Korowai's Animism
To the east of Yahukimo Regency, the Korowai people live in the interior of the Papua Highlands and South, Indonesia, with a population of around 3,000. The Korowai speak several languages and dialects, most of which belong to the Digul River language family (old classification: Awyu Dumut), and are part of the Trans New Guinea phylum. These houses typically last five years, although the roofs require ongoing maintenance. Until about three decades ago, the Korowai people lived in isolation and were heavily dependent on the forest. The Korowai adhere to animism and dynamism, believing that ancestral spirits and nature possess powerful forces that influence human life. They adhere to animism and strongly believe in spirits and the forces of nature. The division of territory is based on ancestral decisions, folk traditions, and totem stories. Korowai life reflects a strong attachment to the forest, customs, and ancestral beliefs passed down through generations. The forest serves not onl...