One of Indonesia’s provinces, Papua, is situated in the easternmost corner. Papua is a nation located in the eastern hemisphere. Irian Jaya was the last name given to the entire island of Papua. The Indonesian Papua area was split into the provinces of Papua and West Papua in 2003. Currently, with 319,036.05 km2, the Papua province is Indonesia’s most significant region. Additionally, the Papuan people, especially West Papua itself, are made up of diverse West Papua tribes, each with unique traits.
Facts About the West Papua Tribes
1. 7 Traditional Cultural Areas
- Region I includes tribes living on the Mamberamo river plain to the Tami River, also known as Tabi or Mamta cultural adats.
- As part of Region II’s Saireri cultural customary area, the tribes that live in the Saireri Bay region are known as the Saireri tribes. Those who live in the bird’s head area are included in Region III, also known as the Doberay cultural familiar area.
- Region IV, also known as the Bomberai cultural customary area, includes the tribes in Bintuni Bay and Mimika. The Ha-Anim cultural area (Merauke) is referred to as the region between Asmat and Kondo.
- The tribes that live in the mountainous region of Eastern Central are considered to be in Region VI of the La Pago culture. In contrast, the tribes that live in the mountainous area of Western Central are deemed to be in Region VII of the Me Pago culture.
2. Tribes in Papua
- Natives and immigrants are essentially the same. Few individuals who have visited West Papua know this fact, specifically regarding race or ethnicity. Indigenous Papuans and Migrants make up around the same percentage of the population, at 58 to 42%.
- 255 West Papua tribes make up the indigenous ethnic groupings in Papua, each speaking a unique language.
- 387,816 individuals, or 51.47 percent of the total population, are indigenous Papuans, including members of the Arfak, Biak, Yapen, and other West Papuan tribes.
- Javanese make up the majority of the population from outside of Papua with 111,274 individuals (14.77%), followed by Maluku with 78,855 individuals (10.47%), Sulawesi with 60,091 individuals (7.98%), Bugis with 40,046 individuals (5.32%), Makassar with 17,025 individuals (2.26%), NTT with 14,918 individuals (1.98%), Minahasa with 13,492 individuals (1.79)
- The Arfak tribe is renowned for being proud of its ethnic heritage. When they leave their region, the Arfak people don’t think twice about identifying as members of the numerous Arfak tribe.
- Each West Papua tribe, such as the Amungme group, has five to ten houses. This tribe speaks the Uhunduni language, which includes a variety of dialects, including Amung, Enggipilu, and Damal.
3. Others
- The traditional Ondoafi (tribe chief) leadership structure is present in the Mamta customary areas’ political structure. The Ondoafi system’s inherited leadership of the eldest son is one of its key features.
- The Biak Numfor Tribe is the one that mainly inhabits the Saereri traditional territory. The Biak people used to revere “Manseren Koreri,” also known as “Manarmakeri,” who was their deity of praise and unification. This tribe is renowned for its fishing and fishing prowess.
- West Papua’s province is not divided according to its tribes. Each tribe has a dispersed population that lives in diverse places. The Arfak tribe, for instance, resides in the hilly area of Arfak between the towns of Manokwari and Bintuni.
On Numfor Island, near the Wondama village, there is a nomadic tribe known as the Doteri. The Kuri, Simuri, Irarutu, Moscona, Mairasi, Kambouw, Onim, Sekar, Maibrat, Tehit, Imeko, Moi, Tipin, Maya, and Biak tribes are among the many ethnic groups residing in this region.
Wrapping Up
There are still many unique and interesting facts about West Papua tribes. As well as its extraordinary natural wealth, West Papua is home to a variety of tribes and cultures. Some regions may have their customs and traditions. Therefore, as Indonesian citizens who love their homeland, it is obligatory for us to permanently preserve the tribes and culture of West Papua so that they are timeless.