15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Mentawai Native

Mentawai people are the native people of the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra province, Indonesia, they live a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle in the coastal and rainforest environments of the islands. The main clothing for men is a loin cloth. Mentawai adorn themselves with necklaces and flowers in their hair and ears.Tattooing is done with a needle and wood which is hammered on the needle by a shaman called Sikerei, Tattooing was an identity and a personal design and differences from region to region .

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Mentawai, Indonesia
Camera: DSLR-A900
Copyright: © Alexandrino Lei Airosa