MERAUKE, Indonesia – Efforts to preserve indigenous traditions and pass them on to younger generations are considered important in strengthening the identity of communities and supporting development in Papua.
In Wanam Village, Ilwayab District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, indigenous people have been encouraged to preserve, respect and practice the Malind Maklew customary values as part of their shared identity and cultural heritage.
The values are considered more than knowledge passed down from one generation to another. They need to be practiced in daily life to ensure that indigenous traditions remain relevant and are not eroded by changing times.
Wanam Village Head Kosmas Sirilius Dawi said the history of the village, the origins of its people and intergenerational kinship ties are important elements of the identity of the Wanam community.
“‘The history of the village, the origins of the community and intergenerational kinship ties are an important part of the identity of the Wanam community,’” Kosmas said during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled The History of the Village and Tracing the Genealogical Trees of the Malind Maklew Sub-Tribe Clans of Wanam in Merauke on Wednesday (Sept. 9, 2026).
According to Kosmas, such knowledge should not remain solely in the form of oral accounts passed down by customary elders. The history and genealogy of the community need to be carefully documented so they can be studied and passed on to younger generations.
“The history of Wanam Village, the origins of the community, as well as intergenerational genealogical relationships are an important part of the community’s identity that needs to be preserved and documented,” Kosmas said.
He stressed that efforts to strengthen customary traditions should go hand in hand with community life and the administration of village governance.
“In this way, customary traditions will not merely become symbols, but will remain part of the community’s life,” he said.
Kosmas said the documentation of the community’s history could serve as a source of knowledge for young people in Wanam. They are expected to understand their origins, kinship ties and the values passed down by their ancestors.
“Younger generations need to know where they come from, understand kinship ties and the values passed down by their ancestors,” he said.
However, Kosmas cautioned that the process of tracing genealogies should not be rushed. Every piece of information needs to be discussed and verified collectively by clan leaders, heads of families and customary institutions.
“Every piece of information must be discussed and verified together with clan leaders, heads of families and customary institutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Wanam Customary Council Yohanis Agabe Mahuze said the community should continue to uphold the customary values of Malind Maklew.
He said customary traditions are a shared heritage of the Wanam community and therefore need to be preserved, respected, practiced and passed on to future generations.
“Customary traditions are a shared heritage that is not enough simply to be known, but must be preserved, respected, practiced and passed on to future generations,” Yohanis said.
Yohanis said understanding the history, origins of clans and kinship ties is essential to preserving the community’s identity while strengthening solidarity among the indigenous people of Wanam.
He also called for the compilation of genealogical records to be carried out according to each clan, as every clan has its own lineage, history and internal knowledge.
“The tracing of history and genealogy must be carried out properly through the knowledge of each clan and customary deliberation mechanisms. The data collection process must not create new problems,” he said.
Yohanis emphasized that the most important objective is to ensure that history and customary traditions remain alive within the community and are understood by younger generations.
“Most importantly, history and customary traditions must remain alive within the community. Younger generations must know their origins and understand the values passed down by their ancestors,” he said.
