The Cultural Negotiation of the Minangkabau Elite in Post-New Orders Indonesia: Indonesian and Minangkabaunesse

Years after the collapse of New Order regime in West Sumatera were important periods for amongst Minangkabau elites build their “cultural projects”. This paper elaborates the process of cultural invention among Minangkabau elites during the intensive socio-cultural development. During the Reform Era, the Minangkabau cultural elites managed to organize many effort to place Minangkabau adat (tradition) as the main cultural identity of West Sumatera population, although other ethnic groups such as Java, Sunda, Batak, Nias, Tionghoa and Mentawai stay living peacefully in the province. These elites of Minangkabau tradition set negotiation with the local government to release various local policies concerning the rebuilding the Nagari as the centre for Minangkabau ethnic group and conducting various Minangkabau cultural event. The cultural negotiation received supports from the local government at the level of province, regency and cities of West Sumatera.