Ireeuw's Animism

The 1965 tragedy was the greatest tragedy in the dark history of this nation. Ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity is proof that the people of the Indonesian archipelago are a pluralistic nation. Special research exploring local ethnomedicinal knowledge and community-based medicinal plants in Indonesia, hereinafter referred to as research on medicinal plants and herbal medicine, is a tribal-based mapping of traditional knowledge in the use of medicinal plants, conducted by the Health Research and Development Agency in 2017.

The Manirem ethnic group is led by an ondoafi, the highest customary leader in the entire Tabi region. Administratively, the Demta tribe inhabits the Demta district on the northern coast of Jayapura Regency. They are under the leadership of several clan/tribal leaders, such as the Ireeuw.

The impressions of the areas of these three ethnic groups, made in 1903 by the Wichman expedition team, indicate that the region is fertile and conducive to human habitation, contributing to prosperity. In 2011, the Edera district was expanded into three districts: Edera, Syahcame, and Bamgi. The seven villages and sub-districts mentioned above are Bade, Geturki, Mememu, Gimikiya, Banamepe, Yodom, and Isyaman.

These rivers can be found in several places, including Dawai, Warironi, Wabuayar, Kainui, Serui, Aromarea, Tatui, Ariepi, Kamanap, Kanawa, Sasawa, Kairawi, Papuma, Ansus, Artunai, Woinap, and Mariarotu. In the Abenaho district, temperatures range from minus 4 to minus 11°C. Two of these rivers are the Daeram and Wildeman rivers.

However, there are swamps that never dry out all year round: the Bidnew and Vomu swamps. The area is a mountainous valley flanked by hills with generally steep and precipitous cliffs, and several peaks towering above 4,000 meters, including Trikora Peak at 4,700 meters above sea level. Tribal divisions occurred in Jayawijaya Regency, where large-scale celebrations were held.

Tbatik comes from the words tab and fatjich. However, over time, the name changed to Tobati. The Auyu are one of the large tribes in Mappi Regency that still maintain their ancestral heritage.

The Vind are an ethnic group in Senggi Village, Keerom Regency. Vind is defined as a friendly people who fear evil. The use of medicinal plants by the Vind tribe is a legacy passed down from generation to generation, although some medicinal plants are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Some medicinal plants, such as tinang bark and pasak bumi, are difficult to find and are even imported from Kalimantan. The Amungme people originate from the Damal ethnic group, a large family of the Eogame people. Their sub-ethnic group is the Delem, who live along the Memberamo River. We obtained this information when we first arrived in Timika and met with the Damal Bureau at the Amungme and Kamoro Community Development Institute.

According to a staff member from the Damal Bureau, Tepi Komangal, the Damal and Amungme tribes share a common ancestor. The Amungme are also called Amungsa, meaning a high, sloping place shrouded in clouds. Historically, the Damal and Amungme tribes are considered brothers and sisters, sharing a common ancestor, as mentioned above.

One tribe in Lanny Jaya Regency that still upholds this ancestral heritage is the Lani. However, the myth surrounding their origins, in all versions, generally states that the ancestors of the Dani ethnic group were a male and female pair who emerged from the earth in a specific location, then reproduced and spread to various regions inhabited by the Dani ethnic group to this day. The Dani ethnic group themselves refuse to use this name and call themselves pallymeke, meaning "we are the people of the Baliem Valley."

Various colloquial dialects, considered by their speakers to be distinctive characteristics, divide the entire Dani ethnic group into sub-ethnic groups. For example, the Nduga dialect spoken by residents of Kurima sub-district; the Lani dialect spoken by residents of Makki, Tiom, Karubaga, Bokondini, Kelila, Mulia, and Ilaga districts; and the Walek/Mukako dialect spoken by residents of Wamena and Kurulu-Assologaima districts. The Dani ethnic group's original belief is animism, with a primary focus on the worship of ancestral spirits, who are believed to possess supernatural powers called atou.

The world created by Atangki is divided into several essential elements: humans, animals, plants, spirits, and all inanimate objects. The Yali ethnic group inhabits Yalimo Regency. To this day, the Yali still uphold the arts and culture inherited from their ancestors.

They take the ancestral theme of their tribe, commonly called mbis. However, other motifs resembling boats/wuramon are also often found, which they believe are symbols of spirit boats that carry their ancestors to the afterlife. For them, the art of wood carving isThis is a manifestation of their rituals to commemorate the spirits of their ancestors.

Although the carvings are not clearly patterned, each one depicts the greatness of the Asmat people and their deep respect for their ancestors. The carvings depict sacred ancestors or animals. According to their beliefs, these ancestral gods once landed on earth somewhere deep in the mountains.

In the mythology of the Asmat people who live in Flaminggo Bay, for example, this god is called Fumeripitsy. He was then carried away by the current and stranded on the banks of the Asewetsy River, in what is now Syuru Village. The Citak ethnic group is geographically located at 137'20" - 42'3" East Longitude and 5-9' 12.7" South Latitude.

To this day, this tribe maintains traditions by utilizing surrounding plants for medicinal purposes, preserving their ancestral heritage. To the southeast are the Sawuy and Kaigiri tribes. This ethnic group is one of six ethnic groups inhabiting the Bintang Mountains region.

The Oksibil Valley is inhabited by three ethnic groups: the Ngalum, Murop, and Kupel. Before the influence and contact with the Dutch government or the church, the Ngalum people built their villages on high, inaccessible hills. Long before the introduction of modern medicine, the Ngalum people have learned from their ancestors how to heal themselves and maintain their health.

Hattra, a group of 102 informants, included 20 over 61 years old, while 67 were aged 41-60. & 15 people under 40 years old. A total of 85.3% of Hattra have more than 10 years of knowledge. This condition is closely related to Hattra's efforts to find and create herbal remedies for malaria, so that herbal data can also be further utilized to support the sustainable development goal of ending the malaria epidemic by 2030.