EKSISTENSI TANAMAN SAGU DALAM KEHIDUPAN ETNIK TOLAKI DI SULAWESI TENGGARA

Abstract

This research aims to find out the existence of sago palm in the life of Tolaki Ethnic Group in Southeast Sulawesi. This research applied historical method with the following steps: (1) Heuristic (source gathering), (2) Source Critic, (3) Historiography (writing). The result of the research showed that: Sago palm was closely related to the life of Tolaki Ethnic Group. First, sago palm was the main food source in the life of Tolaki Ethnic Group besides rice. Second, sago palm was bread and butter for Tolaki Ethnic Group in Southeast Sulawesi that had been happening hereditary (tradition). Third, sufficient resource and land potential clearly promoted that effort. Fourth, processing sago palm did not require much money. Fifth, it played a role as economical sources for family that produces sago palm. Sago palm had important position, because it possessed historical value and philosophical value in form of kinship and genetic relationship value, coalescence and unity value, and functioned as the symbol of prosperity. In the old times, sago palm was used as the measurement of wealth (hapo-hapo). In the old wedding tradition system, sago palm was used as inheritance (tiari) during wedding. KEYWORDS