Abstract:
The existence of custom institution is associated with traditional community entities
that are generally located in inland areas. Traditional society is a term that is attached because
almost all the daily activities is simple of many people use local resources and the nature. The
livelihoods of people are still dependent on agricultural land, plantations and forest products. In
this context, custom institutions exist that ensures all kinds of community relations between
them, the environment, and God to keep them in harmony. This paper intends to reveal the
existence of custom institutions as a special community that called ‘Tau Appa’ in Maiwa
Subdistrict. So that, explorative research is conducted by interviews and documentation studies.
Interviews conducted with local community leaders and community members. The results of the
research obtained as follows: (1) custom institution ‘Tau Appa’ is a manifestation of local trust
of to Manurung. (2) ‘Tau Appa’ present to maintain life harmonization of local community. (3)
people participation is divided into 2 types, namely custom participation, and development
participation. (4) it needs the government support in strengthening the existence of custom
institution. Observing that results, it can be concluded the following things: custom institution is
the source of custom and social norms for the Matakali people, custom institution as the
mobilizer of all people activities, custom institution need to be supported the existence, role and
function by government.