Lise Johansen

A Chance for Self-reflection: Searching for Information Among the People of Mentawai Lise Johansen

This study examines the flow of information among the indigenous people on the Mentawai archipelago in the Republic of Indonesia after the implementation of decentralisation. On the background of Foucault's theory of power-knowledge, this study sought to understand the current democratic situation on Mentawai and how decades of suppression has created an identity problem for the indigenous people. The study took a close look at the local newspaper Puailiggoubat/self- reflection that was founded by the Mentawai NGO Yayasan Citra Mandiri (YCM) for the purpose of providing local news to the indigenous people of Mentawai.