Mangaramoti Tano Ni Ompung (To Bless the Mother’s Land)

The Opung Raja Nasomalomarhohos Pasaribu (Natinggir Forest Indigenous Community) is a Batak tribe that has resided in the highlands of Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia, for over 300 years. They are one of the area’s oldest indigenous residents. The tribe has a deep spiritual and emotional connection to the land from years of living in and managing the forest, with the frankincense tree occupying a special place in their folklore and beliefs. Aside for using the land for farming and gathering, they harvest the fragrant resin of frankincense trees, a practice that has been in place for generations.

The tribe’s ancestral lands have slowly been encroached upon by eucalyptus plantations established by a major company that pulps eucalyptus trees for industrial purposes. These plantations have turned a vibrant ecosystem into a monoculture; the frankincense trees that used to grow plentifully are disappearing and the land has been left bereft, threatening the tribe’s traditional livelihoods and practices.

Over the years, the tribe have resisted the actions of the tree pulp company, negotiating with company executives and government officials, and recovering and restoring occupied land by building new homes and growing agricultural and native plants. Today, about 20 families are engaged in the ongoing land tussle between the tribe and commercial interests.

Heading their efforts is Sahala, a community leader who is working to build solidarity and resilience amongst the other indigenous tribes in the area facing similar issues. The voices of the tribe’s women also feature strongly in its interactions and negotiations, an unusual practice in a traditionally patriarchal community. Their goal in the short term is to secure a customary land decree from the government; in the long term, they hope to protect and preserve these lands for generations to come.