Abstract

The Savu tribe is one of the indigenous tribes in the southernmost part of Indonesia. By consensus, the people of Indonesia consider this tribe to have an ethnic identity distinctive from that of other tribes. This phenomenological study aims to explore the perceptions of the Savu tribe regarding their ethnic identity. The phenomenological method was used to gather the data. Seven informants, who were elders and cultural leaders, teachers, lecturers, and cultural practitioners of the Savu tribe, participated in this study. In-depth interview sessions were done to collect qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used to formulate the findings. Three major themes were obtained that described the parent ethnic identity of the Savu tribe, including familism, assertiveness, and the fact that we are not a thief, which greatly distinguished the Savu tribe from other tribes in Indonesia. Solid ethnic identity and traditional religion are the driving forces behind the different characteristics of the Savu.