Dolok Simujal

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 existed and been inherited for approximately 700 years, even long before the Dutch colonial period. 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 were restless staying in one place, eventually stopped and wandered around Batu Rase. This event was considered a sign, prompting Oppung Marhuling to settle there and establish a village. Over time, he became known as a customary 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 community crops. To resolve disputes, he made a rule: any buffalo that damaged crops would become the property of the villagers, but its head must be returned to him. This agreement further elevated Oppung Marhuling's respect as a customary king.

In his life, Oppung Marhuling had three wives: boru Nainggolan, boru Pasaribu, and boru Situmorang, who bore him four children. From them, new huta (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 this village's birth 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 continues to be preserved and maintained by its descendants as a legacy of their ancestors, a cultural identity, and a living space for the indigenous community, which has coexisted with customary values and local wisdom for centuries.

The AKKM located in the Bius Batu Nagodang Siatas Sitonong customary area is a traditional practice passed down through generations, continued and maintained by the indigenous community, and inherited from generation to generation, with its 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 preserve and enhance natural resources for the sustainability of the community's economy.

Dolok or protected mountains are an ancient initiative inherited 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 farms. These resources support the livelihoods of the community. Dolok also serves as an area to preserve traditions/culture. Cultural practices in this area include Dolok Pilar, which is used as a ritual place for the community when asking for rain during the dry season. It has various types of wood that can be utilized for building needs. And it serves as a habitat for several types of fauna.

Dolok Simujal is a communal area that cannot be sold. This forest is in the form of karst mountains that are lined up with a slope of about 80% with an ecosystem type of rocky cliffs with wet and mossy land. It has trees with a diameter of around 20 meters. It is often covered 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 farms is only from the middle to the lower part.

The Dolok area is managed communally by the indigenous community, which has customary rules, and activities carried out in Dolok include the Ritual Partangiangan Panggohi, which is a boni sowing event held every September 27 each year. This ritual is conducted in 3 villages in rotation according to mutual agreement. The Ritual Partangiangan Panggohi is performed after planting rice, three months after it is sown, and is led by Bona Taon, conducted to ensure the smooth growth of the plants and protect them from pests. Additionally, there are customary rules that must be adhered to by the community while in the Dolok area, including;

• Prohibition against using foul language and maintaining politeness while in the mountains.
• There is a prohibition against cutting down trees in the fields without the landowner's permission.
• Bringing pork into the mountains is prohibited.
• Fishing rules are conducted by mandurang and drying the water.
• Fishing and electrocuting fish in the ponds are prohibited, as well as bathing buffalo in the ponds.
• The community can utilize forest wood according to their needs.
• There are also specific rules when in Dolok Simujal, including;
• Bringing pigs into the mountains is prohibited.
• Using foul language (maintaining politeness) while in the mountains is prohibited.
• It is recommended to say "excuse me" when about to spit.

These rules are oral and passed down through generations; if violated, the sanctions received are social sanctions in the form of reprimands. The mechanism for resolving disputes is through mutual deliberation among 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 Simujal, which is a hilly mountain area, contributes significantly to the environment and also the ecosystem, one of which is biodiversity. The following is the biodiversity present in the Dolok Simujal area;

Flora:

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

Fauna:

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

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

• Parjampalan Sihotik-hotik: a communal area used for herding livestock.
• Parjujian: a communal area located in the village believed to be a place for humans to interact with supernatural beings.
• Old village: the ancestral village that is no longer in use.
• 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 places: Ojung Batu (located in Lobu Ginjang), a ritual site for protecting the village (Pauli Balang).
• Pauli Balang: Ritual site for protecting the village
• Huta Sitonong
• Pangulu Balang
• Tomb of Opung Tarduga Simanullang: ancestor's tomb.
• Ojung Batu
• Goa Lobu Gijang
• Tabbak: ancestor's tomb.
• Mual parsungean

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