The West Papua Noken Bag is a native Indonesian woven multipurpose bag indigenous to the country of Western New Guinea. Its particular function, which entails hanging from the head, has historically been used to transport children and cargo.
Noken was included as an Indonesian cultural treasure on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012. In addition, Noken is preferred as a voting method in some parts of the West Papua region, where it is accepted as a voting tool in the Papua regional elections.
Noken as a Cultural Heritage
West Papua Noken Bag was included as part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2012.
However, due to the risks associated with a transmission gap to future generations, the traditional knowledge of this traditional Papuan bag needs to be urgently protected.
Following the inscription, the appropriate Public Authority implements the plan of action outlined in the candidacy form. The government quickly involved Noken communities in West Papua in response to the threats facing the Noken.
For students in early childhood through high school/vocational school, the central government, in this case, the Ministry of Education and Culture, has compiled teaching materials on making Noken.
The local government encouraged city officials to wear Noken every Thursday and Friday in 2014. This program is the most efficient way to increase Noken output by artisans, typically women known as “mama-mama Papua.”
Noken Papua Philosophy
West Papua Noken Bag is not just a bag. This typical Papuan bag has become a symbol of life, peace and fertility. In addition, noken is also a sign of maturity for a Papuan woman. If a woman cannot make a noken, they will be considered immature and unfit for marriage.
Men and women use it for shopping and storing household items and hauling agricultural produce, fish from the lake or ocean, firewood, infants, or small animals. Noken can also be used as peace offerings or worn frequently at traditional celebrations.
West Papua Noken Bag’s Price
Quoting from the UNESCO site, the way of making West Papua Noken Bag varies between communities, but in general the branches, trunks or bark of certain small trees or shrubs are cut, heated over a fire and immersed in water.
Then the remaining wood fibres are dried, then spun to make strong yarn or rope. The wood grain is sometimes also coloured with natural dyes. The strings are then tied by hand to make net bags of various patterns and sizes.
However, the results are worth it. This traditional Papuan bag is vital, not easily torn, and durable. Papuan noken prices vary. But there is one costly type, the traditional Papuan bag made by the Mee Tribe.
The West Papua Noken Bag of the Mee tribe is sometimes called the golden noken because of its golden yellow colour. By the Mee tribe, their noken is called toya agiya. Noken gold or toya agiya is priced up to millions of rupiah, starting from IDR 4 million to IDR 10 million.
Noken Making Process
This bag is made manually by the hands of Papuan women, and the pattern is complicated. Therefore, the process of making traditional Papuan bag generally takes a long time to months, depending on the size of the bag.
The remaining wood fibre is dried and spun into a strong thread or string. Natural dyes are occasionally used to provide colour to the finished product. Hand-knotted net bags with varied designs and sizes are made from this string.
It takes months to become proficient in the procedure, which demands significant hand skill, attention, and creative sense. However, there are fewer and fewer people producing and consuming Noken.
Lack of awareness, declining crafter populations, deteriorating traditional transmission, competition from factory-made bags, and difficulties locating traditional raw materials promptly and quickly are among the issues endangering its future.
West Papua Noken bag is made in different ways depending on the community, but in general, small trees or bushes have their branches, stems, or bark removed, roasted over a fire, and soaked in water to make the drink.
