Have you heard about Akit Tribal on Rupat Island?
As one of the outer islands in Indonesia, Rupat Island holds a unique culture through the Akit Tribe, which is commonly found in North Rupat District.
They personally are also referred to as the first tribe to inhabit the island at the beginning of its establishment.
The Akit community has localized knowledge and accumulated wisdom that is brought to bear in addressing health problems.
Named as Bedekeh.
Bedekeh is a tradition that stems from the teachings of the ancestors and it is implemented when the Akit community was in need of treatment services for diseases.
The existence of the bedekeh ritual in the Akit is viewed as essential to public service in scientific research as a form of defense of a group of local traditions and the preservation of the culture of the nation.
Bomo is a term for a shaman or healer whose presence comes before the doctor.
However, the practice of the bedekeh tradition by Bomo is not entirely mystical or involves spirits. They also use mixed herbal plants such as herbal medicine.
“We use wood roots. Some use shamans, descendants of ancient people. Like a hot fever, there are wooden roots, taken from the forest. An ancient ancestral herb,” said Ayang Be, who claimed to be from the Upper Akit Tribe.
