The online seminar was organized to discuss several questions, one of which "How can cultural valves accelerate the development of Papua”.  The keynote speaker was Papuan Gracia Billy Mambrasar, special advisor to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. One of Mambrasar’s discussion points was that respect for local values builds trust, and that in turn, this trust creates opportunities in education and entrepreneurship.

The second speaker, Dr. Rob Goodfellow, one of Australia’s most experienced cross-cultural specialists, complimented this argument by suggesting three concepts.

The first was to accept the notion that embracing human diversity inevitably challenges status quo thinking. The second that, when non-Papuan Indonesians adapt to respecting Papuan values, exciting human possibilities will emerge.

The third was for Indonesian society to consider adopting some Papuan ways of doing things as they have done with the tapestry of ideals that now make up an evolving national character. This includes the Javanese with their reputation for etiquette, politeness and reserve, the Sundanese with their respect for family, brotherhood and tradition, and the Bataks with their admiration for education, entrepreneurism and loyalty.

Significantly, and after more than 200 years of European occupation, Australians are finally pursuing an “accept, adapt, adopt” process themselves, with the Morrison federal government committing over US$100 million to support 840 full-time indigenous rangers to conserve cultural resources, protect biodiversity and practice traditional land conservation (including fire management and the control of invasive plants and animals in national parks and state forests, www.countryneedspeople.org.au).

So, how do we know what Papuan values are? In what way has culture contributed to the resilience of the Papuan people? And finally, how can Papua’s myriad of cultures enrich the experience of all Indonesians as the Republic celebrates 75 years of nationhood?  

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