T

he Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), an institution formed as part of the implementation of the 2001 Law on Special Autonomy for Papua, will focus on the rescue of Papuan culture, which is in crisis as a result of the rapid influx of other cultures.

“The MRP will focus on rescuing the culture of Papua and rescuing culture is the same as saving the people of Papua. All Papuan communities have been complaining about how their culture is starting to be ignored by outside cultures,” said MRP chairman Matius Murib during the 11th MRP anniversary in Jayapura on Monday.

One of the factors behind this cultural loss is the rapid, unfiltered flow of foreign cultures into Papua, he added.

The younger generation in Papua also seemingly yearns for cultural preservation. In a series of speeches delivered in their mother tongue from 10 youths representing the five cultural regions of Papua, they all wished for the preservation of culture and language to be included in school curriculums.

“If we, the younger generation no longer have culture, then we will lose our identity and no longer be recognized as Papuans. We hope the governor, the Papuan People’s Representatives Council [DPRP] and the MRP devise a regulation to preserve Papuan culture, one measure of which being setting Oct. 31 as Papuan Cultural Day,” said a young man from Asmat representing the Anim Ha culture in the southern Papua region.

MRP, said Murib, held a hearing to ascertain the views of all indigenous communities from the five cultural regions of Papua.

“In the meeting, members of indigenous communities complained about local culture increasingly being eroded by foreign cultures, so there must be a concerted effort to save it,” he said.

The indigenous communities also reportedly complained about the long period of Papuans losing their own land, especially with the proliferation of regional division.

“Land is heritage, so land should also be maintained and preserved. I hope the regional administrations in Papua will make regulations to protect customary land. I urge indigenous people not to sell their land but only to lease it,” added Murib.

Papua Jungle Chief community head Charles Toto considers Papuan cuisine to be one aspect of the region’s culture that is nearly extinct.

“I see that 80 percent of the special food of Papua is no longer cooked by Papuans. It’s a sign that the typical cuisines of Papua are being further neglected,” said Toto.

Toto and his colleagues are currently mapping out different cuisines in Papua.

“Many of the typical cuisines of Papua are no longer prepared by the local community because of the many foreign cuisines consumed by people every day. Papua’s typical food must be preserved because it is Papua’s uniqueness,” said Toto.

He cited the fact that only vegetable salt in the world existed only in Papua, which is made by the community from the Korowai tribe. The vegetable salt is made from the leaves of young rattan.

“Such cultural wealth must be preserved because it is the wealth of the community,” said Toto.

Papua provincial secretary Heri Dosinaen said he would support the establishment of Oct. 31 as Papuan Cultural Day with a regulation.

“A special bylaw will be made so that Papua Cultural Day is commemorated every Oct. 31. The regulation will soon be written and subsequently set into special provincial regulation,” he said.

Papua is made up of the cultural regions of Saireri, La Pago, Mee Pago and Anim Ha and 273 local dialects.