The Butonese (sometimes Butuni, Butung or Wolio) people is a generic term that embraces a number of sub-ethnic groups from Buton and its neighbouring islands in Southeast Sulawesi. Often at times the Bajau people are mislabeled as Butonese people. The Butonese are also referred to as Orang Burung, which literally means "bird people". Just like most tribes in Sulawesi, the Butonese people are also seafarers and traders. The Butonese people have long since migrated to all corners of the Malay archipelago using smaller vessels ranging from those that can only accommodate five people to large boats that can hold up to about 150 tons of goods. In general, the Butonese is a community that inhabits the region of the Buton Sultanate. When the swapraja (self-governance, created by the Dutch colonia