Tariq Zaidi’s documentary series The Mentawai: hunter gatherers and shamans of the Siberut rainforest in West Sumartra, Indonesia encaptures one of the earth’s most fascinating and best-preserved indigenous cultures. These jungle dwellers, natural healers and educators are characterised by their spirituality, body art and close relationship to nature. Tragically though this ancient culture and the sustainability it provides the indigenous Mentawai lifestyle are perilously close to being lost forever.
