THE URGENT OF CARPENTRY COURSE AND SEEDLING AFOA TREES IN NIAS AFTER EARTHQUAKE

1. Introduction
This paper is to exposed the local knowledge of Nias people on building their houses from wood material. It was evident that many houses and building from wood material still stand up with sturdynees when the big earthquake hit Nias on 28 March 2005. One of the building is Omo Hada[1], the traditional house of Nias people. The expertise of Nias people in building the house from wooden material and resist with the earthquake has been inspired any parties to take a lesson. This paper also will exposed our activity in seedling the natyive hard wood “Afoa trees” (red meranti). This wood is very important as the one of source of material for building Omo Hada . Recentlly, the wood is difficult to find in Nias. So it is important to replanting the afoa trees in the village.
Nias island is located in North Sumatera Province, Indonesia. Prior to the earth quake and tsunami on December 2004, many people, including Indonesian people themselves, did not know much about this island. Generally, Nias people are relatively backward from development. When the big earthquake hit this Island on 28 March 2005 with a magnitude 8.7 on the richter scale, suddenly Nias has become well known in Indonesia as well all over the world. Many buildings and houses were damaged. The strength of those buildings as modern ones could not stand anymore because of earth quake. Meanwhile, Nias has type of buildings what so called traditional houses which made from wood and designed without nails. When the earthquake hit this region the traditional houses still erecting strongly and saved people who stayed inside. The locals realized that they have high knowledge and capability in building houses. The earthquake that hit Nias has shown how strong adat houses were become historical witness of a greatness of their traditional houses locally known Omo Hada . Nowadays, it is not easy to find Nias people who have carpentry expertise and knowledge to build traditional houses. If the local knowledge are not inherited to the younger generation, the locals will lose these local wisdom.
In reality, the local youths do not have intention to learn and inherit this cultural heritage. There is common condition in the village where many young generation have been leaving from their village to seek the better jobs in the big cities. Meanwhile, those who have carpentry expertise are getting older and they also do not have attention to pass down their expertise and knowledge to the younger generation.
Since long time ago, Nias people have skill and knowledge in building their houses from the wood . They also have skill in using the stone as material in their live. It can be seen from the megalithic relics[2] that still exist in Nias Island. Unfortunately, the colonialisme, modernization and globalization era has been threatened the tradition. So, many cultural and natural heritage in Nias Island has lost and move to another place. It has become worst when the earthquake come and hit this region.

1.1. Nias Island: People and Geographic
Nias Island is the part of North Sumatra Province. It was located between 0 12’ – 1 32’ NL and 97 – 98’ EL. Geographically, Nias has boundary [3]:
- In the North border on Pulau Banyak and Aceh Province
- In the South border on Southern Nias
- In the East border on Pulau Mursala, Middle Tapanuli
- In the West border on Indonesia Ocean
Base on the data from Statistical Bureaue 2006, total population in the whole of Nias are 729.966 people that separate in the area as wide as 532.050 Km2[4]. It has been cover both of Main Nias with capital city Gunung Sitoli and Southern Nias with capital city Teluk Dalam. In the last ,Southern Nias still part of Nias regency or Main Nias. But since 2003 Southern Nias has become an otonomous region[5].
As part of North Sumatra Province, Nias Island still backward from development if compare with another regency in North Sumatra. It was not only caused by the geographic condition and infrastrucure development but also caused by the culture and socio economic context[6]. Geographically, Nias Island consist of narrow steeps hills and mountains with the elevation between 0 - 800 meters above sea level. Some of area consist of low to undulating land around 24 %; undulating land to hilly area around 28.8 %; and around 51.2 % hilly to mountain land[7].
Generally, infrastructure of development in Nias Island still left behind if compare with another regency in North Sumatra Province. It can be seen through any facilities of development that still left behind like the road transportation, communication and electricity. The infrastructure development can not cover all of the village in this regency. Consequently, there are many village that still alienated from development. This condition tend to be worst when the earthquake disaster and tsunami hit this area.
When the big earthquake hit Nias on 28 March 2005 with the richter scale 8.7, many facilities and infrastructure like the building, bridge, road get serious damaged and could not be function. But we still find “Omo Hada”, the Traditional House of Nias people athat still stand up with sturdiness and become a silent witness when the big earthquke hit Nias. This is the third big earthquake that ever hit Omo Hada since its build on 1715. The first big earthquake on 1861 with magnitude 8.7 on the richter scale and second earthquake on 1907[8] .

1.2. Omo Hada: Traditional House of Nias People
There are many term of traditional house of Nias people. Some people was called as Omo Hada[9]; Omo Sebua[10] and Omo Nifolasara[11]. In this paper will be used Omo Hada’s term as the concept. According to the type, Omo Hada can be divide in three model: oval, square and combine between square and oval size. In Southern Nias the type of Omo Hada is in Square size and in Gunung Sitoli is oval size. Combining of the oval and square size can be found in the North of Nias.
The significant meaning of Omo Hada is a symbol of properties from the owner and his power to the villagers. Omo Hada also become represent of cosmology of Nias people in relation with their live and environment. Nias people believe if the world has divide in three level: up world, middle world and low world. It can be seen from the structure of Omo Hada.
According to Feldman as quoted by Hammerle[12], the meaning symbol of traditional house is :
- House for Nias people is represent of the title of the king in the village, The house alos represent the whole of cosmology of the people.
- All of the part of the house have relation with the human life. The part usually decorated by wood carving and describing about animal and plants
- The roof construction is representatif from the upper world or “Lowalani” (name of god in Nias language). There are three level of the “Lowalani” (siwa, famalili, baya)
- Construction at the low level is represent from the low world or “Laturo Dano” in Nias language
As traditional house, Omo Hada become a unique building because didn’t use nail in the structure and all of material consist of the hard wood. This is one of the reason why Omo Hada still hold out from earthquake disaster. It has been evident if Omo Hada still stand up and strong enough although hit by the big earthquake. The existence and sturdiness of Omo Hada has been inspired of many people to take lesson learnt from this building.
According to Alain M. Viaro as quoted by Hammerle[13], some of part of Omo Hada must be maiantained absolutely:
- Construction of the poles of Omo Hada
- The front side of the house that have a stage and the long window that located on the upper side is an element that shown the social relationship in the community
- Volume of roof as a symbol of wealthy

1.3. Stone and Wood : The Symbol of Nias Culture
Stone and wood are two part of material that have significant meaning for Nias culture. Nias Island is famous with megalithic tradition[14]. According to research result form Medan Archeological office, there are some area in Nias that still have megalithic tradition: Subdistrict Sirombu (Sisabandrao village); Subdistric Mandrehe (Sisarahili village); Subdistrict Teluk Dalam (Bawomatoluo , Orahili Fau, Hilifalawu, Hilisimaetano); Subdistrict Lolowau (Olayama, Bawe Hesi, Ehosakhozi); Subdistrict Gomo (Tundrumbaho). The relic of megalithic tradition in Nias have connection not only with the soul of ancestor but also with the efforts to elevate the prestige and social[15].
Hombo Batu or stone jump is the one of tradition of Nias people that still exist until now. Usually, the people who will become to adult (men) must able to pass when jump the stone. The hight of stone from the ground around 2 – 2.5 meter. We still can find many relic of Nias people that made from stone : like menhir, statue, daro-daro (table from stone). We also can find the hard wood that become source of material in building the Adat House or Omo Hada. Adat House in Nias made from the hard wood and without nail. Recently, many hard wood in Nias is difficult to find. So, there is no much people in Nias want to build their house from wood material especially in the urban area. Mostly people use cement, sand, stone and zinc as the material to build their house[16].
Stone and wood has become a symbol Nias people. We can find the statue, menhir and the table for tribute (daro-daro) as legacy of Nias culture. Beside that, we also can find the expertise of people to build the traditional house “Omo Hada” from the hard wood and roof material; carving the wood and making the statue from the wood. Both of wood and stone can not separate from Nias culture. It has become important in forming the Nias culture in the Southern and Northern Nias.

2. The Carpentry Course Training
The sturdiness of Omo Hada, has been inspired any parties to take lesson from the building. All of material of the building consist of the hardwood and stand on the stone as foundation. It was evidence if the building able to endure the big earthquake that hit Nias in several times. So it is important to inheritance the knowledge and experience of Nias people in building the houses from wood material. Transfer of knowledge from the older generation to the younger generation of Nias is very important to be done, if not the local knowledge will be lost. This is the main reason why the carpentry course training is very important to be done in Nias after erathquake. The course training is lead by the master of carpenter from the village and followed by the youth generation of Nias people. Although there is condition if many people in Nias not interest to build again the house from the wood material. According to Alain Viaro as quaoted by Hammerle[17], the existence of Adat House was threat by economic changing. The wood material that needed to build the house is difficult to find. The forest almost finish. Custom and the cost to build traditional house are very expensive.

3. Seedling of Afoa Trees
One of the reason why Nias people didn’t interest to build again the traditional house because the wood material is difficult to find. Although in some area we still found the wood but not much. So, this is important to save and plant the native hardwood, seed of Afoa trees in Nias, especially after earthquake.
Seedling activity was done along with the people through planting 1200 afoa trees (the red meranti) on the 5 villages. Planting of Afoa trees also done at the school through involving the student from the high school and run the workshop about the urgent of seedling activity. The workshop was attended by the elder, teacher and the student.
Through the seedling activity and the workshop we want to raise awareness of the people about the urgent of natural heritage that they own. Hopefuly in the next they will keep and save their environment from threat of damaging.

4. The Carpentry Course Process
The process of carpentry course training did step by step. Between steps cannot separated because it was linked each other. The Carpentry Course held from November until Desember 2005. Curriculum and schedule was design by the team along with the trainer and facilitator. There are some preparation that must be done regarding with the activity

4.1. Assessment
Assessment is the first step of the proces and it had been done by the team along with the people from the village. This assessment did to find out more information and to identify all of the things that related to The Carpentry Course Program.

4.2. Seeking the Participants
Team was visit 5 villages in Mazingo Land and met the head of village. Team was explained about the aim of The Carpentry Course Program and ask the head of village to prepare participants from each village to participate in this training.

4.3. Seeking the Trainers
There are some people who have skill as carpenter in the village. Team was met with the master of carpenter, Ama Liana and ask him to be a trainer. Team also went to another village to find out the capable carpenter more and met with Ama Aneragö. He was a good and capable carpenter but now he is too old and unpowerful anymore. The last seeking of the trainer , Besides that, team also met Ama Hadirat and Ama Feddy, other capable carpenter from Hilizoroilawa village.

4.4. Seeking Wooden Materials for the course
Team went and met many villager to find out more about wooden materials for the course, with whom and where to buy? Team also went to villlager’s field to see directly the wooden materials.

4.5. Orahu: Village Meeting
Before run the training, villagers did orahu (village meeting) and inviting team to get more information about program. Team explained to them about program more detail. After they clear and understand about the program, they told that village need to do a ceremonial opening to celebrate that program. Then orahu decided to slaughter pigs as a highest symbol in Nias community and the meat would be distribute to all villagers.
Orahu has become a forum for Nias people to decide everything regarding with the work on the community. This media also become a formal forum for Nias to talk and discuss with each another. Process of Orahu did through involving the elder, informal leader (Si’ila and Si’ulu) also the formal leader (head of village). The process

4.6. Opening Ceremony : Slaughtering the Pig
The Carpentry Course Program begun with pigs slaughtering party that did together with Hilinawalö Mazingö villagers. The slaughtering did on the front of Omo Hada and everyone can watching. The opening ceremony attended by government officer from North Sumatera Tourism Board and Sangeeta Isvaran, a dancer from India that worked for UNESCO Bangkok Office. The ceremony is become a symbol for Nias when will start the work and activity.

The participants that involved in The Carpentry Course Training were 10 (ten) persons, i.e: 6 (six) persons from Hilinawalö Mazingö village, 3 (three) from Hilizoroilawa, and 1 (one) participants from Gunung Sitoli. The participants took from young Nias generation in 18 – 40 years old. Meanwhile, the trainers who involved and will trainee the participants are Ama Liana and Ama Feresi. Ama Feresi is also carpenter who always work and involve with Ama Liana. Both of the man will become the facilitator during in this training.
5. The Course Steps
There are two steps of the carpentry course training: first, introduction of the carpentry tools to the participant in class ; and second introduction and practicing to use the tools by the trainer and facilitator in the field.

5.1. Introduction of the Tools
The course started with introduction of carpentry tools because many participants never know how to use it in the right way. The trainer introduce one by one the name of the tools and its function; and how to use the tools. During in praticing, trainer, facilitator and participant agree to make the minatur of Omo Hada with sizing 2 m x 4 m.

5.2. Introduction the Parts of Omo Hada and Practicing the tools
Introduction the parts of Omo Hada did by the owner. There are many detail of parts of Omo Hada, but for this moment time, the owner just introduce the important parts of Omo Hada like, Ehomo, Ndriwa, Sikholi, etc.

After introduce the parts of Omo Hada, the participant of training start to practizing the tools through make a miniatur of Omo Hada that facilitated by the master of carpenter. The trainer and participant were start to make the miniatur of Omo Hada through assembling any component below:

5.2. 1. Ehomo/ndriwa (column/pole) stone
The stone use as a foundation to stabilize the building and also function as an isolator to hold the wet and these team air coming from the ground. The stones found in Idanö (river) Lawa that flows on the right side of Hilinawalö Mazingö village. Although the stones look similar and has a sameform or dimension, not all could be a stone foundation. The stone also must separate between ehomo stone or ndriwa stone. Then, the stones brought to the construction location


5.2.2. The Laying of stone foundation
The choosen stones put to the position. The soil sometimes need to dig and make it solid to stabilize the stone. Trainers use only simple tools to did it.

5.2.3. Ehomo Assembling
Ehomo (the main column/poles) were erected on the stone foundation helped by scaffolding. To build mini Omo Hada as a model, we assembled 20 ehomo with lenght 110 cm.

5.2.4. Silötö Assembling (ringbalk)
Silötö is a beam to connect ehomo from left side to right side. After ehomo, the contruction step assembled silötö to joint ehomo. The dimension of silötö is 3x10x210 cm. The ehomo should to carved so the silötö can joint.

5.2.5. Laliöwö (supporting beam) Assembling
Laliöwö is a log that connect silötö from the front side to back side. Laliöwö has diameter 8 cm and length 410 cm and should to carved so can joint with silötö.

5.2.6. Ndriwa Assembling
Ndriwa is oblique pole that looks like “V” letter and was a unique part of South Nias building structure. This structure couldn’t find in other traditional building in Indonesia. This ndriwa has a same diameter with ehomo and can assemble after all vertical and horizontal structures finish yet. Ndriwa assemble from the right side to left side and from the front side to back side.

5.2.7. Balo-balo, Famahadro fafa gahe mbatö, dan Sichöli Assembling
- Balo-balo is wooden beam that connecting sichöli in the right and left side. Balo-balo also function as supporting structure for carved figa (cotton flower) wooden wall. This part also called ulu sara.
- Famahadro fafa gahe mbatö is wooden beam that connect sichöli from the right to left side and function as a border for wooden floor
- Sichöli is the main wooden beam that connecting wiuth the outer ehomo in left and right side from the front to back side. Sichöli form look like dragon, the dimension is 5X 25 X 575 cm and carved with afasi (cotton flower) ornament and spiraling upward.
After the assembling of the lower part finish, the next step can be done. The next step was assemble balo-balo, famahadro fafa gahe mbate, and sichöli together. This part couldn’t assembling one by one to joint in lower part structure because they unite in one part and when it put to ehomo cannot do one by one.

5.2.8. Laso and Ono Laso (wooden wall) Assembling
Laso is the main wooden wall and ono laso is the wooden wall also. Laso and ono laso assemble on sichöli by carving.

5.2.9. Assembling and carving of ulu sara and figa
Figa is carved wooden board with figa (the plate form). The motif is afasi leaf from cotton plant. This board should to carved on balo-balo.

5.3.0 Balo hare-hare
Balo hare-hare is supporting beam for hare-hare (place for sleeping) board. This board assembled rest on balo-balo ulu sara that covering figa board.

5.3.1.. balo-balo ulu duwa
Balo-balo ulu duwa similar with balo-balo ulu sara. This beam rest on balo hare-hare.

5.3.2. Ora (main entrance and arcade)
This ora assembled for aesthetic only. The small dimension made this ora impossible to entering.


5.3.3. Floor beam
The floor beam install above Laliöwö and 2 pieces between famahadro. To get plat water level, when it install should to carve Laliöwö

5.3.4. Lago-lago assembling
Lago-lago is a ring beam to ringing wall board. Lago-lago also function as support beam for wall board above it. Lago-lago beam install in all along the wall, on the left, right, and back side. Lago-lago must carved depend on the laso.

5.3.5. Figa board assembling on ulu duwa
This assembling has similar method with figa installment on ulu sara

5.3.6. Dane-dane (sitting place inside) and fafa famahadro ba mbalö sichöli (wall board above sichöli) assembling. Dane-dane and fafa famahadro ba mbalö sichöli assembling together. Dane-dane functioned as connecting between fafa famahadro ba mbalö sichöli. Dane-dane dimension is 5x20x200cm.

5.3.7. Floor board assembling
Floor board installed above kid floor beam. This installment is very simple, only make it tight between famahadro. This floor board need no nails.

5.3.8. Laso and ono laso above lago-lago
The last product on The Carpentry Course were making laso and ono laso board above lago-lago. This wall board will install with carving lago-lago.

After all of the part were assembled, the miniatur of Omo Hada with sizing 2 m x 4 m succed to be create by the participant of training at the end of training. The miniatur was build on the cemetery of ancestor of the owner of Omo Hada.


6. Material that use on the Carperntry Course
The wooden material that used in practicing the course training consist of many kind of wood and mostly come from the forest around the village. The material consist of :

6.1. Afoa
This wood is white and smell good, known as Red Meranti

6.2. Obe
This wood is black.

6.3. Manere manawadane
This wood is red.

6.4. Ulehe
This wood is red.

7. Closing Ceremony
Closing ceremony of the carpentry course was held on 21 Desember 2005 night. The ceremony attended by the owner, participant and trainer. It was begun with informal conversation and explain about The Carpentry Course Program was held in Hilinawalö Mazingö village in one month. Our team made a dinner party as thank you for the support and all participation from the people.
The main menu for dinner was fork as a honour symbol for villagers and all people in there. After dinner together, we watched short movie about Omo Hada and Hilinawalö Mazingö village. We continued with discussion about the importance position of Omo Hada as traditional house for Nias people, especially in Hilinawalö Mazingö village and also Indonesia generally. It is important to adopt and inheritance the skill and knowledge about the expertise to build Omo Hada from the old generation and master of carpenter in the village. So, we still hope if the carpentry course training can be done to another place.

8. Conclusion
The carpentry course training and seedling of Afoa trees were the part of emergency respons in Nias after earthquake. It would be possible to be done through supporting and colalboration between North Sumatra Heritage with the Turnstone Tsunami Foundation. We realize that many international agency run the emergency respons in Nias after earthquake but most of them only focus on repairing and rebuilding the infrastructure. Two years after earthquake the rehabilitation and reconstruction proces in Nias still focus on physical development. There is no much institution that give attention to the develop the cultural heritage in Nias[18].
Both of the activity are very important and useful not only for the people in the disaster area but also for any parties that have concern to empowering the people in the disasater area. Through this activity, we may hope and can learn from Nias people about their expertise in building the houses from wooden material. Beside that we also can raise awarenes of the people to keep and save their environment through planting the native hard wood “afoa tree” or red meranti. This wood is very important as the source of material for buid Omo Hada. We have seen many wooden houses didn’t get serious damage and still able to endure the earthquake including Omo Hada. So, this is one of the important reason to transfer the knowledge of carpentry from old generation to younger generation and planting the Afoa tree in Nias Island where the earthquke and tsunami disaster has been happened .
We realize if our program in the community can not be succeed if there is no support from the people fully. In this case, Community Organizing (CO) activity is very important to be done. The Community Organizing activity that have been done in the village are :
- First, seeking the contact person in the village
It is important to find a contact person in the vilalge as much as we can. It is useful to know much about the villlage situation. So they can give all information that we need. Since at the beginning, we have found the person who have important role in the village. He is the owner of the traditional house “Omo Hada “. He is also informal leader in the village. Through him, we get information and know much about the village profile and its people.
- Second, build relationship with the people in the village
Building emotion relationship with the village community is very useful to get respons from them. In this case, emotion relationship not only with the one or two people but also with many people. Usually, we will use a coffe shop as a place to build the communication and relation with the people.
- Third, live in the village for long time
It would be useful if we can live in the village for a long time. So, it is not good if we just “come and go” when visit to the village. We must live in and stay in the village for a long time. So, we can feel the problem of the people in the village.
- Fourth, identify and assesment the problem in the community
There are many problem in village community. But, we may wrong to define the main problem in the community. So, we must sit and talk together with the people to discuss their problem. We can list any problem in the village along with the community and choose the priority to be solved.
- Orahu, this is the most important point that must be done before run the work in the village. Orahu or village meeting usually attended by the elder, formal and informal leader also the official village government. Orahu is the high forum to decided anything. Process of Orahu will done in the circle formation. Everyone will talk to express their opinion and some one will give comment and justified about his talking. All people that involve in the circle formation must be talk. Orahu meeting always followed by the pig slaughtering as a symbol of togetherness. This is a part of customary way in Nias community to start the work activity.
Community organizing activity that we implement in our work is unusual in the heritage activity. Many of heritage activity tend to focus on save and protect the building. Frankly, we didn’t agree if the heritage work only focus on the building context without thinking about the human life. In many cases, the owner of the building didn’t get benefit from their cultural heritage when its expose to the public. So, this is important to redefine the concept of heritage and development in relation with people empowerment.
[1] Omo Hada means Traditional House of Nias people
[2] Lucas Partanda Koesworo and Ketut Wiradnyana in “Megalithic Tradition in Nias Island”, Medan Archeolgical Office, 2007,
[3] Bappeda Nias, 2004
[4] Center of Statstical Bureau of Southern Nias 2006 and Nias District 2006
[5] The otonomous status accepted on 25 February 2003 from the governemnt
[6] Policy of development must be use the cultural approach and raising awareness of the people in developing this region. If not the development that will be implement without result.
[7] Bappeda Nias, 2004
[8] Dani Hilman, Expert of Earthquake from ITB, in the Interview with Radio Netherland, 30 March 2005
[9] Omo Hada is Adata House or Traditional House
[10] Omo Sebua is Adat House with the big size
[11] Omo Nifolasara is Adat House with the big size and have Lasara “the head of animal/monster” in the front of the upper side. In the last, only a king can build this house.
[12] P.Johannes Hammerle, page 161 “Omo Sebua”, Nias, Indonesia, 1990
[13] ibid, page 170
[14] Megalithic tradition is the part of prehistoric era where the people still use the stone as tools of life. According to research result of Medan Archeological office, Nias is the one of area in Indonesia that still have megalithic tradition
[15] Lucas Partanda Koesworo and Ketut Wiradnyana in “Megalithic Tradition in Nias Island”, Medan Archeolgical Office, 2007,
[16] In the fact many stone building in urban area were damage when the big earthquakle hit Nias on 28 March 2007. It is contradictory with “Omo Hada”, the traditional house that still stand up with sturdiness.
[17] P.Johannes M. Hammerle Ofm Cap “Omo Sebua”, 1990, Gunung Sitoli, Nias, Indonesia
[18] As recognized by the Body of Rehabilititation and Reconstruction Nias at the Stake Holder Meeting on Nias Cultural Heritage Development, UNESCO – USU, Medan, Sumatra Utara, INDONESIA, 25 May 2007