LUSIT KEREI: SIKEREI DARI DESA SAGULUBBEG TAHUN 1987-2024

Abstract

This study explores Lusit Kerei, a Sikerei (traditional healer and spiritual leader) from Sagulubbeg Village, South Siberut, Mentawai Islands, during the period 1987–2024. A Sikerei holds a vital role in Mentawai society as a healer, ritual leader, and guardian of balance between humans, nature, and ancestral spirits. The aim of this research is to describe the life journey and contribution of Lusit Kerei in preserving Mentawai cultural identity amid modernization. The research applies the historical method consisting of four stages: heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Data were collected through direct interviews with Lusit Kerei and local residents, supported by written documents. The results reveal that since being appointed as Sikerei in 1987, Lusit Kerei has served as a traditional healer, spiritual leader, and cultural guardian. He inherited ancestral knowledge and became a central figure in maintaining the Arat Sabulungan belief system. From 2021 to 2024, his focus shifted toward transmitting cultural knowledge to younger generations. The presence of Lusit Kerei symbolizes the resilience of the Mentawai people in sustaining their traditions and spiritual harmony amid the pressures of modernization.