Title:

Mentawai Indigenous People of Siberut, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Caption:

Believing that most physical afflictions arise from a spiritual imbalance make beautification to satisfy the soul an important part of every ritual. The Sikeireis know that their own souls must be at peace before they can heal others. Their tattoos and body adornments are often enhanced with natural pigments extracted from fragrant yellow turmeric root and black ashes.