An Indigenous Tribe: The Sentinelese

Uncontacted population of North Sentinel Island


In the northeastern Indian ocean there is a chain of islands, among which is North Sentinel Island. This island is inhabited by a group coined the Sentinelese, said to have settled there almost 60,000 years ago.

Home of the Sentinelese

Aerial view of North Sentinel Island

The Sentinelese refuse to have contact with anyone outside the island. They live as hunter-gatherers, rumored to use bow and arrows and basic forms of fishing as their primary means of obtaining food. Their shelter consists of huts constructed of palm leaves, and they communicate using many high-pitched sounds and gestures. No one is sure how many occupants are on the island, but it is estimated to be somewhere between 50 to 200 people.

Tribal members and their huts

They are known to be violent towards those who try to infiltrate their territory and threaten their isolation. There has been so much resistance and aggression that law prohibits anyone from approaching the island. This does not stop adventurers from pursuing such acts, and it sometimes results in a deadly ending.

The Sentinelese expressing their contempt for outsiders

While little is known about how life has evolved on the small North Sentinel Island, it is very clear that the Sentinelese prefer to keep a boundary between themselves and the rest of society. Those who fail to respect this philosophy will not be spared, no matter their intention.

The modern world is not for everyone.

This is clearly not a place you want to visit; however, the surrounding islands are relatively safe and welcome tourism. Happy travels!

Sources:

Banerjie, M. (2018, November 22). American paid fishermen rs. 25,000 for fatal trip to Andamans. NDTV.com. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-tourist-john-chau-paid-fishermen-rs-25-000-for-fatal-trip-to-sentinelese-island-1951387

Slater, J., & Gowen, A. (2018, November 29). “god, I don’t want to die,” U.S. missionary wrote before he was killed by tribe on Indian Island. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/21/american-believed-dead-after-encounter-with-remote-indian-tribe-hostile-outsiders/

Serena, K. (2022, April 18). Meet the tribe that pretty much no one else has. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/north-sentinel-island-sentinelese-tribe

P, A. F. (2018, November 24). US Missionary’s body could be lost in battle to... Daily Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-6423977/US-missionarys-body-lost-battle-preserve-isolated-tribe.html

Uncontacted tribes. WireSmash RSS. (2008). https://wiresmash.com/people/uncontacted-tribes/

Tintin. (2016, February 24). 桑提内尔人sentinelese people--世界上最与世隔绝的一群人. 豆瓣. https://www.douban.com/note/541268505/?_i=4389277xx4yp2L

Limited, A. (n.d.-b). Long-tail boat at night stock photo. Alamy. https://alamy-ltd.ewrvdi.net/c/77643/748811/10905?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alamy.com%2Fstock-photo-long-tail-boat-at-night-95278499.html

Pelisek, C. (2018, November 26). Authorities seeking slain missionary’s body encounter tribe members wielding bows and arrows. Peoplemag. https://people.com/crime/john-chau-slain-missionary-body-authorities-encounter-tribe-bows-arrows/

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Aerial view of North Sentinel Island

Tribal members and their huts

The Sentinelese expressing their contempt for outsiders