Incorporated into the Dutch East Indies in 1864, the Mentawaian initially resisted Dutch “pacification” efforts but were eventually forced to accept foreign interventions into their way of life.

This period is often romanticized in historical accounts, describing the indigenous people as “flower-adorned amiable savages living in the island of happiness.”

Post-Indonesian independence brought further challenges, notably the 1954 decree that mandated the Mentawaian to choose between Christianity or Islam, essentially banning their animist beliefs.
This led to significant cultural disruptions, particularly targeting the shamans, seen as the spiritual custodians of Mentawaian society.

The narrative shifted in the late 20th century as international recognition of the islands’ unique biodiversity led to conservation efforts.
In 1981, UNESCO declared the entire island of Siberut a Biosphere Reserve, recognizing that 65% of the island’s animals are endemic. Plans to convert the Sakuddei rainforest into a palm oil plantation were abandoned in the early 1990s, and logging activities became more regulated.
In 1994, almost half of Siberut was designated as a national park, supported by both the Indonesian government and local and international organizations.

The declaration of parts of Siberut as a biosphere reserve and a national park helped curb exploitative practices like logging and attempted conversions of rainforest into palm oil plantations, fostering a slow revival of traditional ways.