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 The Alas people on 29 June 1904 in front ofGotfried Coenraad Ernst van Daalen (Photographed byHenricus Marinus Neeb) | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 93,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Indonesia (Aceh) | |
| Languages | |
| Alas andIndonesian | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kluet people,Singkil people,Karo people |
TheAlas people is an indigenous ethnic group fromSoutheast Aceh Regency,Aceh,Sumatra,Indonesia. The Alas are found in the Gunung Leuser, Ketambe, and Alas River areas.
The Alas (ukhang Alas orkalak Alas) are an agrarian people, who cultivate rice on irrigated fields, but some grow cash crops in gardens. Freshwater fishing inAlas 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 toIslam, 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.[2] As Alas clan names suggest, the Alas people have composite origins.
At the final stage of theAceh War 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, hisKorps 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 ofGayonese descent at southern Alasland had already been killed in Gayoland byGotfried 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 troopsdemolished 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 ofGayonese 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 theDutch East Indies.
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.[3]
The Alas people uses theAlas language (Cekhok Alas) on a daily basis. The Alas language is most closely related to the language of theKluet people inAceh Selatan Regency,[4] and often, these two languages are unified under a single label Alas–Kluet. Together withKaro andDairi, Alas–Kluet belongs to the northern branch of theBatak subgroup of theAustronesian language family.[5] It is estimated that 80,000 people spoke the language in 2000.[6] Although Alas people live inAceh Province, the language they use is entirely distinct fromAcehnese.
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.[7] 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.
Alas traditional dances[8] and musical instruments[9] are as follows:
Alas traditional crafts are as follows:
Alas traditional dishes are as follows:[11]
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