By Josua Majefat
Have you ever heard of an island called Numfor?
This 335 square kilometer island is located in the north of Papua Island. Administratively, it is part of Biak Numfor Regency, West Papua Province.
In early March 2025, for the first time I visited Numfor, precisely in Saribi Village, Orkeri District. On this first visit I went through the mansorandak village custom or the injak piring tradition. This is a welcoming tradition and expression of gratitude for those who have gone far outside their place of origin for quite a long time. This tradition is also believed to be a form of cleansing to expel evil spirits that accompany the migrants who arrive in Numfor.
Mr. Bertus Rumbrawer—usually called Kaka B—from the Fyarkin Community in Numfor told me the meaning of the word ‘Numfor’, namely the movement of matoa wood until it becomes fire. In the Biak language ‘num’ means fire. In the Yamo language ‘for’ also means fire. The two words from two different languages were then combined. Brother B also said that Numfor is an island with abundant natural resources.
Brother B is right. I witnessed the abundance of natural resources in Saribi village. One of the things utilized by the community is salted fish. The processing is natural. The sea fish caught are cut and then dried under the hot sun until completely dry.
The Fyarkin community has 10 members who are strongly committed to managing the group and are very compact. As a facilitator, there are still many things that I need to explore from the community’s driving brothers and sisters so that I can understand life in Saribi village. Keep following our story, okay!
Contact us
Yayasan Pengembangan Pelatihan untuk Perubahan Sosial di Tanah Papua
(YP3SP)
Jalan Karya Tanah Hitam Permai
Abepura Jayapura
Papua
Email: info@papuatransformation.org
ID