It would be a shame to lose out on the beauty and culture that Papua offers—starting with the War Dance and ending with Papeda, a popular cultural event, and dish among many people. Sadly, like many other local residents anywhere in the world, they are often mistreated or even neglected.
As a response, in order to preserve Indonesia’s cultural richness, the government must begin to pay considerable attention to the native population of Papua. And here it is, an article about indigenous people of West Papua for cultural sustainability. Please go ahead!
The Indigenous People of West Papua
This province is home to around 250 ethnic and linguistic communities, and some of the many nationalities that exist are not truly local. Some are immigrants, while others are mixed-race residents. This is because the government previously began a transmigration program in order to balance out the allocation of the Indonesian people.
Yet, with the opening up of this region to industrialization, certain regions that were once lovely land have been changed into industrial land, and others have even become devastating mining zones.
Change is indeed unavoidable in human life. And, what is available now may not be available in the next ten years. This condition poses a threat to indigenous Papuans.
Deforestation is prevalent, leaving local communities increasingly distant. Not to mention that their concerns are not always heard, making them more vulnerable to being forgotten by the world.
Therefore, efforts are required to preserve the culture that has evolved over hundreds of years in this area, even as the scourge of modernity is gradually infiltrating West Papuan society.
Additionally, the Papuan people are Melanesian, with the majority of them being Protestant Christians. That’s why, compared to most Indonesians, that’s the most apparent attribute.
Local Tribal House
Of course, talking about humanity cannot be isolated from the concept of dwelling. Again, because West Papua is home to so many different tribes, there are so many different styles of dwellings. So, it’s not like East Java, where only Joglo traditional houses exist.
There are various traditional houses in the province of Eastern Indonesia, such as the Honai traditional house, the Ebai traditional house, the Kariwari traditional house, the Rumsram traditional house, and so on.
For such diversity, it is critical always to conserve it and ensure its survival for future generations.
Aside from that, there are other cultural legacies that must be recognized and protected. For example, the policy of not using koteka recklessly is eroding the culture of utilizing koteka.
The Threats for Indigenous Community
As previously said, deforestation is becoming more common in this region. So, you must use discretion when coping with it. Deforestation is being carried out for a variety of reasons, including the Wasior megaproject. That’s why locals are being asked to give up their land.
This poses a serious threat to the local inhabitants. Whereas sago plants are generally found in every house for daily food needs, indigenous communities are now concerned about the loss of their food supply.
Another issue worth mentioning is the existence of conflicts between the separatist movement and the TNI or Indonesian Army. Because of that, many lives have been lost, making Papua’s social conditions extremely sensitive to conflict and unstable in terms of cultural sustainability.
Thus, modernity has both a beneficial and a detrimental impact on the lives of the indigenous people of West Papua in terms of cultural sustainability. The good result is that their existence is becoming more evident and more widely known by a wide range of groups, both local and international.
Still, there are some drawbacks that must be considered. As local culture deteriorates, there is a need for rescue activities, such as preserving detailed records so that indigenous tribes and their cultures can continue to thrive.
And once again, let us not forget these human beings. They have the utmost right to control their land. Let us cooperate to make the world more welcoming to the west, including from West Papua.
