The Alas people is an indigenous ethnic group from Southeast Aceh Regency,

Aceh Aceh ( , ; , Jawi script, Jawoë: ; Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Old Spelling: ''Atjeh'') is the westernmost Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capit ...

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. The Alas are found in the Gunung Leuser, Ketambe, and Alas River areas.

Society

The Alas (''ukhang Alas'' or ''kalak Alas'') are an agrarian people, who cultivate rice on irrigated fields, but some grow cash crops in gardens. Freshwater fishing in Alas River or brooks used to be indispensable as a source of animal protein, while raising fish in ponds is becoming important. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, they converted to

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

, The Alas society is a patrilineal descent society; each belongs to one exogamous clan. Sometimes an Alas village (''kute'') consists of a single clan, while several clans could frequently be observed in one village. As Alas clan names suggest, the Alas people have composite origins.

Van Daalen's Alas, Batak and Gayo campaign　

At the final stage of the

Aceh War The Aceh War (), also known as the Dutch War or the Infidel War (1873–1904), was an armed military conflict between the Sultanate of Aceh and the Kingdom of the Netherlands which was triggered by discussions between representatives of Aceh ...

in 1904, Gotfried Coenraad Ernst van Daalen started on his campaign to Gayoland, Alasland, and Batakland in order to establish the Dutch colonial control over them. After demolishing 7 forts and killing nearly 1300 inhabitants in Gayoland, his Korps Marechaussee te voet appeared in the Alas valley on 10 June 1904. One local lord (''kejukhun'') at northern Alasland surrendered immediately, but, as the other local lord of Gayonese descent at southern Alasland had already been killed in Gayoland by Gotfried Coenraad Ernst van Daalen, his son, the acting southern local lord, and a brother of the northern local lord decided to confront the non-Islamic Dutch, building 3 forts or fortified villages. On 14 June 1904, the Dutch troops demolished the fort of Kuta Reh, killing 313 indigenous men, 189 women, and 59 children, while 2 Dutch soldiers were killed. On 20 June 1904, then, they demolished the fort of Likat, killing 220 men, 124 women, and 88 children, while a single soldier was killed. Indeed, the village of Likat was one of Gayonese migrants into the Alas valley. On 24 June 1904, finally, they demolished the fort of Kute Lengat Baru, killing 338 men, 186 women, and 130 children, including the acting southern local lord, while 3 soldiers were killed. On 29 June 1904, Gotfried Coenraad Ernst van Daalen summoned the northern local lord and the son of the deceased southern local lord with all other Alas chiefs and headmen to the village of Pedesi in front of him, to declare that the whole of Alasland belonged to the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

. During this campaign, Henricus Marinus Neeb, a military doctor, took many photos, including ones of fighting scenes, marching through the tropical rain forest, local fishing activities, traditional houses, mosques, and so on.

Language

The Alas people uses the Alas language (''Cekhok Alas'') on a daily basis. The Alas language is most closely related to the language of the Kluet people in Aceh Selatan Regency, and often, these two languages are unified under a single label Alas–Kluet. Together with Karo and Dairi, Alas–Kluet belongs to the northern branch of the Batak subgroup of the

Austronesian language family The Austronesian languages ( ) are a language family widely spoken throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, parts of Mainland Southeast Asia, Madagascar, the islands of the Pacific Ocean and Taiwan (by Taiwanese indigenous peoples). They are spoken b ...

. It is estimated that 80,000 people spoke the language in 2000. Although Alas people live in

Province, the language they use is entirely distinct from Acehnese.

Clans

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een Gayo bruidspaar Noord-Sumatra TMnr 10002960

Each Alas person belongs to a patrilineal clan or descent group (''mekhge''). It has its own name, which is used as surname of the Alas people. In 1988 there were 27 clans as follows, but some had already had no member. Out of them, 8 clans, viz. Bangko, Cibekho, Deski, Keling, Kepale Dese, Kekhuas, Pagan, and Selian, are believed to be original among the Alas. * Bangko * Deski * Keling * Kepale Dese * Kekhuas * Pagan * Selian * Acih * Bekhuh * Gale * Kekakho * Mahe * Menalu * Mencawan (Bencawan) * Munte * Pase * Pelis * Pinim * Ramin * Ramud * Sambo * Sekedang * Sugihen * Sepayung * Tekhigan * Cibekho * Sinage

Arts

Alas traditional dances and musical instruments are as follows: * Mesekat dance * Pelabat dance * Landok alun dance * Tangis dilo * Canang situ * Canang buluh * Genggong * Oloi-olio * Keketuk layakh

Crafts

Alas traditional crafts are as follows: * Nemet (weaving of rumbia leaves) * Mbayu amak ( pandan mat) * Bordikh (customary attire) * Pisau bekhemu (Alas traditional sword) * Payung mesikhat (Alas ritual umbrella)

Traditional dishes

Alas traditional dishes are as follows: * Manuk labakh * Ikan labakh * Puket megaukh * Lepat bekhas * Gelame * Puket megaluh * Buah khum-khum * Ikan pacik kule * Telukh mandi * Puket mekuah * Tumpi * Godekhr * Puket sekuning * Cimpe * Getuk