Buets

Buets are an indigenous community traditionally inhabiting the delta and coastal islands of the Siran archipelago. The name Buets is also used for their language, Buetic, which comprises several dialects spoken across different islands. The community forms a loose federation of kin-based clans, each led by a council of elders. The Buets have a long-standing maritime tradition, relying on fishing, shellfish gathering, and agroforestry for sustenance, with inter-island trade routes linking them to neighboring groups.

Their social organization centers on clan-based lineage, with ceremonies marking life events such as birth, marriage, and initiation. Ancestral spirits and nature deities are central to Buetic religion, though many communities incorporate elements of larger regional belief systems. Music, weaving, and boatbuilding are important arts; the Buets are known for carved canoes and woven pandanus mats.

Historically, the Buets maintained independence through seasonal migrations and treaty-based alliances, encountering merchants and colonizers from the 16th century onward. In the modern era, they achieved formal recognition within the state, while maintaining customary law alongside national legal systems. Education is widely available, and health services have expanded through government and NGO programs. Estimates of population vary, but observers describe the Buets as a relatively small but culturally vibrant community with ongoing efforts to preserve language and traditions amid development pressures.