The Korowai Tribes live on the southern coast of Papua. They live in Korowai tree house tribes with a height of about 12 to 35 meters from the ground. Let’s look at the facts: why did the Korowai Tribe build houses on the treetops?
An Introduction to Korowai Tribes
The Korowai are a tribe whose existence was only discovered about 35 years ago in the interior of Papua by the Dutch missionary Johannes Veldhuizen. This tribe inhabits the Kaibar area, Mappi Regency, Papua. Their current population is around 3000 people.
The Korowai tribe is one of the indigenous tribes in the interior of Papua that still maintains firmly the traditions of their ancestors, one of which is building a house on a tall tree called Rumah Tinggi. Some of the Korowai Tribe tree houses can even reach a height of 50 m above ground level.
One of the uniqueness of this tribe is that in addition to not using the koteka, the Korowai tribe lives and lives on high trees, the houses they make are usually located on branches with a height of 15-50 meters.
The Korowai Tribe’s Tree House Repels Devils
A researcher from the Papua Archaeological Center, Hari Suroto said it is not without reason that the Korowai Tribe people build houses on trees. “The taller the tree house, the safer the family who lives in it from the threat of head hunters, wild animals, and unreachable by malaria mosquitoes,” said Hari.
The people of the Korowai tribe are not worried that the wind will destroy Korowai tree house tribes because it has taken into account the diameter and strength of the support tree. Most importantly, the family is safe from ‘laleo’ attacks. In the language of the Korowai Tribe, laleo is a cruel demon. These creatures walk like the undead and wander at night looking for their relatives.
According to tradition, Hari Suroto, members of the Korowai Tribe who are allied with lalelo will be killed, and the meat can be eaten. The punishment of cannibalism is society’s response to witchcraft. “Laleo is a demon or a zombie that lives in a human-like world, but all of its contents are contrary to that of humans. The demons see the night as day,” he said.
Getting to Know the Korowai Tree House Tribes
In making this tree house, the Korowai tribe did not carelessly choose trees. They will select big and sturdy trees to be used as the foundation of their house, then the tops of the trees are shaved and made into their homes.
All the materials used to construct this tall house are natural. The house’s frame is made of small logs, while the floor is made of tree branches. Then, they used sago bark and forest leaves as walls and roofs of their houses. After that, all the materials are tied using a rope from twigs or strong roots.
Usually, making this tree house can take about seven days because this tribe still adheres to their ancestors’ customs, so before building the Korowai tree house tribes will perform a night ritual first to ward off evil spirits. This tree house usually only lasts up to three years, this is because their home only uses natural materials.
They use the dense forest as the joints of life, while animals such as pigs and coyotes are kept as pets for the Korowai tribe. For them, pigs have social value and will only be killed during rituals and special occasions, while their dogs are used as animals for hunting.
Evidence that Humans and Nature Can Live in Harmony
The habit of the Korowai Tribe, who builds their house on the top of a tree, is a portrait of evidence that humans and nature can live harmoniously together side by side. The Korowai tribe makes the forest as a joint of life, a blessing from God who provides all the necessities for life.
Pigs and coyotes are pets. Pigs can only be slaughtered at certain times, while coyotes are used as hunting companions. The Korowai tree house tribes uphold the relationship with nature and between humans.
Quoted from Indonesia.go.id, Rhidian Yasmida from the Indonesian Institute of Arts and Culture Tanah Papua expressed the opinion that the Korowai Tribe highly upholds the values of equality in establishing human relations, which is indicated by the absence of social strata like those of other tribes in Indonesia.
Wrapping Up
The Korowai tree house tribes take their necessities from the forest in sufficient quantities, not excessive. The Korowai tribes seem to be a picture of humans who can control their lust and arrogance, not be greedy. Humans do have egos and passions, always trying to fulfill whatever their needs are. When these needs are always met, there is often a sense of pride in asking for or taking more.
