A latest nationwide census has identified the presence of 2,104 isolated indigenous people, locally known as “tree people”, across Papua.
Head of Papua’s Central Statistics Agency [BPS], Djarot Soetanto, said that the presence of the isolated tribe had been long known but its exact number was only confirmed after the one-month-long census, conducted in May.
He said this year’s census was for the first time reaching more isolated tribes. The last census was conducted in Papua in 1980 after a census official was allegedly killed by an isolated tribe in Dabra area, Jayapura regency.
“The official was John Livirisa. He was beheaded. Since then, the census was undertaken through third-person information, such as from a missionary that reached deeper into those tribes,” Djarot said.
Out of the newly registered indigenous people, 765 are living in Mappi regency, 617 in Boven Digul, 410 in Yahukimo regency, 232 in Asmat regency and 585 in Wapoga district, Waropen regency. “They still build their houses in trees. Maybe that is why they are often referred to as the ‘tree people’,” Djarot said.
These indigenous people, he said, were extremely isolated from the outside world.
“They have no clothes, no schools and no public facilities.”
Their villages, Djarot went on, could only be reached by foot or by light aircraft.
“These indigenous people don’t easily accept outsiders. Only missionaries can reach the heart of their enclaves,” he said.
During the census drive, he said the officials were assisted by missionaries. These indigenous people could not communicate with people from outside their community.
He said there were some in Boven Digul who could speak Indonesian because they once resided in Tanah Merah, Yanimura district. But they went back to the jungle because they received no attention from the local administrations, he added.
The Social Services Ministry in Papua set up a program called the Isolated Tribal Community (KAT) to supervise isolated tribes.
“We supervise by building houses for them and providing their daily needs, including clothing,” said head of the Papua Social Services Agency, Wasuok Demianus Siep.
Data at the agency shows that there are 32,915 KAT families, or 155,426 KAT people, across Papua’s 19 regencies, 93 districts, 386 subdistricts and 415 locations. “KAT is found throughout the province,” Wasouk said.
He said the agency recently built houses for isolated indigenous people, including 50 houses in Towe Hitam subdistrict and 46 in Manggelum, both in Keerom regency.
For long-term development, he said the agency was currently conducting research and a seminar by involving universities in Papua and Jakarta in search of the right development system.
“We will build according to their needs.”
