Abstract
The result of colonial collector activity in North Sumatra was that large numbers of pustaha (Batak bark books containing divination techniques and ritual practices) entered European museum collections. Author Sita Magfira raises questions about knowledge lost as a result of displacing these manuscripts, and she also indicates their limited accessibility to the communities from which they originate. Moreover, she considers how these issues might be addressed.
Sita Magfira is a former member of Lifepatch. In addition to her work with Lifepatch, she has been part of the research and curatorial teams for various art projects in Indonesia, including Biennale Jogja XV (2019). She holds an MA in Public History from the Central European University, supported by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees scholarship.