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One of the traditional communities in Bukit Tigapuluh is the Kubu or Forest Dwelling People. The majority of Kubu people live in the less hilly regions of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, found within Jambi Province. The Bukit Tigapuluh group of Kubu people are part of larger one in Bukit Duabelas National Park – also in Jambi Province.

The Kubu people have many interesting cultures and traditions including Collection of forest products . Such as jernang, rattan, resin, etc.

Old Malay traditions have much in common with those seen and described for the Talang Mamak as do the backgrounds to these traditions.

The communities in the lowlands of Sumatra and in the surrounding river systems have much in common regarding language and traditions. The social-cultural differences are due to specific adaptations to the local environment, often caused by external influences brought in with economics, politics, and communications with other ethnic groups outside the immediate area.

The communities living in Bukit Tigapuluh practice shifting cultivation and collect forest products for external exchange. This tradition has taken place for thousands of years ago and has been an important factor in shaping the communities' social-politic structure in the Sumatra lowland. Paths, small roads and river are a means of transportation for bringing resources out of the forest and into the surrounding areas. Rivers used in this way as means of transportation include Cinaku, Keritang, Akar and Gangsal rivers in the northern and western part of the park. From Jambi they travel using the Tungkal and Sumai rivers.

The Talang Mamak communities living in the Bukit Tigapuluh National park can be found within Sembilan, Batang Gangsal, Sepuluh Jan, Denalah, and Pasak Melintang areas predominantly. About a hundred years ago all of these people were Talang Mamak, but since the influx of Islam people in three of these hamlets have become Malay. It was estimated in 1999, the communities in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park remaining were 181 households or 844 individuals. Of the total number 97 households or 523 individuals were Talang Mamak and 64 households or 321 individuals were Malay.

History Talang Mamak people belong to the Old Malay ethnic group, representing one of the traditional communities of Indragiri District. Being old traditional people or "Suku Tuha" they have rights to district resources. There are several arguments of where the Talang Mamak came from. According to Obdeyn (a former Indragiri Assistant Resident), Talang Mamak came from Pagaruyung region of West Sumatra, where they were pushed outside because of conflicts concerning adat/tradition and religion. But according to Talang Mamak myth, they were the third generation descended from Adam who came down to the earth at Sungai Limau hamlet and have lived in Sungai Tunu hamlet until now. This can be seen from the saying ' Kandal Tanah Makkah ' meaning that the Talang Mamak were the first human beings to live on the earth.