Dolok Pilar

The Bona Ni Dolok indigenous community was established around the year 1747 AD by ancestors consisting of Ompu from the Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong indigenous community located in the village of Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong, Onan Ganjang District, Humbang Hasundutan Regency. It has stood and been inherited for approximately 700 years, even long before the Dutch colonial era. Currently, their descendants have reached the 18th generation from the main ancestor, Oppung Marhuling Simanullang, who is a descendant of Oppung Sakkar Toba Simanullang from Bakkara. From Bakkara, Oppung Sakkar Toba migrated to Pusuk and married boru Situmorang, giving birth to Oppung Mauliate Simanullang. From this lineage, Oppung Marhuling was born, who then opened and settled in Batu Rase.

Oppung Marhuling's journey began when he herded buffalo across various regions from Pargarutan Rambe, Sipagabu, Lobu Ginjang, Lobu Ronggang, to Dolok Nauli. His buffalo, which could not stay in one place, eventually stopped and wandered around Batu Rase. This event was seen as a sign, leading Oppung Marhuling to settle there and establish a village. Over time, he became known as a traditional elder due to his wisdom, as well as a prosperous buffalo farmer. However, the large number of buffalo also caused problems as they often damaged the community's crops. To resolve disputes, he made a rule: any buffalo that damaged crops would belong to the villagers, but its head must be returned to him. This agreement made Oppung Marhuling increasingly respected as the traditional king.

In his life, Oppung Marhuling had three wives: boru Nainggolan, boru Pasaribu, and boru Situmorang, who gave birth to four children. From them, new villages were established: Oppung Dari Sabungan settled in Lobu Lubuk Tolong (Sitonong), Oppung Niala Sungsang founded Lobu Siatas, Oppung Sihobol chose the path of shamanism and managed the Parsongean area, while Oppung Tarduga continued the old village in Lobu Ronggang and later in Batu Nagodang. Each child also inherited a legacy in the form of fish ponds: Tambok Hatoropan, Tambok Dolok, and Tambok Nabolak, symbolizing heritage and the responsibility to manage resources.

The name “Batu Nagodang” comes from the large stones that stand in front of Oppung Tarduga's village. The history of the birth of this village is closely related to the journey of Oppung Marhuling's buffalo, which ultimately led their ancestors to settle in Batu Rase. Until now, Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong is still maintained and preserved by its descendants as an ancestral heritage, cultural identity, and living space for the indigenous community, which continues to coexist with traditional values and local wisdom for centuries.

The AKKM located in the Bius Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong indigenous area is a traditional practice passed down through generations, continued and preserved by the indigenous community, and inherited from generation to generation, with the main goal of upholding customary law and/or respecting the values and wisdom of elders and ancestors, preserving culture/tradition, protecting heritage, spiritual/sacred sites, and cultural practices. The local wisdom practices in AKKM also aim to maintain and enhance natural resources for the sustainability of the community's economy.

Dolok or protected mountains are an ancient initiative passed down through generations of the community. Dolok is an area that stores clean water reserves for the essential needs of the community. Additionally, it is used as a source of irrigation for fish ponds, rice fields, and community gardens. These resources support the livelihoods of the community. Dolok also serves as an area to preserve traditions/culture. The culture practiced in this area includes Dolok Pilar, which is used as a ritual place for the community to ask for rain during the dry season. It has various types of wood that can be utilized for building houses and serves as a habitat for several types of fauna.

Dolok Pilar is a communal area that cannot be sold. This forest is shaped like a karst mountain with slopes of about 80% and an ecosystem type consisting of rocky cliffs with wet and mossy land. It has trees with a diameter of around 20 meters. It is abundant with frankincense trees as one of the commercial commodities. Because it is a karst mountain, the area that can be managed by the community for rice fields and gardens is only from the middle to the lower part.

The Dolok area is managed communally by the indigenous community with customary rules, and activities carried out in Dolok include the Ritual Partangiangan Panggohi, which is an event of scattering boni held every September 27 each year. This ritual is conducted in 3 villages alternately according to mutual agreement. The Ritual Partangiangan Panggohi is performed after planting rice, 3 months after planting, and is led by Bona Taon with the aim of ensuring the smooth growth of the plants and protecting them from pests. Additionally, there are customary rules that must be adhered to by the community when in the Dolok area, including;

• Prohibition against using foul language and maintaining decorum while in the mountain.
• Prohibition against cutting down trees in the fields without the landowner's permission.
• Prohibition against bringing pork into the mountain.
• Rules for harvesting fish are done by mandurang and drying the water.
• Prohibition against fishing and electrocuting fish in the ponds, as well as bathing buffalo in the ponds.
• The community may utilize forest wood according to their needs.
• There are also specific rules when in Dolok Pilar, including;
• Prohibition against bringing pigs into the mountain.
• Prohibition against using foul language (maintaining decorum) while in the mountain.
• It is advised that when spitting, one should say “excuse me”.

The rules enforced are oral and passed down through generations; if these rules are violated, the sanctions received are social sanctions in the form of reprimands. The mechanism for resolving issues is through mutual deliberation of the indigenous community via an institution called the Lembaga Raja Adat Bius. This customary institution has 3 paradatan that process decision-making through deliberation, namely;

• Batu Nagodang
• Adat Siatas
• Adat Sitonong

Dolok Pilar, which is a mountainous area, contributes significantly to the environment and ecosystems, including biodiversity. The following are the biodiversity found in the Dolok Pilar area;

Flora:

• Wood
• Frankincense/haminjon
• Bamboo
• Cinnamon
• Pine
• Hau Andolok
• Gorak
• Hapas-Hapas (charcoal wood)
• Harakka wood (for building houses)
• Boang (wood for making the musical instrument serunei)
• Plants
• Tomato flower
• Marugama (stomach medicine)
• Harimonting (wild fruit)
• Tahul-tahul (pitcher plant)
• Parung-parung (wild flower)
• Bamboo lemang
• Aren
• Hotang (rattan)

Fauna:

• Imbo
• Belu
• Monkey (Bodat)
• Ulihap
• Ampodi
• Civet
• Pangolin (Trenggiling)
• Wild Boar (Aili)
• Hike
• Hornbill
• Lali (eagle)
• Owl
• Sibahue
• Batiaraja
• Limatok (leech)
• Ernga.
• Fish:
• Goldfish
• Nile
• Catfish (sibahut)

Important points located in Dolok/Gunung Pilar include Aek Siparbue. Additionally, there are important points in the Bona Ni Dolok indigenous community, including;

• Parjampalan Sihotik-hotik: a communal area used for livestock herding.
• Parjujian: a communal area located in the village believed to be a place where humans interact with supernatural beings.
• Old village: an ancestral village that is no longer used.
• Huta Na Jolo: an old village.
• There are five villages: Lobu Ginjang, Lobu Batu Rase, Lobu Siatas, Lobu Tolong, Lobu Batu Nagodang.
• Market (Onan): Onan Na Tarulang.
• Old Tomb (Opung Mangkulling): in the form of a monument.
• Historical site: Ojung Batu (located in Lobu Ginjang), a ritual place for protecting the village (Pauli Balang).
• Pauli Balang: Place for rituals to protect the village
• Huta Sitonong
• Pangulu Balang
• Tomb of Opung Tarduga Simanullang: ancestor's grave.
• Ojung Batu
• Goa Lobu Gijang
• Tabbak: ancestor's grave.
• Mual parsungean

There are currently no specific regulations governing the recognition of the Bius Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong indigenous area. However, the Bius Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong indigenous community is working towards obtaining a Decree for the recognition of customary forests and indigenous territories.