Preservation of Omo Hada Site
I. Background.
North Sumatera Heritage is one of NGO in North Sumatra that have concern on saving the cultural and natural heritage. It was founded at the beginning by NGO’s activists, historian, and antropologist from University of North Sumatra on 10 November 1998 in Medan, North Sumatera Province. One of the reasons in forming the institution is based on the reality in connection between heritage and development . There is unjustice condition when the development process tend to alienate the existence of natural and cultural heritage. So, it is important to give serious attention and advocacy the right of people in relation with their cultural and natural heritage..
The main issue that will be run by North Sumatra Heritage (NSH) is saving the natural and cultural heritage especially in North Sumatra region. For cultural heritage NSH’s concern on tangible and intangible heritage. Both of the type of heritage have important role in forming a culture concept in the community. For natural heritage our concern is how to preserve and save the environment through cultural approach. So, both of natural and cultural heritage are very important to keep and saved
North Sumatra Province is the one of province in Indonesia. This province is located in the West of Indonesia and covered by two coastal area, West Coast and East Coast; and also surrounding by many Palm Plantation Company from colonial era. In the last, when colonial era, North Sumatra also known as Eastern Sumatra. Many people from the different ethnic live in this region. They consist of Batak, Malay, Java, China, Nias, Minangkabau, Aceh, India, etc. All of them have important role in forming the culture in North Sumatra. There are more than 12 million peoples that live in this province that spread in 27 regency. Each of regency have an unique cultural and natural heritage.
Mostly the cultural heritage in North Sumatra influenced by colonial era and amalgamation process. Some of the cultural heritage is come from dutch and british colonial era, and amalgamation between the Malay ethnic with another ethnic like: Cina, Batak, Java, Aceh, Minagkabau, India /Tamil.
Medan is the Capital City of North Sumatra Province with total population around 2 million peoples. Medan is the third biggest city of Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Although many ethnic live in this town, but there is no dominant culture. Each of ethnic can live side by side with peaceful. This town has shown the symbol of multiculturalism. In this town, we also can find the heritage building from colonial era but not much. Most of the old building has been changed by the modern building, like mall and plaza. Although there is regulation that protect the old building but caused by economic factor many old building from colonial era has been lost.
Although our area of work cover in North Sumatra, but in this paper we will exposed our activities in Nias Island; one of regency in North Sumatra Province that have many rich cultural and natural heritage.
II. Nias Island: One of Cultural Heritage in North Sumatra
Nias Island is the part of North Sumatra Province that have many rich of cultural and natural heritage. Location of this regency is separated by the sea from other region in North Sumatra Province . It was located between 0 12’ – 1 32’ NL and 97 – 98’ EL. Geographically, Nias has boundary
[1]:
- In the North border on Pulau Banyak and Aceh Province
- In the South border on Southern Nias
- In the East border on Pulau Mursala, Middle Tapanuli
- In the West border on Indonesia Ocean
Base on the data from Statistical Bureaue 2006, total population in the whole of Nias are 729.966 people that separate in the area as wide as 532.050 Km2
- In the North border on Pulau Banyak and Aceh Province
- In the South border on Southern Nias
- In the East border on Pulau Mursala, Middle Tapanuli
- In the West border on Indonesia Ocean
Base on the data from Statistical Bureaue 2006, total population in the whole of Nias are 729.966 people that separate in the area as wide as 532.050 Km2
[2]. It has been cover both of Main Nias with
capital city Gunung Sitoli and Southern Nias with capital city Teluk
Dalam. In the last ,Southern Nias still part of Nias regency or Main
Nias. But since 2003 Southern Nias has become an otonomous region
[3]. When the big earthquake hit Nias on 28 March
2005 with the richter scale 8.7, many facilities and infrastructure like
the building, bridge, road get serious damaged and could not be
function. But we stilll find “Omo Hada”, the Traditional House of Nias
people athat still stand up with sturdiness and become a silent witness
when the big earthquake hit Nias.
III. Omo Hada: Traditional House of Nias People
There are many term of traditional house of Nias people. Some people was called as Omo Hada[4]; Omo Sebua[5] and Omo Nifolasara[6].. According to the type, Omo Hada can be divide in three model: oval, square and combine between square and oval size. In Southern Nias the type of Omo Hada is in Square size; in Gunung Sitoli is oval size. Combining of the oval and square size can be found in the North of Nias.
The significant meaning of Omo Hada is a symbol of properties from the owner and his power to the villagers. Omo Hada also become represent of cosmology of Nias people in relation with their live and environment. Nias people believe if the world has divide in three level: up world, middle world and low world. It can be seen from the structure of Omo Hada.
As traditional house, Omo Hada become a unique building because didn’t use nail in the structure and all of material consist of the hard wood. This is one of the reason why Omo Hada still hold out from earthquake disaster. It has been evident if Omo Hada still stand up and strong enough although hit by the big earthquake. The existence and sturdiness of Omo Hada has been inspired of many people to take lesson learnt from this building.
There is no much anymore traditional house “Omo Hada” in Nias Island. There are around 4 Omo Hada with the big size that still exist in Southern Nias. One of the house is located at Hilinawalo Mazingo village, Teluk Dalam subdistrict, Southern Nias. Total population in Hilinawalo Mazingo village are 2435 equal with 480 head of families, consist of 1146 females and 1249 males. Population is dominated by young man and children. Mostly people get married at twenty years old and seventeen years old.. many teenagers do not stay in the village and usually go to the town for study or work in plantation company. Hilinawalo Mazingo village the one of adat village that still exist in Southern Nias. As a custom village, usually, the village still use the custom ways in their live and Omo Hada site has become a center of custom activity in the village.
IV. Preservation Activities : Experience from North Sumatra Heritage
Some effort and activities that has been done by North Sumatra Heritage in relation with preservation of Omo Hada at Hilinawalo Mazingo village are below:
1. Technical Studies
Technical studies is the first step of our activity to preserve Omo Hada. There are two activities that has been done in this stage. First, measurement the wide of the village and height the village from the sea level. Then, we also documented and record all of houses in the village not only traditional houses but also Malay houses [7]. Second, run measuring the detail of Omo Hada that include the upper part, lower part and middle part. Out put of the technical studies is a Map about Omo Hada site and sketch of house’s compound in the village. Meanwhile the aim of this activity is to get detail information about Omo Hada site.
2. Mapping and Inventory
The aim of mapping activity is to get description about the village and its environment.and the result of mapping is a simple map about area that mapped with the villagers. Some activity that will be done in mapping activity consist of : walk around the village, inventorying the ornament in Omo hada, interior and exterior side including the meaning of symbol in the ornament.; identifying and inventorying the kind of trees or native wood ion the village forest. During run the mapping, we still can find the native “hard” wood “Afoa tree” in the village forest .
We also found correlation between symbol of ornament in the interior and exteri or of ornament at Omo Hada with the plant that growth around the village forest. The tree could found in the village like Afoa tree (red meranti). This is one of the material wood that used for Omo Hada.
Inventory activity conducted by noting some tools and ornament also interviewing the Chiefs of Omo hada, local leader, informal and formal leader in the village about the history and other relevant information.
Both of Technical Studies and Mapping/Inventory above are possible to be done through support from World Monument Fund. This is the part of emergency stabilisastion of Omo Hada before restoration. Output of the activity is provide the data and information about detail Omo Hada site, the village profile in social, cultural and natural aspect.
3. Carpentry Course
The sturdiness of Omo Hada, has been inspired any parties to take lesson from the building. All of material of the building consist of the hardwood and stand on the stone as foundation. It was evidence if the building able to endure the big earthquake that hit Nias in several times. So it is important to inheritance the knowledge and experience of Nias people in building the houses from wood material. Transfer of knowledge about the carpentry skill from the older generation to the younger generation of Nias is very important to be done, if not the local knowledge will be lost. This is the main reason why the carpentry course training is very important to be done in Nias after earthquake. The course training is lead by the master of carpenter from the village and followed by the youth generation of Nias people. There are 20 young generation of Nias that participate in this training. At the end of Carpentry Course, participant of training succed to create the miniatur and replica of Omo Hada site .The carpentry course has been done fore one month since November/December 2005.
4. Seedling of Afoa Trees
Recently, Nias people didn’t interest to build again the traditional house because the wood material is difficult to find. Although in some area we still found the wood but not much. So, this is important to save and plant the native hardwood, seed of Afoa trees in Nias, especially after earthquake. This is our main reason to run seedling Afoa wood.
Seedling activity was done during May and July 2006 along with the people through planting 1200 afoa trees (the red meranti) on the 5 villages. Planting of Afoa trees also done at the school through involving the student from the high school and run the workshop about the urgent of seedling activity. The workshop was attended by the elder, teacher and the student. Through the seedling activity and the workshop we want to raise awareness of the people about the urgent of natural heritage that they own. Both of Seedling of Afoa tree and Carpentry Course were possible to be implemented after there is collaboration and supporting from Turnstone Tsunami Fund.
III. Omo Hada: Traditional House of Nias People
There are many term of traditional house of Nias people. Some people was called as Omo Hada[4]; Omo Sebua[5] and Omo Nifolasara[6].. According to the type, Omo Hada can be divide in three model: oval, square and combine between square and oval size. In Southern Nias the type of Omo Hada is in Square size; in Gunung Sitoli is oval size. Combining of the oval and square size can be found in the North of Nias.
The significant meaning of Omo Hada is a symbol of properties from the owner and his power to the villagers. Omo Hada also become represent of cosmology of Nias people in relation with their live and environment. Nias people believe if the world has divide in three level: up world, middle world and low world. It can be seen from the structure of Omo Hada.
As traditional house, Omo Hada become a unique building because didn’t use nail in the structure and all of material consist of the hard wood. This is one of the reason why Omo Hada still hold out from earthquake disaster. It has been evident if Omo Hada still stand up and strong enough although hit by the big earthquake. The existence and sturdiness of Omo Hada has been inspired of many people to take lesson learnt from this building.
There is no much anymore traditional house “Omo Hada” in Nias Island. There are around 4 Omo Hada with the big size that still exist in Southern Nias. One of the house is located at Hilinawalo Mazingo village, Teluk Dalam subdistrict, Southern Nias. Total population in Hilinawalo Mazingo village are 2435 equal with 480 head of families, consist of 1146 females and 1249 males. Population is dominated by young man and children. Mostly people get married at twenty years old and seventeen years old.. many teenagers do not stay in the village and usually go to the town for study or work in plantation company. Hilinawalo Mazingo village the one of adat village that still exist in Southern Nias. As a custom village, usually, the village still use the custom ways in their live and Omo Hada site has become a center of custom activity in the village.
IV. Preservation Activities : Experience from North Sumatra Heritage
Some effort and activities that has been done by North Sumatra Heritage in relation with preservation of Omo Hada at Hilinawalo Mazingo village are below:
1. Technical Studies
Technical studies is the first step of our activity to preserve Omo Hada. There are two activities that has been done in this stage. First, measurement the wide of the village and height the village from the sea level. Then, we also documented and record all of houses in the village not only traditional houses but also Malay houses [7]. Second, run measuring the detail of Omo Hada that include the upper part, lower part and middle part. Out put of the technical studies is a Map about Omo Hada site and sketch of house’s compound in the village. Meanwhile the aim of this activity is to get detail information about Omo Hada site.
2. Mapping and Inventory
The aim of mapping activity is to get description about the village and its environment.and the result of mapping is a simple map about area that mapped with the villagers. Some activity that will be done in mapping activity consist of : walk around the village, inventorying the ornament in Omo hada, interior and exterior side including the meaning of symbol in the ornament.; identifying and inventorying the kind of trees or native wood ion the village forest. During run the mapping, we still can find the native “hard” wood “Afoa tree” in the village forest .
We also found correlation between symbol of ornament in the interior and exteri or of ornament at Omo Hada with the plant that growth around the village forest. The tree could found in the village like Afoa tree (red meranti). This is one of the material wood that used for Omo Hada.
Inventory activity conducted by noting some tools and ornament also interviewing the Chiefs of Omo hada, local leader, informal and formal leader in the village about the history and other relevant information.
Both of Technical Studies and Mapping/Inventory above are possible to be done through support from World Monument Fund. This is the part of emergency stabilisastion of Omo Hada before restoration. Output of the activity is provide the data and information about detail Omo Hada site, the village profile in social, cultural and natural aspect.
3. Carpentry Course
The sturdiness of Omo Hada, has been inspired any parties to take lesson from the building. All of material of the building consist of the hardwood and stand on the stone as foundation. It was evidence if the building able to endure the big earthquake that hit Nias in several times. So it is important to inheritance the knowledge and experience of Nias people in building the houses from wood material. Transfer of knowledge about the carpentry skill from the older generation to the younger generation of Nias is very important to be done, if not the local knowledge will be lost. This is the main reason why the carpentry course training is very important to be done in Nias after earthquake. The course training is lead by the master of carpenter from the village and followed by the youth generation of Nias people. There are 20 young generation of Nias that participate in this training. At the end of Carpentry Course, participant of training succed to create the miniatur and replica of Omo Hada site .The carpentry course has been done fore one month since November/December 2005.
4. Seedling of Afoa Trees
Recently, Nias people didn’t interest to build again the traditional house because the wood material is difficult to find. Although in some area we still found the wood but not much. So, this is important to save and plant the native hardwood, seed of Afoa trees in Nias, especially after earthquake. This is our main reason to run seedling Afoa wood.
Seedling activity was done during May and July 2006 along with the people through planting 1200 afoa trees (the red meranti) on the 5 villages. Planting of Afoa trees also done at the school through involving the student from the high school and run the workshop about the urgent of seedling activity. The workshop was attended by the elder, teacher and the student. Through the seedling activity and the workshop we want to raise awareness of the people about the urgent of natural heritage that they own. Both of Seedling of Afoa tree and Carpentry Course were possible to be implemented after there is collaboration and supporting from Turnstone Tsunami Fund.
5. Restoration
On 2007, we start to run the restoration work of Omo Hada at Hilinawalo Mazingo village. After run the assessment, there are some part of Omo Hada need to be repaired : Roof, Floor, Wall and Supporting beam of the roof and Sikholi.
NSH run the assesment in preparing the restoration since January 2007. During in the assesment, NSH run the inventories about the detail of part of Omo Hada that must be repaired, wood material that will be used and carpenter that will involve in the restoration. All process of the restoration work was started with any step below :
a. Assesment
Assesment has been done since Januari 2007. The aim of this activity is to get detail information about anything that have connected with preparation of Omo Hada’s restoration. Based on the assesment known if some of part of Omo Hada need serious attention like : the wall foundation (sikholi), the wall (laso), son of the wall (ono laso), roof on the top, right and left side; supporting beam of roof and floor on the kitchen room.
b. Measuring and Providing the Wood Material
On May 2007 the restoration work of Omo Hada was started with run the measuring the part of Omo Hada and other material that will be used on the restoration. Before starting the work of restoration, the carpenters and the Chiefs of Omo Hada run the Adat ceremony and Praying together .
c. Adat ceremony
Slaughtering the pig was done as indicate the important part of adat ceremony. After that, people will run feast together. The feast ceremony attended by head of the church, elder in the village, carpenter, and represent from other village. This ceremony is very important, first to inform to the public if there is working in the village; second, praying to the God for safety during in the work; third, as a symbol of prestige especially for the owner.
d. Praying together
The restoration work run after the adat ceremony done. The head of carpenter ask permission to the Chiefs of Omo Hada to pray together before start the work. The aim of activity is to get protect and safety from the God during run the restoration work.
The restoration work lead by the master carpenter from the village and assist by some carpenters in the village. Some parts of Omo Hada that will be repaired.: SIkholi (wall foundation) on the right and left side; Wall on the right and left side; Floor on the kitchen room; Roof on the right and the left side; Supporting Beam of the roof.
All of the restoration work use the expert from local carpenter in the village and involving the Chief of Omo Hada site. We realize if the Chiefs and people in the village still have knowledge and experience in building their traditional house
6. Current Condition of Omo Hada
Preservation activities that we have done in Nias has give us many experience in relation with saving and protecting the Omo Hada site and Hilinawalo Mazingo village in Southern Nias regency. Although we have work in Nias before earthquake, and become more intensive after earthquake. But it can not be done if there is no supporting from any parties, mainly from people in the site location.
There are many changing in Nias Island since many international aid agency develop this region. The changing process can be seen through building many facilities and infrastructure around in Southern Nias and Main Nias. The reconstruction and rehabilition process still going on and will be finishing on April 2009. Mostly the process of rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially building the houses still use the concrete material, meanwhile Nias Island is very sensitive with the earthquake. So, it would be wise if the rehabilitation and reconstruction process use the wood material. Because this material is very adaptable and more resist with the earthquake.
We should recognize that condition of Omo Hada site after restoration become more stronger and sturdiness then before. It can be seen when the carpenter still run the thatching process on the upstair side of Omo Hada at the same time the big earthquake hit Bengkulu also Nias with magnitude 7.9 on the richter scale. It was amazing, the carpenter that still can work on the roof but they didn’t feel any vibration caused by the earthquake.
Because the owner still live in the house, they should be take care and protect this house from any damage threatment, especially from the water threatment when they cook at the kitchen room. Beside the water, insect infestation to the wood also become serious threatment.
The restoration work process that has been done was recovery the important part of Omo Hada, like Sikholi (the wall foundation on the left, the right and the backside of Omo Hada), roof, floor and some of the wall and many supporting beam on the upstair side of Omo Hada.
7. Closing: Message for the 1st Conference of Asian National Trust
It was great that the 1st Conference of Asian National Trust can be implemented in Seoul since 22 – 23 May 2008. This is the important point for Heritage Organization in Asia to revive from the sleep. Since long time, Asian countries are very famous with the cultural heritage that have contributed to form the civilization in the world. There are many cultural heritage that spread around in Asian Countries. But the most important thing is all of heritage have important role in forming and enrich the cultural heritage in the world.
Through this conference, we hope there is understanding about the urgent of networking and partnership between heritage organization in Asian countries. We also hope the conference able to build alliance and solidarity between heritage organization in Asian countries. Sharing information and exchange the experience are very important between the heritage organization in Asian countries.
There is condition in developing countries that cultural heritage development. tend to marginalized from development as generally. Development always put economic approach as priority and didn’t give serious attention for the cultural aspect. Many old building has been changed by the new modern building. It was become worst when the policy and regulation tend to oriented and give opportunity for economic oriented.
The first conference of Asian National Trust in Seoul Korea have important role to put a basic platform for heritage organization in Asian countries to give respons any changing in the world especially that have relation with cultural heritage. Asian countries are a part of community in the world that have contribute in forming the civilization in the world.
Through these conference we hope there is a new paradigm that will be born regarding with developing of cultural and natural heritage in Asian Countries. We also hope there is a commitment and opportunity from all participant of the conference to develop a collaboration between heritage organization in preservation, conservation, training and education. It would be possible if there is a strong networking between heritage organizatioin in Asian Countries. Hopefuly.
[1] Bappeda Nias, 2004
[2] Center of Statstical Bureau of Southern Nias 2006 and Nias District 2006
[3] The otonomous status accepted on 25 February 2003 from the governemnt
[4] Omo Hada is Adat House or Traditional House
[5] Omo Sebua is Adat House with the big size
[6] Omo Nifolasara is Adat House with the big size and have Lasara “the head of animal/monster” in the front of the upper side. In the last, only a king can build this house.
[7]Traditional house is custom house that build from material wood. Malay houses is type of house that build from concrete and stone material
sumber : http://northsumateraheritage.blogspot.com
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