ORANG SUKU LAUT DAN ORANG MELAYU DI KEPULAUAN RIAU: SEBUAH TAFSIR DESKRIPTIF-ETNOGRAFIS
ABSTRACT: This article
discusses the cultural history sketch of Orang Suku Laut (the Sea Tribe) and
its implications for social relations patterns with the Malays in Riau Islands,
Indonesia. Problems arise now in nomadic ethnic tribe when they interacting
with the Malays. Many Malays people perceive Orang Suku Laut as a backward or
primitive people. This point of view emerged from a long history of Orang Suku
Laut in Riau Islands, and at present, the discourse is supported by the
government which resettled them from the sea to the land as part of the
modernization of disadvantaged areas in the New Order era. This government
label to them was later influenced the Malays perception. Moreover, negative
assumption also appears along with the cultural identity differences between
both of the tribes, of which the Malays condense with Islamic tradition, while
Orang Suku Laut doesn’t. At this situation, thus the identity of Orang Suku
Laut is staked within socio-cultural dispute or contestation (the attraction
process) among themselves in practicing their everyday lives.
Penulis: Khidir Marsanto
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd100005
