History
The Seasea people is an indigenous people in Lipu Tanga Sesea (their customary territory) and is the original inhabitant of Peleng Island, most of the area is in the mountains or in the middle of Peleng Island, Banggai Islands Regency. [3] The traditional territory of the Seasea people has been designated by the Regent of Banggai Islands as the location for the construction of the Seasea Monument, precisely in Osan village as part of the Banggai sub-ethnic group. [1]
According to the Seasea indigenous leaders, their mountainous territory is separated from the coastal area. This happened because in ancient times, there was an agreement between the people who lived in mountainous areas and the people who lived in coastal areas. This agreement is proven by the existence of a place called Labotan Toutobunan, namely the grave of a child who was cut in two and buried in two different places. [1]
Furthermore, in Seasea folklore, taro is a staple food for their people. It is also said that taro is a spirit plant. According to the myth they understand, the taro plant was created at the same time as the creation of the first humans in Seasea customary land. Their ancestors then moved this taro to the fields and it became the staple crop of the Seasea people. Therefore, for this community, taro is a sacred plant. [1]
Apart from that, according to the explanation of tonggol (traditional leader) about the legend of the first human being of Seasea. It is said that the first person to inhabit the area was named Boloki Seasea. According to the beliefs of the indigenous people in Lipu Tanga Sesea, Boloki Seasea is a woman who can change form into a cat. So he was given the title Tomundo Sasa, tomundo means 'king' and sasa means 'cat'. Boloki Seasea later had three children. They became the forerunners of the next generation of Seasea people, so that the people of Lipu Tanga Sesea are also known as Pau Seasea which means 'descendants of Seasea'. [1]
In addition, Boloki Seasea does not have a cemetery in Lipu Tanga Sesea. This happened because Boloki Seasea once disappeared on one of the mountain peaks north of the Lipu Tanga Sesea traditional area. That is why the people of Lipu Tanga Sesea believe that his grave cannot be found in their area. It is also said that, "Boloki Seasea does not die like ordinary humans, but he disappears". [1]
Apart from that, there are also those who say that at the beginning of the Christian era, there was one of the eight kings of the Banggai Kingdom at that time named Tomunda Sasa or nicknamed Mbumbu Patola. Its nickname comes from two words, mbumbu meaning 'king' and patola meaning 'cat'. This means that the legend of Boloki Seasea has historical similarities with the ancient Kingdom of Banggai. [1]
According to the Seasea community, the term lipu is the smallest unit at the village level today. The lipu itself is a term inherited from the former Banggai Kingdom. Each lipu is led by a traditional official called a tonggol. The tonggol is recognized as the leader of the community in the customary structure and is still recognized today by the Seasea people. As an important part of the Banggai Kingdom, the tonggol is also part of the royal apparatus at the lowest level or equivalent to a village head. [1]
Furthermore, they believe that Tinassu was their first village and over time it developed into 4 settlements, namely Tinassu, Butabonggong, Batani, and Tombila. However, during the Dutch colonial period, they were slowly moved to the settlements that exist today and until now still adhere to Christianity, monotheistic religion previously brought by Dutch missionaries. [1]
Meanwhile, during the Dutch colonial period, social order was established through its policies. Consequently, the Tinassu population was relocated to Kambung Lapetak. The residents of Tombilak were relocated to Kampung Teteek, the residents of Batani were relocated to Kambung Lelak, and the residents of Butabonggong were relocated to Kambung Tallak. [1]
After independence, around the 1960s, the Lipu Tanga Sesea traditional area was under the authority of the Bulagi district, until its status changed from a village to an Osan village. However, as time went by since the 1990s, Osan village has been further divided into definitive villages and manages its own villages, including Lemalu, Momotan, Tatarandang, and Labotankandi. Based on the location of their settlements, the indigenous people of Lipu Tanga Sesea now include the villages of Osan, Lemelu, Momotan, Tatarandang, Alani, and Palabatu II. [1]
Currently, most of the daily economic needs of the Seasea indigenous people depend on plantation, livestock and forestry products. Their gardens generally grow sweet potatoes, taro, and coconuts. Their main economic commodities are tubers, coconuts, cloves, nutmeg, and candlenuts. Meanwhile, the farm raises cattle and pigs. Harvested forest products include honey. Meanwhile, the geographical conditions with karst and limestone landscapes are less suitable for growing rice. Therefore, food needs such as rice, flour, and other household needs come from the mainland of Sulawesi. [1]
