Papua is an island consisting of several provinces with natural and cultural riches in each region. One of the provinces in Papua after the implementation of Special Autonomy and regional expansion through the formation of a new province is Central Papua Province. There is another name for Central Papua, namely Mee Pago, which is taken from the name of one of the largest tribes inhabiting the region, namely the Mee Tribe. The population of Central Papua reaches approximately 1.3 million people, most of whom are members of the Mee Tribe and the rest are members of other tribes such as the Nduga Tribe, Damal Tribe, Moni Tribe, and Dani Tribe. The five tribes are spread across various districts in Central Papua Province.
First, the Mee Tribe is the majority tribe living in Central Papua Province. This tribe consists of people who have livelihoods as farmers, ranchers, traders, and fishermen. Therefore, they live around the mountains and lakes. The indigenous people of the Mee Tribe live in the Mapisa Mountains area and several lakes in Central Papua such as Lake Tigi, Lake Tage, and Lake Paniai. The ranchers live in the Dogiyai Valley area. Meanwhile, the fishermen live on the coast of Nabire.
Second, the Nduga Tribe is a minority tribe that lives in the mountainous part of Central Papua Province, namely the southern part of the Jayawijaya Mountains. The majority of the livelihoods of the indigenous people of the Nduga Tribe are as farmers and also hunting animals and forest products. As one of the minority tribes, the Nduga Tribe is still quite closed and traditional because they live in only one area.
Third, the Damal Tribe is part of the indigenous people who live in Central Papua Province, precisely around the Mimika area. The Damal Tribe is known as a fairly modern indigenous people because they have known how to cook using fire since ancient times. In addition, there are famous traditional clothes from the Damal Tribe which are famous as cultural treasures of Central Papua in the form of koteka and pongi.
Fourth, the Moni Tribe is a tribe spread across various regions of Central Papua Province. The indigenous people of the Moni Tribe live in Domondoga, Paniai, Dogandoga, Mbiandoga, Duma-dama, and Kemandoga. What is famous about the Moni Tribe is the legend about the Dingiso animal as the ancestor of the indigenous people, namely the black and white kangaroo.
Fifth, the Dani Tribe is one of the tribes that has a cultural wealth in the form of belief in ancestral spirits. Therefore, the Dani Tribe is one of the original indigenous communities in Central Papua even though the number of its people is a minority tribe. However, the cultural wealth of the Dani Tribe continues to be passed down from one generation to another without being affected by the development of the times and can be seen from the daily language used, the traditional clothing used, and also the traditional ceremonies carried out.