By Hosea Mirino
Something truly heartwarming and inspiring took place during an inter-community visit in March 2024. The Fyarkin community from Numfor Island made a return visit to the Paia community in Merauke. This initiative was intended as a platform for mutual learning between the two communities.
The long journey was instantly rewarded when the Paia community warmly welcomed the Fyarkin delegation in Alatep Village, Okaba District, Merauke. The Paia community conducted a traditional wayap ceremony of the Malind people, which is a welcoming ritual for guests visiting the village for the very first time.
The wayap procession involved the presentation of sagu sep, a traditional dish of the Malind tribe. Sagu sep is a blend of sago mixed with grated coconut and roasted meat, neatly wrapped in woven coconut leaves. This delicacy also served as a communal meal, symbolising the host’s joy in receiving guests. It further represented a gesture of kinship and fraternity extended from the Paia community to the Fyarkin community.
Throughout this collaborative learning process, both communities took the opportunity to introduce their respective customs and positive traditional practices. The Fyarkin community showcased various natural potentials and indigenous knowledge, such as the tradition of producing organic fertiliser, as well as the processing and production of virgin coconut oil (VCO) from coconuts. One particularly engaging activity was the planting of sweet potato seedlings (petatas) from Numfor Island in the Paia community’s group garden.
Through this exchange and joint learning experience, both communities successfully agreed upon a shared goal: to establish strong, two-way communication. From this, a sense of mutual understanding, respect, and trust can grow, even among people from different ethnic backgrounds. A fundamental realisation that emerged from this encounter is the shared understanding that every individual possesses equal dignity and holds the same purpose when it comes to sustaining life on our own land.
Contact us
Yayasan Pengembangan Pelatihan untuk Perubahan Sosial di Tanah Papua
(YP3SP)
Jalan Karya Tanah Hitam Permai
Abepura Jayapura
Papua
Email: info@papuatransformation.org
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