowledge in managing and preserving customary forests.