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There is unusual tradition in my culture that still keeps until today. Even though technology and education has been lifted up people to modern culture, we still keep the tradition because we proud to has it.

Our culture is matrilineality which an individual is belonging to his/her mother descent and famously call as Minang Kabau culture. We have various unique traditions from eating, wedding, to folk parties. But, one unique tradition that I will share is Hunting Wild Pigs. At beginning, the tradition was done for protecting farm and cultivated areas then during the time it growth to be a cultural tradition. Differ with modern hunting, we do not use weapon but only dogs to catch the wild pigs.

The tradition begins at coordination between the leaders of the groups at least 1 month before. They will decide where they will go, date and time of the occasion. After everything finalize, then the leaders have responsibility to organize his group and invite other Minang men who live in another city.

On the hunting day, the leaders of the groups together with farmers in surrounding area will sit together. At the time, a ceremony will be done by eating betel vine and betel nuts as a symbol of tradition. The dog owners will donate amount of money that will be collected by a farmer and will be used to treat the wounded dogs or as giving/compensation for farmer if his farm get destroyed.

The hunters will be divided to a small group with 10 to 15 hunters. A guide will be walked in front of others. Normally, the hunters and their dogs need to walk about 5 km before arrive in target areas. When they arrive in target area, the dogs will be given a death wild pig to get its smell while several hunters go to find location of wild pigs. Then all dogs will be released and they will run to follow sound of whistling from the hunters.

There is a boisterous sound from hunters and dogs when a wild pig has catch. The dogs will bite, rip and kill the wild pig likes group of wolves. The hunters only look at nearby. The wild pig will not be eaten by the dogs and after all works have done, the dogs will find a new wild pig. If there is a new dog that never join with this occasion, the hunter will take a blood of wild pig and put it in the dog's nose. This way is believed will stimulate the dog in hunting.

When the sun goes down, the occasion will be finished. The wounded dogs will be treated and the farmer will get compensation for his destroyed farm. Usually, the dogs get 5-7 wild pigs in the occasion and all wild pigs just left there and the farmer will handle everything.
The tradition is useful to help the farmers from wild pigs' attacks to their farm and cultivated areas. For the Minang men, this occasion means to strengthen cultural bond, sports, and togetherness, also to keep the forest by not using weapon in hunting.

This event attracts many tourists and some of them love to join to see it directly. It is really fun and for luncheon foods will eat some traditional foods that only can be had during this event. Sometimes the farmers prepare for traditional attraction such as folk dances. One day if you come to my region, West Sumatra in Indonesia, you should come to see how special this event is.

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