Who are the Tamiang?

The Tamiang live in the southeast part of East Aceh Regency, in the Aceh Province. Previously this area was the Tamiang administrative district with a very large area of 7,760 square kilometers. Now the district has been divided into six districts, Kuala Simpang, Bendahara, Karangbaru, Seuruway, Kejuruanmuda and Tamiang Hulu.

One legend states that the name Tamiang comes from the words itam and mieng. Itam means "black" and mieng means "cheek". This appellation supposedly arose because a king of Tamiang named Raja Muda Sedia (1332-1362) had a black mark on his cheek. Another story says that the name Tamiang comes from the name of an island in the Riau Archipelago, which was the original dwelling place of the Tamiang people’s ancestors. The Tamiang people have their own language, of which 87% of the vocabulary is similar to the Melayu (Malay) Riau language.

What are their lives like?

The main source of income for Tamiang people is planting rice in both irrigated and unirrigated fields. Besides this they also plant corn, cassava, tomatoes, chili peppers and eggplant. Those who live on the coast fish and make coal from mangrove trees. Some become plantation workers and traders. The Tamiang rarely leave their area because their agricultural land is extensive and fertile enough to support them. At the beginning of the twentieth century this area received many migrants from other areas because of the opening of rubber and palm oil plantations and oil wells.

The Tamiang people are controlled by the "Law of the Four Peoples". This means that the highest traditional leader is the "Datuk of the Four Peoples". The word datuk comes from the word ndatu, which signifies the first person to open a settlement (rebas tebang). Those who came later were placed below the existing Datuk. In the ensuing process the four Datuks united their areas and chose a king (raje) as leader. This decision was established and sealed with an agreement called Kate Tetuhe. The four datuks were titled Datuk Imam Balai, Datuk Penghulu, Datuk Hakim and Datuk Setia Maha Raja. For the king there was a proverb: "raje adil raje disembah, raje lalin raje disangah" (A fair king will be worshipped, a cruel king will be dethroned). In upholding that role, Tamiang leaders hold onto a vow that states "kasih papa setia mati" (a father’s love is faithful to death). Traditional law was effectively carried out with the philosophy "adat dipangku, syarat dijunjung, resam dijalin, kanun diatur" (traditional law is administered, but religious law is respected, customary ways are formed but canon law is organized).

What do they believe?

Tamiang people are followers of Islam, which has penetrated various aspects of their lives. However, many still carry out the ceremonies of their old beliefs. They hold certain ceremonies connected with planting the rice fields, such as a ritual meal for the field, a ceremony for the seed, a ceremony when the rice is fully formed, and a ceremony to turn away disasters (tulabala).

What are their needs?

The main need of the Tamiang is better farming and plantation methods to improve their income. Education and health facilities are also greatly needed to improve their welfare.