I suppose, the Minang "matriarchs" wearing a keris is a legend and a quite new one. If you have the book "Walk in splendor", which is the most comprehensive book regarding traditional Minang costumes and possibly the Minang culture, you will find no women costumes with keris. I also never have seen an old picture of a Minang women wearing a keris.
I think, the small keris on Sumatra are just like the keris selit on Peninsula - dress kerisses.
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