Mentawai

During my travels through Sumatra in 2023, I spent 5 days living with and documenting one of the oldest indigenous tribes in Indonesia…The Mentawai.

Also known as the "Flower People," this community resides on the Mentawai Islands - a group of small islands off the Western coast of Sumatra, which due to their remote location, has preserved the Mentawai nomadic way of life for thousands of years. 

Renowned for their distinctive tattoos, spiritual practices, and a deep connection to nature, the Mentawai people live in harmonious balance with the dense rainforest that surrounds them. I was very moved by their love of storytelling, a resourceful and ingenious spirit in using what’s at hand, and always finding laughter and playfulness within the routine of their daily lives.