Lamalera, Lembata Island, Indonesia, part 1
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THE TRADITIONAL WHALE HUNT of LAMALERA on FLORES
Around the world, the village of Lamalera on the island of Lembata on Flores is known as the home of traditional whale hunting. Portuguese documents dating back to 1643 already mention that these heroic hunts were sighted then.
In Lamalera, villagers hunt large sea animals, like whales, manta rays and sometimes dolphins to provide food and a living for the entire village, which they undertake on simple sailboats and following ancient beliefs, taboos and tradition.
It is for these reasons, therefore, that the Lamalera whale hunts are until this day exempt from the international ban on whaling, considering the traditional way this is still done and the fact that hunting these giant ocean creatures help villagers support their subsistence economy.
Annually, whales migrate between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific during May through October, when these giant sea animals pass the Savu sea right at the doorstep of the island of Lembata. For Lembata, therefore, whale hunting starts on 1 May reaching its peak in July.
When a whale hunt is decided, a number of boats parked on the beach are released from their simple shelters, cheered on by the entire village , and a troupe of boats will set sail together to catch their harvest.
Before that, however, everyone gathers to attend a dedicated mass led by the local Catholic priest to pray for a succesful and safe expedition. For, the majority of the inhabitants here are Catholic.
The actual whaling is still done on traditonally flimsy wooden boats, called peledang. These are manned by between 7 – 14 helmsmen, oarsmen and harpooner, where each is assigned his special duties. The most agile of the team stands on the bow ready with a barbed harpoon.
When a whale or manta is sighted, he throws his harpoon into the animal jumping down on the harpoon itself so as to give it his additional weight. When the target is a huge sperm whale and it is a hit, other team members throw more harpoons on the prey. And when it is finally disabled, together all team members heave up the heavy body onto the boat. Other villages who also hunt for whales are from the Lamakera village on the island of Solor, but the Lamalera village is the most well known.
During one season, islanders may catch between 15 to 20 whales.
The Whale Hunters from Lamalera - Part 1 / Velrybáři z Lamalery - Část 1
Traditional whaling (sperm whales) in Lamalera village, Lembata island, Indonesia.
Tradiční lov velryb (vorvaňů obrovských) ve vesnici Lamalera na ostrově Lembata v Indonésii.
Lamalera, Lembata Island, Indonesia, part 2
xperimenter.com - Lamalera, Lembata Island, Indonesia, part 2
Lamalera - a legacy of whaling | Trailer
Trailer for the upcoming documentary film, Lamalera.
Synopsis:
The village of Lamalera, situated on Lembata Island in Eastern Indonesia, is notoriously known for its traditional whale-hunting. This ancient hunting technique passed down from generation to generation, is the main livelihood of the village. However, times are slowly changing as the youth are leaving the village for work and studies, while there is pressure from the outside world for them to stop their whaling.
The perspectives of four locals are followed; Kris, a 15 year old girl who attends the local highschool, her father, a seasoned harpooner, Karolous, Ignacious, a highly respected ship builder, and lastly Sister Maria, a Catholic nun. They each give their opinions and insight into their whaling culture, and welcome us into their world, as we explore their daily lives. The audience will gain an intimate firsthand-account of one of the last indigenous whaling cultures in the world, revealing how all aspects of life in Lamalera is shaped by and linked to their traditional whale hunting.
Lamalera Tradisional whale hunter village
Desa Lamalera kecamatan Wulandoni kabupaten lembata. Orang Lamalera menjadikan laut sebagai lahan untuk mencari nafkah. Mereka turun ke laut untuk mencari dan berburu ikan. Tradisi ini telah diwariskan secara turun temurun sejak berabad-abad lalu. Sebagai nelayan, masyarakat Desa Lamalera mempunyai ciri khas yang berbeda dan sangat langka dengan masyrakat nelayan pada umumnya. Hal ini dikarenakan masyarakat Lamalera dalam mencari dan berburu ikan di lautan lebih mengkhususkan pada menangkap ikan-ikan besar dan yang paling lebih diutamakan adalah ikan paus.
musik Bruno Mars - thats what i like
Lamalera Traditional Whale Hunting Village - Truly Adventure
Lamalera is a remote village well-known for its peoples’ profession as whale hunters. Lamalera is located on the southern coast of Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara. Lembata, once integrated with East Flores Regency, is now an independent regency of its own. Lamalera Village is divided into two sub-villages: Lamalera A and Lamalera B, each with a population of approximately 2.000 people.
Before the beginning of hunting season, Lamalera villagers possess a tradition to carry out a traditional culture ceremony as a means to request blessings from their ancestors and pay respects to those who died at sea. The ceremonial process is held every 1st of May, signaling the beginning of the whale hunting season, otherwise known as the “Lefa” season.
Whale hunting will normally occur during the months of May-November, but occasionally it has also been found to take place in December-April whenever a whale happens to pass through the Sawu Sea. Thus making the Lefa season a special time of the year to go to sea, and hunt whales, dolphins, sharks and various other sea mammals. Every day except Sundays during the Lefa season, the people of Lamalera will go out to sea and hunt together.
As for the rest of the year, the Lamalera society will traditionally produce salt, weave textiles, or grow corn in the rocky arid surroundings. Whale hunting in Lamalera Village is done traditionally. The people involved and equipments used in the process are:
1. Peledang
Peledang is a name for the ship used for hunting whales. The width of a peledang is 1.5 m with a length of about 7 m. In constructing a peledang, the rule is that there must not be any metal pins used to attach the pieces of wood. All parts of the boat must be made using wood and enjoined by wooden pegs. Every peledang is designed roofless to ease the task of watching whales while at sea.
2. Tempuling
Tempuling is the name of the spearhead used to thrust at the whales. This spearhead is made from metal
3. Bamboo
A bamboo of 4 m in length is used as a pole for the spearhead/ tempuling, and a grip to hold when thrusting at a whale.
4. Rope
The rope should be 50 m in length. One end of the rope is tied on the tempuling and the other end is tied to the ship/ peledang.
5. Balafaing/Lamafa
Balafaing/Lamafa is the name for the thruster, the most significant person of the team who determines the success or failure of the hunt.
6. Matros
Matros are the ship’s crew whose main function is to assist the lamafa/ thruster in the whole whaling process. In one ship there should be at least 12 matros.
dolphin hunting, Lamalera, Lembata Island, Indonesia, part 2
cruel dolphin hunting video, i visited this island in sept.2010 and went fishing with local fishermen, I had no idea of what about I was going to see... I took this video anyway to show the world that places like this are still exist...
GHENZER LAMALERA.
By: ELMUNDO#MAKING
#ELMUNDO_MAKING
#LEMBATA
Whaling Killer whale in Lamalera
Fishermen instinctively start chasing killer whales.
The harpoon sticks the harpoon on its back as soon as it comes up to breathe.
The Whale Hunters from Lamalera - Part 4 / Velrybáři z Lamalery - Část 4
Traditional whaling (sperm whales) in Lamalera village, Lembata island, Indonesia.
Tradiční lov velryb (vorvaňů obrovských) ve vesnici Lamalera na ostrově Lembata v Indonésii.
70, Indonésie, de Florès (volcan Kelimutu) à Lembata
LAMALERA EL CAZADOR BALLENA
rikardus beding
The Whale Hunters from Lamalera - Part 2 / Velrybáři z Lamalery - Část 2
Traditional whaling (sperm whales) in Lamalera village, Lembata island, Indonesia.
Tradiční lov velryb (vorvaňů obrovských) ve vesnici Lamalera na ostrově Lembata v Indonésii.
Lamalera , Traditional Indonesian ikat weaving , The process of whale hunting
A video about Lamalera village, one of the most unique places in the whole country. The village is on the island of Lembata on Flores. Watch the video to experience the special atmosphere in this village, see the popular Ikat weaving, with its own motifs and the whale hunting process, where Lamalera is known for.
The Whale Hunters from Lamalera - Part 3 / Velrybáři z Lamalery - Část 3
Traditional whaling (sperm whales) in Lamalera village, Lembata island, Indonesia.
Tradiční lov velryb (vorvaňů obrovských) ve vesnici Lamalera na ostrově Lembata v Indonésii.
71, Indonésie, Lembata, les pêcheurs de baleines et de dauphins du village de Lamalera