The stories collected here come from my experiences with the Mentawai people of Siberut, where I have been returning to the same family since 1990.

Some explore traditional knowledge and daily life; others reflect on encounters, changing traditions, and the people who have shared their lives and experiences with me. They offer a more personal perspective on a culture I have come to know over several decades.

These stories are part of a larger effort to document and preserve Mentawai knowledge, memories, and ways of life for future generations.