Tattoos as part of the modern trend have been circling around for decades. However, if you look back to thousands of years ago, tattoos already exist as part of one’s identity and it has spread into many regions in the world.
In Indonesia, one of the traditional tribes with tattoos as part of their culture is the Moi Tribe. They are the native tribe of West Papua that lives in Sorong regency. Nowadays, they accommodate the surrounding community and also spread to another region.
Tattoos and Our Austronesian Ancestors
The origin of tattoos in West Papua is inseparable from the influence of Austronesian migration since 2000 BCE. Along with the voyage are some characteristics such as wetland agriculture and domesticated plants and animals.
However, some archeological discoveries prove that tattoos existed from 1650 to 2000 BCE. It means people of ancient West Papua already had in touch with tattoos, although the notion should be investigated further.
Personal Identity and Beauty Value in Moi Tribes’ Tattoos
It is a common conception that tattoos have to have meaning. That is not an exception for people in the Moi Tribe.
Tattoos, for them, are a form of self-identity that signifies their early life and education. It is meant to remind them not to forget where they came from and the values taught to them.
Tattoos in Moi Tribes also serve as body decoration that could enhance the beauty of the beholder. They are very proud of their tattoo and don’t hesitate to show it around. The bigger the tattoos, the prouder they are.
In Moi Tribe, the shape of the tattoos is quite simple. It is usually in a geometrical body or circles of line. There are also conical triangle-like shapes that consist of dots and even lined-up tridiagonal shapes.
As to the location of the tattoos, they usually put them on their chest, eyelids, hip, calf, cheeks, and back area. The size of the tattoos is customized according to body shape, so it always looks proportional.
Tattooing with What Nature Serves You
Nowadays, tattoos are done with a machine, ink, and a single-use needle. However, people of the Moi Tribe have a unique way of tattooing, using what nature serves them.
As for the ink, people of the Moi Tribe use fine charcoal called Yak Kibi, mixed with the sap of the langsat tree called Loum. And to replace needles, they use the thorn from sago trees or a fishbone.
To start applying the tattoo, the tattooist should dip the thorn or the fishbone into the ink, then pierce the receiver’s skin.
Due to the ingredients, tattoos of the Moi Tribe are usually simple-colored, such as black, red, or white. However, thanks to the skill of the tattooist, they can create a beautiful tattoo that could capture people’s hearts in the world.
On the Verge of Extinction
There are only a few tribes in the world that have tattoo traditions. Other than Moi Tribe, Meyakh Tribe, Waropen Tribe, and Sentani Tribe.
However, many of the younger generations of the Moi Tribe do not use tattoos anymore. There are various reasons, including global development and the prohibition of tattoos in the workplace.
So, unfortunately, there are only a few older people of the Moi Tribe who have tattoos on their bodies.
Even so, letting go of the tradition is not an option. Action is needed to keep the cultural heritage from extinction. Some ways to prevent that are to conduct more research about tattoos of the Moi tribe, document them, and teach the younger generations about them.
