Preserving Ancestral Heritage: Mairasi Traditional Education as a Passion of Values ​​Between Generations

In previous generations, the lives of the ancestors of the Mairasi Indigenous People in West Papua were closely tied to traditional values ​​and traditions. Nearly all members possessed traditional knowledge of weaving and toolmaking, using raw materials sourced from their traditional territories. However, recent technological advancements and government-led development initiatives that are not in favor of Indigenous Peoples have had a significant negative impact, leading many younger Mairasi to abandon their culture.

The Mairasi Indigenous Community, located in Teluk Wondama Regency and Kaimana Regency in West Papua Province, currently faces challenges in maintaining their traditional values ​​and local wisdom. This is due to the disruption of traditional knowledge experienced by the younger generation. They are increasingly losing their in-depth understanding of their culture, and traditional skills are increasingly considered outdated. Technological developments and modernization have influenced the shift in traditional and cultural values, including the art of weaving traditional goods, which is now practiced only by the older generation.

Yet, these traditions are an important part of Mairasi's cultural identity. Weaving is one such tradition; this skill not only produces functional items, such as baskets, mats, and other utensils, but also holds profound symbols and meanings. The motifs and shapes reflect their relationship with nature and ancestors. Therefore, the older generation of Mairasi indigenous people feels that weaving skills need to be strengthened before they are threatened with extinction due to the declining interest of the younger generation influenced by modernization. In addition to weaving skills, which are generally practiced by women, there is also a need to strengthen the capacity of the younger generation of men in making traditional weapons.

This initiative takes the form of traditional education. This is an effort to revitalize traditional values ​​and maintain the sustainability of Mairasi's values ​​and traditions. Among the educational materials implemented are weaving skills for female members and traditional weapon-making skills for male members. This education is being held in three villages: Wosimo and Inyiora (Urere) in Teluk Wondama Regency and Kensi in Arguni Atas District, Kaimana Regency.

The educational activities were conducted by dividing the group into two groups: a women's group focused on weaving, and a men's group focused on making traditional weapons or arrows. The resulting works consisted of traditional tools and objects made from plants grown in the Mairasi traditional area. The tools and materials used in this report are described in the Mairasi language.

The works produced by the women's group include: weaving Warai (bracelet made of rope wawur and umbuf), Taptawf (fire fan from pandan leaves or oeitc sur), Soarc (cigarette storage container made from pandan leaves), Tembuef (cigarette storage container made from pandan leaves), Arrange (cigarette storage container made from pandan leaves), Javitc (Noken made of tree bark mouh, oror, warent, simsimp, joof and ombes), Erivan (Mats made from pandan leaves for sitting, eating and sleeping.

Meanwhile, the works produced by the male group include: Tatar (wood clamp or arrowhead holder) made of wood tawai sangger, waengger and uwer, weaving Sawat (woven arrowhead binding made from small rattan rope or Egret), weaving Fangger (woven arrowhead binding made from small rattan rope or Egret and genemo rope or Ombes), make Ewuatomar (bow eye) made of water bamboo or Forehead), make Orange (arrows or bows made from Nibong, Sawar, Wawim, wanau and amond), make Ewu (A complete bow or arrowhead consists of a tatar, bamboo blade, and bubble or Eunggu), make Feser (basin or tray made of janggar wood), make Andan (spoon or ladle made of tawai and rewas wood), making Ewi (Tifa made from uufauw wood).

The impact of this education has made the younger generation of Mairasi realize the importance of preserving and maintaining their traditions and traditional knowledge. They now have a passion for reviving traditional values ​​through the transfer of knowledge from older generations to younger ones. The younger generation, in particular, feels proud of their Mairasi identity and culture and is now aware of the need to preserve their traditional culture by passing on their knowledge to their children and grandchildren.