Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

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